CFL
CFL.ca Staff
TORONTO – One of the great mysteries of any draft is how teams rank players on their draft board. Every few years, a “can’t-miss” prospect comes along which every team clamours for. More commonly, teams struggle with the decision of drafting based on positional need versus taking the best talent available.
CFL teams took an interesting approach to the draft this year. Because of the vaunted depth available, franchises opted to secure their own fate by picking the players they wanted, sometimes against the grain of experts and mock drafts. It will takes years before it can be determined what impact these players will make, but every year there are some teams thrilled with the potential diamonds in the rough found in later rounds while others are left scratching their heads as to why they reached for certain talent.
CFL.ca looks at some of the players taken higher than expected on draft night, as well as the names who slipped into later rounds.
RISERS
5th overall – DL Ese Mrabure-Ajufo (BC)
In the biggest shock of the draft, defensive lineman Ese Mrabure-Ajufo was chosen fifth overall out of Wilfrid Laurier.
Ranked 17th overall on the CFL Scouting Bureau’s Top 20, picking Mrabure-Ajufo in the first round seemed like a reach considering he would’ve likely been available when the Lions picked again in the second round.
Even Mrabure-Ajufo himself couldn’t believe it, saying he expected to be picked in the late first or second round.
The price of spending a first round pick seems steep when Mrabure-Ajufo is only projected to be a depth player for the upcoming year, as first round picks are expected to help immediately with little time emphasized on development — but Mrabure-Ajufo offers some immediate upside as a pure pass-rusher.
Analysts say the Lions could use him in situational pass-rushing situations as he gets acclimated to the CFL game, but ultimately expectations will be high for Mrabure-Ajufo to justify his draft slot. It may take a few years, but the Lions aren’t planning on him making an impact right away anyways.
10th overall – WR Jake Harty (Ott)
Jake Harty is a talented receiver, but the REDBLACKS really went off the board with this pick. Nevermind the fact that the team already spent all off-season upgrading its receiving corps — what’s equally surprising is the fact that Addison Richards and Lemar Durant were still on the board.
No receiver on Ottawa hauled in more than three touchdowns last year, so adding another weapon in the six-foot-two Harty doesn’t hurt. Harty is projected to be used on special teams as well as on the offence, roles he is familiar with after starring in them at the University of Calgary. He recorded 464 yards and three touchdowns last year with the Dinos.
Considering that the REDBLACKS did not have a draft pick until 18 selections later, the choice of Harty, if he truly was their man, is understandable. In terms of a pure rankings standpoint and who else was still on the board, well, that’s where it could be confusing.
16th overall – OL David Beard (Edm)
The selection of the lesser-known Beard in the second round by the Eskimos came as a surprise. He had suffered a hand injury before the Combine and was unable to work out for teams, possibly scaring some away.
The Eskimos’ Vice-President of Football Operations and General Manager Ed Hervey defended the pick, noting Beard’s athleticism with his six-foot-five, 277 pound size. However, Beard has only played two seasons on the offensive line after converting from the defensive side of the ball. Hervey indicated that one of his goals was to develop his o-line players, something he believes needs to be done in the league.
Before being drafted, Beard had some connections to the organization. Two of Beard’s coaches at the University of Alberta included Tim Prinson and Chris Morris, two former Eskimos offensive-lineman, both of whom recommended Beard to Hervey.
It could be a few seasons before Beard makes an impact for Edmonton. Until has hand injury heals and he steps on the field, neither fans nor the Esks will know for certain what kind of player they drafted.
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FALLERS
18th overall – WR Lemar Durant (Cgy)
Durant may be the player who saw his draft stock slip the furthest. Coming into draft night, Durant was the highest-ranked wide receiver on the CFL’s Scouting Bureau list and a projected first-round pick but ended up being the fourth receiver picked.
Appearing in eight games for Simon Fraser last season, Durant totaled 55 catches for 685 yards and four touchdowns. He also rushed the ball four times for 34 yards and a touchdown.
His impressive athleticism showed at the CFL Combine, posting the fastest 40-yard-dash time and highest vertical jump amongst all receivers and fourth-highest overall in both events.
Should Durant’s play echo his initial ranking and the player many think he can be, the Stampeders may have taken the steal of the draft all the way at the end of the second round.
22nd overall – DB Tevaughn Campbell (Cgy)
The second Stamps draftee to appear on the list, Calgary believes it sees something in Campbell that other teams may have missed.
Campbell was the fastest player at the CFL Combine, famously breaking the electronic record in the 40-yard dash with a time of 4.36 seconds. Calgary general manager John Hufnagel thinks the speedster can come in and compete immediately but has a long-term goal of development to turn into a starter.
For all of his speed, Campbell will need to add some muscle to be an effective defensive back. At six feet tall and 185 pounds, his strength is something that can be improved upon as he gets into a training regimen in Calgary.
For now, expect Campbell to be used on special teams.
23rd overall – RB Shaquille Murray-Lawrence (BC)
If the Lions ended up reaching in the first-round than they may have found late round value in Murray-Lawrence.
Murray-Lawrence, out of UNLV, came highly recommended by Lions player personnel consultant Roy Shivers.
Like Campbell, the running back is no stranger to speed. Murray-Lawrence led the Rebels last season in rushing yards (552) and touchdowns (nine), and was the team’s second deadliest offensive weapon, averaging 81.1 yards per game.
He led all running backs in the 40-yard-dash at the CFL Combine and could help a Lions attack that had the second-fewest rushing scores last season.
