May 9, 2016

Draft Rewind: 5 years of 1st round picks

THE CANADIAN PRESS

TORONTO — Two major indicators of success in the CFL are the quarterback position and Canadian content.

The quarterback has the ball in his hands every offensive play of the game and has the single largest impact on the outcome of any game. But with the need to start seven national players, strong Canadian talent provides flexibility — and teams lacking it can find themselves in trouble, fast.

While CFL clubs can acquire national talent from many different places, the source of the most impactful national talent is the first round of the CFL Draft. With that and the CFL Draft being just a day away we take a look at how teams have shaped their rosters through the draft over recent years.

Here’s what every CFL team has done in the first round over the last five years:

BC LIONS

THE CANADIAN PRESS

2015: DL Ese Mrabure (5th)
2014:
 No first round pick
2013: OL Hunter Steward (6th)
2012: DL Jabar Westerman (2nd), OL Kirby Fabien (7th)
2011: REC Marco Iannuzzi (6th)

The Lions have focused on the trenches over the last five years of the CFL Draft with four of their most recent first round picks coming either on the offensive or defensive line. Yet only two of their last five first round picks have been used on offensive linemen, a reversal of league-wide trends.

Marco Iannuzzi was taken sixth overall in 2011, the only skill position player the Lions have taken since then, and remains an important part of their receiving corps. Kirby Fabien and Jabar Westerman took important steps forward in 2015, each moving into full-time roles at their respective positions.

The verdict is still out on 2013 first round pick Hunter Steward, who showed high promise as a starting left tackle in 2014 before being held to just three games in 2015 due to injury. The same goes for Ese Mrabure, a surprise fifth overall pick for the Lions last season who will need time to develop into an impact player.

Holding the third overall pick in this year’s draft, it appears likely the Lions will take their third offensive lineman in the last five years despite their relative depth at the position and last year allowing only 34 sacks, one off the league lead.

EDMONTON ESKIMOS

THE CANADIAN PRESS

2015: OL Danny Groulx (7th)
2014:
 REC Devon Bailey (6th)
2013: No first round pick
2012: OL Austin Pasztor (4th), REC Shamawd Chambers (6th)
2011: OL Scott Mitchell (2nd), REC Nate Coehoorn (5th)

The Esks have split their last six first round picks between offensive linemen and receivers over the last five years with mixed success.

The second overall pick in 2011 Scott Mitchell didn’t pan out for the Green and Gold, departing Edmonton after just two seasons before joining the Argos and then becoming a free agent. There’s been no sight of Austin Pasztor four years after selecting him fourth overall, as he’s managed to stick in the NFL where he remains with the Cleveland Browns.

On the other hand, receiver Nate Coehoorn remains a valuable part of the Esks’ offence and still has some untapped potential, especially as he moves into a Jason Maas-coached offence, while the team found excellent value in receiver Devon Bailey and offensive lineman Danny Groulx over the last two years.

Sixth overall pick in 2012 Shamawd Chambers has flashed potential despite struggling to stay on the field due to injury, but now he’s in Saskatchewan with Chris Jones after becoming a free agent in February.

Overall the Esks have found impact nationals through the draft but have yet to hit a home run, although they may have one or even two in Bailey and Groulx.

CALGARY STAMPEDERS

THE CANADIAN PRESS

2015: OL Karl Lavoie (9th)
2014:
 OL Pierre Lavertu (1st), DL Quinn Smith (7th)
2013: OL Brander Craighead (7th)
2012: DL Ameet Pall (5th)
2011: REC Anthony Parker (3rd)

Outside of Ameet Pall, a big miss after failing to make Calgary’s opening-day roster despite being drafted fifth overall in 2012, John Hufnagel’s draft record is immaculate.

Five of the Stamps’ last six first-round picks have come in the trenches, including three offensive linemen, while the only skill position player in Anthony Parker (third overall in 2011) has a chance to take a big step in his career in 2016 as a key piece of the Stamps’ receiving corps.

Brander Craighead had a ton of promise but retired this off-season reportedly due to injury, while Quinn Smith has become the ultimate two-way player after making 10 starts at defensive tackle and also playing in six games as an offensive lineman, not including the Western Semi-Final when he saw action at right guard.

Pierre Lavertu stepped in for the departed Brett Jones after becoming the first overall pick in 2014 and the Stamps’ O-line hasn’t missed a beat, while Karl Lavoie will be a breakout player to watch in 2016 after the Laval graduate was limited by a leg injury in his rookie season.

The Stamps’ depth up front allowed them to overcome historically bad luck on the injury front last season while still leading the league with only 33 sacks allowed.

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS

Arthur Ward/CFL

2015: REC Nic Demski (6th)
2014:
 No first round pick
2013: OL Corey Watman (4th)
2012: OL Ben Heenan (1st)
2011: No first round pick

The Riders have only made three first round picks over the last five years but all of them had made an impact, including last year’s sixth overall pick Nic Demski. On the other hand, only one player the Riders have picked in the first round over the last five years, Demski, remains on the team.

Ben Heenan was a high-impact player and helped the Riders win a Grey Cup on home turf in 2013 before departing to the NFL and then retiring. Corey Watman didn’t totally live up to the expectations as a fourth overall pick in 2013 before leaving this off-season as a free agent.

That leaves Demski, a highly skilled receiver and former running back from Manitoba who also flashed ability in the kick/punt return game in his rookie season last year. The Riders aren’t deep with national talent but have a solid building block in Demski, a 22-year-old who’s nowhere near reached his potential.

In short, the first overall pick on Tuesday is a great opportunity for the new regime led by Chris Jones to start things right — if the Riders don’t trade it.

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

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2015: OL Sukh Chungh (2nd)
2014:
 OL Matthias Goossen (2nd)
2013: DL Andy Mulumba (2nd)
2012: OL Tyson Pencer (3rd), pick forfeited (8th)
2011: LB Henoc Muamba (1st), REC Jade Etienne (4th)

The Bombers went through a difficult stretch from 2011 through 2013 as Jade Etienne, Tyson Pencer and Andy Mulumba never ended up in their long-term plans for one reason or another (Mulumba remains in the NFL). Meanwhile, the first overall pick in 2011 Henoc Muamba left the Bombers for the NFL and currently remains without a team.

It appears the Bombers’ fortunes changed in 2014 as back to back second overall picks produced offensive linemen Matthias Goossen and Sukh Chungh. Both of them have already proven to be impact players early in their careers with the likelihood of being long-term pillars on the Bomber O-line.

It’s proof that first round picks can truly be franchise-altering, as the Bombers are in good enough shape entering the 2016 CFL Draft to focus on building depth at the best position available rather than drafting by need, something that GM Kyle Walters admits has not been the case up until now.

This year they’ll pick ninth and 10th overall and could have some highly-touted prospects in their sights that aren’t necessarily offensive linemen.

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS

Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca

2015: No first round pick
2014:
 LB Beau Landry (8th), DL Evan Gill (9th)
2013: DL Linden Gaydosh (1st)
2012: No first round pick
2011: No first round pick

The Ticats traded their first round pick last year to get a solid Canadian guard in the prime of his career in Ryan Bomben, making it four of the last six drafts without a first round pick. Still, led by Courtney Stephen in the defensive backfield and Ted Laurent and Linden Gaydosh on the interior defensive line, Kent Austin has his team well-stocked with national talent.

Gaydosh (first overall in 2013) has proven he can be an impact player despite missing last season due to injury and should fill in the void on the defensive line left by the departures of Bryan Hall and Brian Bulcke. Then there’s Evan Gill, the 6-foot-3, 305-pound defensive lineman who hasn’t played a CFL game after suffering an ACL tear early in his career.

Gill believes his injury woes are behind him and should be ready to play an important role in 2016, teaming up with Laurent an Gaydosh to provide exceptional national talent in the middle of the D-line. They’ll complement dynamic free agent add John Chick to make Hamilton’s front four a potential nightmare to defend.

Beau Landry, the eighth overall pick in 2014, has been a solid contributor on special teams and is capable of starting when needed, as the Ticats have plenty of depth from Canadians at the linebacker position.

TORONTO ARGONAUTS

Johany Jutras/CFL

2015: OL Sean McEwen (3rd)
2014:
 RB Anthony Coombs (3rd)
2013: OL Matthew Sewell (8th)
2012: No first round pick
2011: OL Tyler Holmes (7th)

You can excuse the Argos for not having a first round pick in 2012 as that was the selection that landed them Ricky Ray in a trade with Edmonton. Outside of that, GM Jim Barker has made one selection in each of the last five years and his record is strong.

Tyler Holmes joined the Argos in the middle of 2013 after spending his first two years with the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings, becoming a reliable guard on the O-line starting 18 games in each of the last two seasons. Matthew Sewell was a highly-touted prospect in 2013 but fell to eighth overall. He hasn’t emerged as a regular starter but has played in 35 out of a possible 36 games the last two years and offers both depth and potential with his 6-foot-7, 322-pound frame.

The Argos traded up to get Anthony Coombs with the third overall pick in 2014, and the former Manitoba Bisons running back has made a smooth transition to that Andre Durie-type role in the Argos’ offence in showing speed and quickness and the ability to make something happen after the catch.

Expect last year’s third overall pick Sean McEwen to join the Argos this year after returning to school for the 2015 season, making the Argos are among the deepest teams in the CFL when it comes to national talent on the O-line — especially after signing franchise left tackle Josh Bourke and a former high draft pick in Corey Watman through free agency. And don’t be surprised if the Argos add yet another offensive lineman at fourth overall as the opportunity will be there.

OTTAWA REDBLACKS

Johany Jutras/CFL.ca

2015: OL Alex Mateas (1st)
2014:
 DB Antoine Pruneau (4th)
2013: OL Nolan MacMillan (8th)

If you include the addition of veteran centre Jon Gott (acquired in exchange for the first overall pick in 2014), REDBLACKS GM Marcel Desjardins has added four key building blocks with his first round picks in just three years.

Nolan MacMillan likely takes on a bigger role next season as he moves over from guard to right tackle in place of departed free agent Colin Kelly. That probably opens up a spot for last year’s first overall pick Alex Matteas, who did play a role last season but could now become a regular everyday started in the nation’s capital.

A sturdy, young offensive line with lots of Canadian depth should continue to grow and develop well into the future, coming off a year in which the REDBLACKS were sacked only 43 times (fourth-best in the CFL) and allowed Henry Burris to have a career year in winning MOP and leading Ottawa to the Grey Cup.

On the other side of the ball 2014 fourth overall pick Antoine Pruneau has played at an all-star level for Mark Nelson and Rick Campbell’s defence, helping that unit rank number one in the CFL by allowing 297.6 yards per game in 2015.

In short, early success in the draft has played a pivotal role for a team that has far exceeded expectations in its first two years back in the league.

MONTREAL ALOUETTES

THE CANADIAN PRESS

2015: DB Chris Ackie (4th), OL Jacob Ruby (8th)
2014:
 OL David Foucault (5th)
2013: DB Mike Edem (3rd), RB Steven Lumbala (5th)
2012: No first round pick
2011: K Brody McKnight (8th)

Jim Popp hasn’t had much luck with his first round picks from 2011 through 2014, as not one of the four taken in that span is currently on the roster.

The Als didn’t end up needing Brody McKnight and his strong leg because of Sean Whyte, but Popp said he was the best player on the board and managed to flip him for a 2013 first round pick. Then, after not picking in the first round in 2012, defensive back Mike Edem and running back Steven Lumbala were taken third and fifth overall respectively in 2013 — but again, neither are with the team as Edem was traded in just his second season in Montreal while Lumbala retired.

Not holding their breath on having David Foucault (fifth overall in 2014 who remains with the NFL’s Carolina Panthers) in the lineup any time soon, the Als hope they’ve hit a couple of home runs with the ultra-athletic Chris Ackie and a potential franchise tackle in Jacob Ruby.

Ackie won’t likely start this season but slots in behind breakout star Winston Venable on the Als’ defence and will play an important role on special teams. Ruby, meanwhile, could be in store for a defining season in Montreal as he is the likely favourite to replace former franchise tackle Josh Bourke on the left side of the O-line.

Either way, the Als’ second overall pick this year will be an important one as they look to replenish an aging veteran O-line that’s taken on some wear and tear over the last couple of years.