With free agency winding down, the CFL draft will be the next big milestone of the off season.

Draft Date:  May 3, 2018

CFL Combine:  Will be in Winnipeg during Mark's CFL Week March 22 - 25  

Draft Tracker:  https://www.cfl.ca/draft-tracker/

Where do the Bombers pick:   Pick 7 (Round 1 - 7th pick),  Pick 16 (Round 2 - 7th pick),  Pick 26 (Round 3 - 8th pick),  Pick 33 (Round 4 - 7th pick),  Pick 41 (Round 5 - 6th pick),  Pick 49 (Round 6 - 6th pick),  Pick 58 (Round 7 - 7th pick),  Pick 67 (Round 8 - 7th pick), 

Prospect Rankings (December 2017)

Rank	Name	Position	School	Hometown
1 (1)	David Knevel	OL	Nebraska	Brantford, Ont.
2 (2)	Trey Rutherford	OL	Connecticut	Markham, Ont.
3 (3)	Ryan Hunter	OL	Bowling Green	North Bay, Ont.
4 (6)	Peter Godber	OL	Rice	Toronto
5 (10)	Julien Laurent	DL	Georgia State	Toronto
6 (4)	Godfrey Onyeka	DB	Laurier	Brampton, Ont.
7 (12)	Rashaun Simonise	REC	Calgary/Okanagan	Vancouver, B.C.
8 (9)	Regis Cibasu	REC	Montreal	Kinshasa, Congo
9 (5)	Darius Ciraco	OL	Calgary	Burlington, Ont.
10 (-)	Mark Chapman	REC	Central Michigan	Port Huron, Mich.
11 (14)	Dakoda Shepley	OL	UBC	Windsor, Ont.
12 (-)	Mark Korte	OL	Alberta	Spruce Grove, Alta.
13 (19)	Jackson Bennett	DB	Ottawa	Cumberland, Ont.
14 (8)	Kene Onyeka	DL	Carleton	Brampton, Ont.
15 (13)	Andrew Pickett	OL	Guelph	Kitchener, Ont.
16 (15)	Alex Taylor	RB	Western	Winnipeg, Man.
17 (20)	Nelkas Kwemo	LB	Queen’s	Montreal, Que.
18 (16)	Ryan Sceviour	OL	Calgary	Calgary, Alta.
19 (11)	Chris Amoah	RB	Laval	Montreal, Que.
20 (-)	David Brown	OL	Western	London, Ont

1 hour ago, 17to85 said:

I'll believe it when I see it. Walters loves picking linemen. 

I hope they continue to draft linemen.  You can never have too many quality Canadians on the lines.  The worth of these players is hard to quantify.  Every team is looking for them. 

when you look at our roster we have 6 canadian lineman in house..and a possible 7th in Gray in the waiting possibly...with really at best in the next 2 years 3 going to start and 2 to be game ready replacements..I would think Couture/Spooner/Spelling and (if Gray ever makes it this yr or next ) covering our needs at the moment...so going O-line with our first 2 oicks..even first 3 is somewhat a waste.

 

I would go with the player most likely to make a roster impact this year with the 1st..regardless of position and then the best player available with 2nd pick

7 minutes ago, Booch said:

when you look at our roster we have 6 canadian lineman in house..and a possible 7th in Gray in the waiting possibly...with really at best in the next 2 years 3 going to start and 2 to be game ready replacements..I would think Couture/Spooner/Spelling and (if Gray ever makes it this yr or next ) covering our needs at the moment...so going O-line with our first 2 oicks..even first 3 is somewhat a waste.

I would go with the player most likely to make a roster impact this year with the 1st..regardless of position and then the best player available with 2nd pick

Not going to start the Neufeld debate haha...  but I full expect our line to be Bryant-Chungh-Goossen-Couture-Hardrick by Game 6...  after that both Spooner and Speller are huge question marks

I also have less faith that Gray will be here any time soon... never know.

After all that, if it was me, I'd take Bennett first...  I do think Walters sticks with OL and goes with Korte or Sceviour like everyone's predicting

 

I think they take a DB like Bennett or Onyeka or a receiver depending on who is there in round one and don't take an OL. As Booch stated, they have Chungh, Goossen and Neufeld to start with 3 prospects/youngsters for depth. Plus Gray. I think they go OL later with a guy likely to go back to school or a futures pick.

After watching the press conference, I get the feeling that we don't have a lot of room under the cap to pay a first round player...

To me, it sounds like we will either take a futures pick, trade out of the first round, or take someone who isn't projected as a starter and more of a ST'er. This just seemed different than every other press conference from Walters where he always talks about drafting OL in the first round.

Edited May 3, 20187 yr by Dr. Blue

If we can't afford to pay a first rounder than Walters needs to do a better job managing the SMS.

Take it with a grain of salt. Dont believe everything what GMs says day prior the draft.

A smart GM will play his card close to his chest and not give any tip on what their plans are.

3 hours ago, Floyd said:

Not sure where's Walter's getting 'the emergence of Spooner and Speller...' - have they even been on a gameday roster...?

I found his comments on Speller to be pretty interesting:

Quote

One of the most pleasant surprises of all training camp last year was Cody Speller, who was an undrafted player. He had a very good training camp, really impressed the coaches.  He went back to McMaster and had an All-Canadian type season so we're excited to see him.

Obviously he is going to talk up his players but it sounds like Speller will get a legitimate shot.

Or maybe he's just Mitchell Baines 2.0

2 hours ago, Floyd said:

Not going to start the Neufeld debate haha...  but I full expect our line to be Bryant-Chungh-Goossen-Couture-Hardrick by Game 6...  after that both Spooner and Speller are huge question marks

I also have less faith that Gray will be here any time soon... never know.

After all that, if it was me, I'd take Bennett first...  I do think Walters sticks with OL and goes with Korte or Sceviour like everyone's predicting

 

So, you're thinking that Spooner and Speller are question marks and this can be best solved by drafting an O lineman with absolutely no pro experience, development or familiarity with our system?  Ok then.

22 minutes ago, WBBFanWest said:

So, you're thinking that Spooner and Speller are question marks and this can be best solved by drafting an O lineman with absolutely no pro experience, development or familiarity with our system?  Ok then.

Umm...  yeah, that's the point of drafting guys... to have more depth.  I'm a bit lost with your outrage here...?

https://www.cfl.ca/2018/05/02/lions-acquire-first-round-selection-pick-swap-bombers/

so our first pick tomorrow night will be the 12th overall (round 2)

3 minutes ago, Floyd said:

Umm...  yeah, that's the point of drafting guys... to have more depth.  I'm a bit lost with your outrage here...?

I'm a bit lost with your assumption that I'm outraged.  Just for future reference, someone can disagree with you and not be upset at all.  I'm actually kind of confused.

If the Bombers coaches and managers are ok with our current depth at O line, why in the world would drafting another one in the first round be helpful.  You actually can have too much depth at a certain position.  It would be a waste of developmental time and money to draft someone if they already believe that their o line depth is good.  I also recognize that this is Walters speaking to the press, so I take everything he says about his thoughts about the draft with a huge grain of salt.

http://3downnation.com/2018/05/02/b-c-lions-trade-sacrifice-2019-first-rounder-deal-bombers/

Odds are great that BC’s pick next season will be better than 7th.

bombers acquired a better 2nd rounder as well.

Bombers save cash this season.

 

any other thoughts? 

 

 

and the floodgates are open

Interesting move. Is next year's draft supposed to be really good?

2 minutes ago, sweep the leg said:

Interesting move. Is next year's draft supposed to be really good?

Pretty typical from what I know thus far, but I mean that could be a high 2019 pick given what BC looks like headed into this season.    I’d have a hard time seeing them finish higher than 4th in the West unless Jennings gets back on track.

 

10 minutes ago, WBBFanWest said:

I'm a bit lost with your assumption that I'm outraged.  Just for future reference, someone can disagree with you and not be upset at all.  I'm actually kind of confused.

If the Bombers coaches and managers are ok with our current depth at O line, why in the world would drafting another one in the first round be helpful.  You actually can have too much depth at a certain position.  It would be a waste of developmental time and money to draft someone if they already believe that their o line depth is good.  I also recognize that this is Walters speaking to the press, so I take everything he says about his thoughts about the draft with a huge grain of salt.

It’s not that linear.  It’s not like they are going to hire extra OL coaches or something.  Sure there’s a cost to having players at training camp I guess, but weird way to look at it.

The draft picks have no monetary value.

8 minutes ago, JuranBoldenRules said:

It’s not that linear.  It’s not like they are going to hire extra OL coaches or something.  Sure there’s a cost to having players at training camp I guess, but weird way to look at it.

The draft picks have no monetary value.

It costs money to sign a first rounder.  They don't play for free and so you better be getting the most bang for your buck, and you don't get that by drafting in a position where you already believe you have plenty of depth and then paying first rounder bucks for the privilege

.

Edited May 2, 20187 yr by WBBFanWest

39 minutes ago, sweep the leg said:

Interesting move. Is next year's draft supposed to be really good?

Can never really know a year before hand in the cfl. Cant really know till right before the draft really.

I think Bcs pick next year is gonna be 3rd or 4th. Seems like a great gamble. 

3 hours ago, Floyd said:

Not going to start the Neufeld debate haha...  but I full expect our line to be Bryant-Chungh-Goossen-Couture-Hardrick by Game 6...  after that both Spooner and Speller are huge question marks

I also have less faith that Gray will be here any time soon... never know.

After all that, if it was me, I'd take Bennett first...  I do think Walters sticks with OL and goes with Korte or Sceviour like everyone's predicting

 

Im hoping for couture, but i can not see him being a guard. He is a small tackle. I like our crop of young NI ol. we have some gooders who should be rounding into form this year or next. 

2 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Can never really know a year before hand in the cfl. Cant really know till right before the draft really.

I think Bcs pick next year is gonna be 3rd or 4th. Seems like a great gamble. 

Im hoping for couture, but i can not see him being a guard. He is a small tackle. I like our crop of young NI ol. we have some gooders who should be rounding into form this year or next. 

I don’t see how Couture is too small. He was already up to 294 last training camp.  

1 minute ago, Colin Unger said:

I don’t see how Couture is too small. He was already up to 294 last training camp.  

294 would put him amongst if not the smallest guard in the league. 294 at the start of camp, how heavy do you think he'd be late in games? especially late in the season? Moving the undersized tackle to guard, is a high risk low reward move.