Argos sign Canadian QB Noah Picton

[Will]

#Argos sign Canadian QB Noah Picton https://t.co/bKfxkdCtGC #Toronto #CFL pic.twitter.com/IytKUH1ckN

— Justin Dunk (@JDunk12) May 10, 2018

[jerrym]

Great to see him get a chance. The only question is, is it a real chance.

[gilthethrill]

Great, hope he does well. Reminds me of the Dan Ferriday signing in the early 80's.

[rdavies]

Great to see him get a chance. The only question is, is it a real chance.

I think it is. When the Als under Popp had Kyle Quinlan IIRC they gave him a shot (how legitimate I cannot say) But Popp wanted him back a second time which I think was sincere but I don't think Quinlan thought that and he retired to coach.

I can see Popp being the Branch Rickey of the CFL, I think he may even like the idea. For me, JMO, the true Canadian QB has to be USports trained, that is what will be the real statement and the QB whisperer and Popp are the guys to do it. I just hope the BS about his size doesn't have anything to do with the length of his career.

[rdavies]

Argos sign Canadian QB Noah Picton
Justin Dunk 3downnation May 10, 2018

Canadian quarterback Noah Picton has signed with the Toronto Argonauts.

Argos general manager Jim Popp has been known to give national pivots opportunities in the CFL. He drafted Brandon Bridge while in Montreal and signed Kyle Quinlan as an undrafted free agent in 2012 just to name a couple.

Picton went unselected in the 2018 CFL draft and did not get picked up through the non-counter waiver process.

Each team can bring two Canadian players, often draft-eligible athletes that were passed over, to training camp as long as they have not played a down in the CFL. Just like CFL draft picks those players do not count as part of the team’s 75-man roster. However, draft-eligible free agents do count towards the roster number.

Picton won the Hec Crighton Trophy in 2016 after setting a USports single-season record with 3,186 passing yards. He followed that up with a first-team All-Canadian selection in 2017. Picton is already the Canada West conference’s all-time leading passer (9,840).

He checked in at just over 5-foot-8 and 177 pounds at the CFL combine – undersized for a prototypical professional quarterback.

Picton spent 2015 training camp with the Saskatchewan Roughriders as part of the CFL’s Canadian quarterback internship program.

After the CFL combine in March all Picton wanted was a shot.

“You don’t need everybody to believe, you just need someone to give you a shot,” Picton said. “And I feel confident that if I get that shot I’ll be alright.”

[OV Argo]

In the TC battle for 3rd string?

Or maybe just a PR stunt/extra arm for TC ?

Be real interesting to hear some honest reports from TC on this one - from those of you lucky enough to attend some; ex. game playing time would be a big indicator of real interest, IMO.

Pulling for the kid of course, but a tough road to travel - given CFL history and standard party line thinking.

[rdavies]

given CFL history and standard party line thinking.

I don't think Popp has followed the party line.

[rdavies]

Canadian QB Noah Picton going to learn from ‘a room full of greats’ with Argos
3Down Staff May 10, 2018

Noah Picton believes only positive things can happen from signing with the Toronto Argonauts.

Especially considering Picton will be learning from head coach Marc Trestman, Hall of Fame quarterback Anthony Calvillo and four-time Grey Cup champion Ricky Ray.

“It’s a room full of greats, I don’t think there is any better place that I could go at the quarterback position. It’s going to be a whirlwind of learning and knowledge. I’m just excited to get there and see how they operate and approach the game mentally,” Picton told 620 CKRM’s, Mitchell Blair.

“I definitely don’t think I could get worse learning from those guys. So I think it’s only going to improve the mental side of the game. They have so much experience and knowledge that I’m just looking to go soak up.”

The Argos inked Picton after he went unselected in the 2018 CFL draft.

“[The draft] is always going to bother you. Like I said from the get-go I just wanted to get into a camp, that’s the opportunity that I have right now. I’ve always had a chip on my shoulder whether or not [going undrafted] plays a part in it, at the end of the day I’m at a camp, so I’m happy with that,” Picton said.

“It’s exciting. It feels like all your hard work has come to something, but you understand that really all this is is a job interview now. There is a lot of work ahead. But I’m pleased obviously, I’m excited, I’m ready to go.”

Picton is aware of the hype around Canadian quarterbacks, but it’s not something he wants to get caught up in.

“My job isn’t to start debates. People will talk and it’s great, not to say that I don’t appreciate it, but my job is to go play football whether I’m Canadian or American, that’s really all I’m focused on,” Picton said.

“Going into Toronto I’m not going there with the intention of starting a Canadian quarterback conversation. I just want to go play some good football and show them what I can do. If that conversation gets going, that’s awesome but that’s definitely not my goal.”

[Flutie]

I think it is. When the Als under Popp had Kyle Quinlan IIRC they gave him a shot (how legitimate I cannot say) But Popp wanted him back a second time which I think was sincere but I don't think Quinlan thought that and he retired to coach.

I can see Popp being the Branch Rickey of the CFL, I think he may even like the idea. For me, JMO, the true Canadian QB has to be USports trained, that is what will be the real statement and the QB whisperer and Popp are the guys to do it. I just hope the BS about his size doesn't have anything to do with the length of his career.

He will get a shot but look at the QBs in camp - SIX of them now. All except Picton with NFL, NCAA, CFL experience. ALL of the other QBs have faced NCAA defenses or NFL defenses. Picton has only faced CIS defenses. It's going to be tough.
Obviously Ray is the starter with Franklin as the backup, the there is Jeff Mathews with CFL experience who could be #3, then there Bethel-Thompson who is 6'4" and 230 Pounds, I would take him as a running QB. There there is Dakota Prukup with a lot of potential.

So yes it's nice to give a guy an invite to camp, he will be working for a few weeks but looking at the competition there is no way he makes it.
When he is cut everyone will say that he didn't get a fair chance etc but the reality is there is too much competition and the other QBs in camp have so much more experience.

[Will]

He will get a shot but look at the QBs in camp - SIX of them now. All except Picton with NFL, NCAA, CFL experience. ALL of the other QBs have faced NCAA defenses or NFL defenses. Picton has only faced CIS defenses. It's going to be tough.
Obviously Ray is the starter with Franklin as the backup, the there is Jeff Mathews with CFL experience who could be #3, then there Bethel-Thompson who is 6'4" and 230 Pounds, I would take him as a running QB. There there is Dakota Prukup with a lot of potential.

So yes it's nice to give a guy an invite to camp, he will be working for a few weeks but looking at the competition there is no way he makes it.
When he is cut everyone will say that he didn't get a fair chance etc but the reality is there is too much competition and the other QBs in camp have so much more experience.

A frank, but unfortunately accurate perspective of the situation facing Picton.

[paulwoods13]

I expect we will keep five QBs, including one on IR and one on PR. I think the No. 3 job is B-T's to lose. I think Picton could stick on PR and one of Mathews or Prukop will be cut or traded. Mathews, as a QB with some experience, could be traded to Calgary which has no one with experience behind Mitchell.

[Will]

I expect we will keep five QBs, including one on IR and one on PR. I think the No. 3 job is B-T's to lose. I think Picton could stick on PR and one of Mathews or Prukop will be cut or traded. Mathews, as a QB with some experience, could be traded to Calgary which has no one with experience behind Mitchell.

With Durant's retirement, the Bombers may also be looking for a backup.

[AngeloV]

I expect we will keep five QBs, including one on IR and one on PR. I think the No. 3 job is B-T's to lose. I think Picton could stick on PR and one of Mathews or Prukop will be cut or traded. Mathews, as a QB with some experience, could be traded to Calgary which has no one with experience behind Mitchell.

I still disagree with you about the #3. I think it's Prukop who will get it. Argos used Prukop as an up back in punt formation last year until he got injured, then Fajardo took over that responsibility. I believe the team wants more than just a clipboard holder out of the #3 position, and special teams ability will be the deciding factor. B-T is not athletic, so I don't see him filling that role. The arrival of James Franklin IMO, will be the end of B-T tenure as an Argo, unless he is willing to take a PR or IR spot again.

[doubleblue]

I expect we will keep five QBs, including one on IR and one on PR. I think the No. 3 job is B-T's to lose. I think Picton could stick on PR and one of Mathews or Prukop will be cut or traded. Mathews, as a QB with some experience, could be traded to Calgary which has no one with experience behind Mitchell.

Yes it looks like Popp has something going on, and two of Mathews, Prukop and Thompson could well be traded for draft picks. My choice to keep would be between Prukop and Bethel-Thompson (I hate these double names). Prukop is probably the better athlete and Bethal-Thompson the better passer right now. So lets say Mathews goes to Calgary and Bethal-Thompson to Winnipeg for second round picks, Prukop stays as #3. Then Popp brings in another rookie from the neg list as a development guy on the IR and Picton maybe sticks around on the PR.

[Wobbler]

Second round picks?!

None of those three guys has any trade value, IMO.

[ArgoGabe22]

BT is 29. Prukop is 24. It's now or never for BT, while Prukop still has time to ride the pine. Prukop has a more long term future, age alone.

[paulwoods13]

BT's age works against him, but it's also about who fits the offensive scheme best. Based on limited viewing in preseason, Prukop looks to me like more of a Fajardo-type scrambler, while BT looks more like a read-and-react type, and we know the offence is designed for the latter. But that's why we have camp and preseason games, to see who should be kept. I agree neither Prukop nor BT has much trade value but think we might be able to get something for Mathews because he has played in the league. Not as much as a second-rounder, tho.

[AngeloV]

BT's age works against him, but it's also about who fits the offensive scheme best. Based on limited viewing in preseason, Prukop looks to me like more of a Fajardo-type scrambler, while BT looks more like a read-and-react type, and we know the offence is designed for the latter. But that's why we have camp and preseason games, to see who should be kept. I agree neither Prukop nor BT has much trade value but think we might be able to get something for Mathews because he has played in the league. Not as much as a second-rounder, tho.

B-T can fit the offensive scheme, but only if he makes #1 or #2. I can't see the Argos keeping him as a #3. I just don't see it.

[Antwon]

I expect we will keep five QBs, including one on IR and one on PR. I think the No. 3 job is B-T's to lose. I think Picton could stick on PR and one of Mathews or Prukop will be cut or traded. Mathews, as a QB with some experience, could be traded to Calgary which has no one with experience behind Mitchell.

I believe Mathews will be cut or traded. He was pulled from his one start last year.
I hope Picton gets some good reps to show what he can do, and go from there.

Side note for Cdn QB. I really think Bridge will be a bonafide starter in the near future. Also O'Conner from UBC looks to have all the tools to be a future pro QB.

[R.J]

I'd be really surprised if Matthews and Bethel Thompson are cut, Trestman loves pocket QB's. Prukop and Picton being cut wouldn't surprise me though, which IMO would be a massive mistake (at least with Prukop).