University of Montreal
It was a busy night at the 2018 CFL Draft, with 69 players finding new homes and all nine teams at least relatively happy with their draft haul.
Let’s take a team by team look at some of the draft’s biggest steals, value picks and questions marks moving forward:
BC LIONS
Touchdown: David Mackie – FB Western Mustangs – 16th overall
Mackie is the best blocking skill position player in this draft. He can catch out of the back field, handle the rock in short yardage and contribute immediately on special teams. One of my favourite players in the draft who was given a massive stamp of approval by Mustangs head coach Greg Marshall when we spoke last week.
David Mackie was the lead blocker on the country’s top rushing attack with Western (Jason Halstead/CFL.ca)
Value pick: Isaiah Guzylak-Messam – DB Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks – 34th overall
I really thought Guzylak-Messam would be gone early but the Lions have to be thrilled to get a physical defensive back with man coverage ability and a mean streak when approaching the football half way through the draft.
Question Mark: Peter Godber – OL Rice Owls – 3rd overall
Nobody is questioning the talent level of Godber here but he could be difficult to negotiate with based on previous precedent. The question here is will he string out NFL rookie mini camp invites or come north, and when he does, how quickly will he sign?
EDMONTON ESKIMOS
Touchdown: Jordan Beaulieu – DB Western Mustangs – 24th overall
Beaulieu is one of the best special teams players in the draft and approaches the game with a speed of foot and mental processing that I believe makes him ready to far exceed his 24th overall selection.
Value pick: Godfrey Onyeka – DB Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks – 10th overall
It might seem silly to call the 10th overall pick a value selection but many – including myself – had Onyeka snapped up by the middle of the first round. Good value here for an Edmonton team that you know will find creative way to use him. Perhaps behind Adam Konar and Christophe Mulumba Tshimanga at weak side linebacker.
Question Mark: Harry McMaster – REC Western Mustangs – 53rd overall
McMaster had trouble separating in a combine setting against defensive backs who will battle to make CFL rosters. He has to become more physical in order to access his natural route running and hands.
CALGARY STAMPEDERS
Touchdown: Eric Mezzalira – LB McMaster Marauders – 17th overall
Mezzalira had the highest wonderlic score at the national combine and understands the game at a high level. From attack angles to maintaining special teams leverage, Mezzalira is much more than a tatted up undersized linebacker from Stoney Creek. All reasons why he stunned many by going from the Ontario Regional Combine all the way to 17th overall.
Value pick: Dagogo Maxwell – DB UBC Thunderbirds – 42nd overall
This guy is way too athletic to have fallen this far but if that’s what other teams wanted to let happen, Dave Dickenson will be more than happy to add him to an already superiorly athletic national talent base.
Question Mark: Gabriel Ferraro – K/P Guelph Gryphons – 59th overall
They did it again. A few years ago with Rene Parades and Rob Maver setting records and controlling special teams, the Stamps drafted McMaster’s Tyler Crapigna. This time it’s Ferraro. Crapigna was traded for then-Saskatchewan running back Jerome Messam. Jerome is back in green again. Was Ferraro drafted as Rider trade bait again?!
SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS
Touchdown: Dakoda Shepley – OL UBC Thunderbirds – 5th overall
Speaking of the Riders, when you only have five elections to make in the draft you better make them count and they absolutely did with the top election of Dakoda Shepley from UBC. I never once put Shepley to the Riders in a mock draft assuming they would go elsewhere but now I see how much sense it makes, especially with Shepley being one of the true specimens in this draft at any position.
The Riders will have to wait and find out how soon Dakoda Shepley will be available to them (UBC)
Value pick: Mathieu Breton – DL Bishop’s Gaiters – 36th overall
Breton has a special frame and the type of quickness that could develop into a really nice national pass rush. The rare national whose body won’t look that out of place next to Willie Jefferson
Question Mark: Christopher Smith – OL York Lions – 63rd overall
Who? I asked around about Chris Smith last night and had one scout tell me the Riders are trying to find the next Jamal Campbell. Described as a really long, semi-athletic project, he’s not a horrible shot in the eighth round but still a question mark.
WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS
Touchdown: Dan Petermann – REC McMaster Marauders – 26th overall
I can’t believe how far Petermann fell but I don’t care at this point because I think he went to the right spot. With a team in search of a receiver with play-now ability after losing Julian Feoli-Gudino to Ottawa in free agency, Petermann might turn out to be the best receiver drafted by the Bombers in 2018.
Value pick: Jacob Firlotte – DB Queen’s Gaels – 58th overall
A big physical DB who should slot into special teams quickly, I’m surprised he was available this late despite deficiencies on defence. I’m betting Kyle Walters and the Bombers were too.
Question Mark: Rashaun Simonise – REC Okanagan Sun/Calgary Dinos – 12th overall
Only time will tell.
HAMILTON TIGER-CATS
Touchdown: Mark Chapman – REC Central Michigan – 1st overall
Perfect fit. Perfect coach to play for in an offence that will take his greatest strengths and only make them stronger.
Value pick: Jackson Bennett – DB Ottawa Gee-Gees – 11th overall
General Manager Eric Tillman said to me last night he feels like the Ticats got three first round picks for the price of two selections. He isn’t wrong. Thanks to the historic run on offensive lineman in the first round, arguably the most versatile player in the draft slid all the way to Hamilton.
The Ticats feel strongly they got a steal in Jackson Bennett in Round 2 (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
Question Mark: Joel Van Pelt – DL Calgary Dinos – 62nd overall
When I saw Van Pelt’s game film and frame I was secretly cheering for him to crush the Western Regional Combine. His numbers weren’t very good so he slid all the way to 62nd overall. Now he gets a chance to learn the game surrounded by former Dinos teammates with teaching from the best technician in the game, Ticats defensive line coach Dennis McPhee.
TORONTO ARGONAUTS
Touchdown: Nelkas Kwemo – LB Queen’s Gaels – 18th overall
Last year I called Malcolm Carter, a receiver from the Ottawa Sooners, “The Unicorn” thanks to his physical attributes. This year my favourite animal nickname is “Bambi” for Nelkas Kwemo. The guy runs and cuts in a way that suggests not even he has figured out how strong and fast his lower half can be. One of the tallest linebackers drafted in recent history with one of the highest ceilings in the draft.
Value pick: Regis Cibasu – REC Montreal Carabins – 20th overall
Regis Cibasu is much better than a 20th overall pick but he has an NFL workout in Chicago planned and is going back to school if he doesn’t make the NFL. The Argos picked up pieces for now but also for later including Cibasu, who could join as soon as next year. Alongside former Argos draft pick Declan Cross, the Argos would boast a physically intimidating national midfield lineup.
Question Mark: Doubters
I’ve seen all the question marks about the Argos’ draft this year and I’m here to tell you why Argos fans need not be concerned. The Double Blue added four impact special teams players, three of which have crazy length and athleticism. Meanwhile they happen to have added arguably the best player in the draft with Ryan Hunter from Bowling Green and Cibasu who could effectively join next year’s squad to bolster the 2019 draft class.
Jim Popp and his staff know what they’re doing. They’ve been at this a while.
OTTAWA REDBLACKS
Touchdown: Marco Dubois – REC Laval Rouge Et Or
If you are a high school coach who wants to teach the intricate details of special teams play to an up-and-coming player, look no further than Marco Dubois’ highlight tape. Immediate impact player with the chance to develop route running and quickness on offence behind a similar body type in Brad Sinopoli.
The REDBLACKS hope Marco Dubois provides depth at Canadian receiver (Brianna Thicke/CFL.ca)
Value pick: Mickael Cote – LB Concordia Stingers – 30th overall
This dude was sneaky good through the entire draft process. The REDBLACKS got a tall-framed linebacker who can run at a good price.
Question Mark: Jacob Czaja – OL St.FX X-Men – 64th overall
I thought there were better blockers available from the regional combines including Nicholas Bartolacci from Saint Mary’s, but something about Czaja caught Ottawa’s eye.
MONTREAL ALOUETTES
Touchdown: Trey Rutherford – OL UConn Huskies – 2nd overall
Big, physical, experienced, positionally flexible. What else could you want? Not to mention the Alouettes successfully leveraged their top pick into a veteran in Ryan Bomben to fill another void. Add in all the picks they used and Montreal had a great night.
Value pick: Paul Kozachuk – LB University of Toronto Varsity Blues – 46th overall
His journey began at the Ontario Regional Combine, where the numbers were undeniable. He got a ticket to Winnipeg where he outplayed several other linebackers and running backs in special teams drills and now Kozachuk gets a CFL training camp invitation at a great value spot for the Alouettes.
Question Mark: Etienne Moisan – REC Laval Rouge et Or – 51st overall
Why and how did he fall so far? Is there something I’m missing here? Regardless, this is a good football player from a football factory who will help the Alouettes in a variety of areas.
