2021 CFL Draft and the Argos

[jerrym]

The rules have been set for the 2021 draft with the Argos getting no advantage for having done so miserably in the last season that they played in 2019 but using random draft order instead.

Here are the changes along with the rationale for each one.
• The draft order will be determined by a random draw that is equally weighted across the nine CFL clubs. Teams traditionally pick eligible players in an order based on their records in the previous season, with the team with the worst record choosing first, barring trades, to encourage parity. The 2020 CFL Draft followed that traditional format. But the CFL is not staging a season in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The 2021 CFL Draft will feature a “snake” format. That means that after teams pick in the first round, with the order determined by random draw, they will then pick in reverse order in the second round, and that pattern will continue. For example, the team that picks ninth in the first round will pick first in the second round.
• The 2021 CFL Draft will be six rounds long instead of the traditional eight rounds. This is in recognition of the fact that 2021 CFL training camps will feature a “double cohort” of Canadian rookies, with a group from each of the 2020 and 2021 CFL Drafts.
• There will be no territorial selections in the 2021 CFL Draft.

https://www.cfl.ca/2020/11/05/2021-c...icant-changes/

[doubleblue]

The rules have been set for the 2021 draft with the Argos getting no advantage for having done so miserably in the last season that they played in 2019 but using random draft order instead.

https://www.cfl.ca/2020/11/05/2021-c...icant-changes/

A lot of good players available in the first three rounds IMO. Drafting at #9 even is not so bad because then you have the #10 pick coming up in round 2. That might be better than having #1 and #18. Having the #1 pick anymore means you're not picking the best player available, because they're going to the NFL.

Nothing mentioned about a Global draft, or is that a story for another Day.

[jerrym]

The CFL is planning to go ahead with the National and Regional Combines in March, providing it gets approval from health officials, as the league prepares for the 2021 CFL draft.

[OV Argo]

A lot of good players available in the first three rounds IMO. Drafting at #9 even is not so bad because then you have the #10 pick coming up in round 2. That might be better than having #1 and #18. Having the #1 pick anymore means you're not picking the best player available, because they're going to the NFL.

Nothing mentioned about a Global draft, or is that a story for another Day.

Agreed that #s 9 & 10 might be better.

Real good DB crop this draft coming up = Argos could look there perhaps.

And it will be a two-fold crop of new Canadian talent for next TC (if there is a CFL season) = IMO, time for the CFL of thinking of changing roster & ratio rules to allow for wayyyyyy more Canadian content in the CFL = time for a Commish with some guts & vision for the CANADIAN Football League !

[SkalbaniasGhost]

Agreed that #s 9 & 10 might be better.

Real good DB crop this draft coming up = Argos could look there perhaps.

And it will be a two-fold crop of new Canadian talent for next TC (if there is a CFL season) = IMO, time for the CFL of thinking of changing roster & ratio rules to allow for wayyyyyy more Canadian content in the CFL = time for a Commish with some guts & vision for the CANADIAN Football League !

Don't speak the truth OV.You know the PTB frown upon disrupting the status quo.It will be the usual "There's just not enough Canadian talent out there" response.

[OV Argo]

Don't speak the truth OV.You know the PTB frown upon disrupting the status quo.It will be the usual "There's just not enough Canadian talent out there" response.

I don't know about "the truth". ;o)

But, IMO - there is plenty of Canadian football talent out there to stock 200 or more roster spots in a Canadian professional football league.

And for a for example, if CFL rosters had a majority of Canadian players (say 22 players on a CFL game roster of 41 to 43 (41 my ideal game roster size)) - that would mean 198 NIs or Nationals or whatever they get called. That could mean the entire Canadian talent pool would have to produce, say - 45 O-linemen, 40 receivers, 25 linebackers, 25 defensive backs, 20 running backs, 8 H-backs (fullback/tight end), 7 QBs, 9 punters and 9 place kickers. plus 10 other various special teamers (including long-snappers). Easily do-able IMO (and of course they would not all be starters); there was a CFL time when all teams started Canadians at all 5 O-line spots, so that was 45 Canadian O-line starters in the league at one time. in theory, one starting Canadian LB per team with 2 back-ups (and LBs are often special team aces) means only 27 LBs across the league = that is so do-able - with existing talent and new prospects added every draft (the Argos already have Ackie, Lokombo, Shortill, Kwemo and recent draft pick Jack Cassar who could line-up at LB for them); Brescacin, Noel, Adjei, Gittens, Cibasu, 1st rounder Brissett and some other draft pick receivers to compete? - lots of talent there. And so on, and so on = plenty of Canadian football talent out there to stock CFL teams and with an increase in Canadian content on rosters.

[paulwoods13]

Don't speak the truth OV.You know the PTB frown upon disrupting the status quo.It will be the usual "There's just not enough Canadian talent out there" response.

PTB? Pls enlighten.

[argolio]

PTB? Pls enlighten.

Powers that be.

[Argo57]

2021 CFL Draft
Hamilton will pick 1st, Argos get the 7th pick.

https://3downnation.com/2020/11/21/h...g-random-draw/

[OV Argo]

2021 CFL Draft
Hamilton will pick 1st, Argos get the 7th pick.

https://3downnation.com/2020/11/21/h...g-random-draw/

So, with the "snake" format = the Argos get #7 and then # !2 ?

Some real good DB prospects this draft - maybe a future star or at least solid starter safety (like Alonzo Addae (W. Virgina) or Nelson Lokombo (Sask. Huskies - U Sports D player of the year last season); Argos could go there first and then look at a good O-line prospect with # 12 (maybe get all-star C Conner Berglof (Sask.) as a replacement for McEwen) ?

[jerrym]

Below is a look at some Canadian college players in the US during week 12:

https://3downnation.com/2020/11/24/i...after-week-12/

[doubleblue]

Below is a look at some Canadian college players in the US during week 12:

https://3downnation.com/2020/11/24/i...after-week-12/

Thanks Jerry. Canadian talent in the NCAA just keeps growing.

[doubleblue]

So, with the "snake" format = the Argos get #7 and then # !2 ?

Some real good DB prospects this draft - maybe a future star or at least solid starter safety (like Alonzo Addae (W. Virgina) or Nelson Lokombo (Sask. Huskies - U Sports D player of the year last season); Argos could go there first and then look at a good O-line prospect with # 12 (maybe get all-star C Conner Berglof (Sask.) as a replacement for McEwen) ?

Don't know how many of the USports players will come out for the 2021 draft as they could play their Senior year next fall if they so choose. But guys like WR Will Corby Toronto, LB Grant McDonald Calgary and S Nelson Lokombo Sask. would be good picks. C/G Liam Dobson, De Deshawn Stevens both out of Maine or CB Alonzo Addae West Virginia could be available at 7 and 12.
I would take LB Amen Ogbongbemiga out of Oklahoma State at #7 though if he was available. Could be a long time starter at MLB.

[OV Argo]

Don't know how many of the USports players will come out for the 2021 draft as they could play their Senior year next fall if they so choose. But guys like WR Will Corby Toronto, LB Grant McDonald Calgary and S Nelson Lokombo Sask. would be good picks. C/G Liam Dobson, De Deshawn Stevens both out of Maine or CB Alonzo Addae West Virginia could be available at 7 and 12.
I would take LB Amen Ogbongbemiga out of Oklahoma State at #7 though if he was available. Could be a long time starter at MLB.

Don't really think the Argos have need at Canadian LB, with Ackie,, Shorthil, Kwemo,draft pick Cassar (the latter 2 both big, natural MLB types), plus Bo Lokombo (could easily go back to LB and play either MLB or Will if need be IMO) already in the fold. Maybe if they thought Ogbo was the next Mike O'Shea though. Rather go safety (Addae or Lokombo) and O-line with the top 2 picks.

Dobson & Stevens at Maine both sound like excellent CFL prospects; but Maine is not playing this season (?) = so does that mean NCAA Canucks who did not get to play this year, will get to play their 4th season next year - and thus defer in the CFL draft too ???

Lots of Canadian football talent in the NCAA lately, but mind you, there always usually is. Be interesting to see all that Canadian talent down there put together on one team (and supplemented by the top U Sports talent) - IMO would make for a top notch, winning Div I team. Hubbard at tailback would be a nice start, and Nathan Rourke's young brother is already starting at Ohio at QB (but Tre Ford (Waterloo) might be the top college ball Canadian QB talent now); Jana & Palmer are 2 top notch starting receivers and young Metchie is doing things at a top program at Alabama; lots of good Canadian D talent down there too (that DT Diallo at C. Michigan is coming on this season) !

[OV Argo]

3 Down reporting that a lot of U Sports players have decided to defer to next draft, so the CFL is considering making all NCAA ball Canucks available this draft (as opposed to just players who are finishing their college ball career there), as a one time thing for this draft, to make up for lack of U Sports players available (if I understand what they are reporting right ?)

Would open up a lot of talent for this draft IMO - there is a whole whack of Canadians playing US college ball now, and some have nice resumes already in their 3rd, 2nd or even 1st year seasons. Might have made more sense to just include 3rd year guys?

[jerrym]

3 Down reporting that a lot of U Sports players have decided to defer to next draft, so the CFL is considering making all NCAA ball Canucks available this draft (as opposed to just players who are finishing their college ball career there), as a one time thing for this draft, to make up for lack of U Sports players available (if I understand what they are reporting right ?)

Would open up a lot of talent for this draft IMO - there is a whole whack of Canadians playing US college ball now, and some have nice resumes already in their 3rd, 2nd or even 1st year seasons. Might have made more sense to just include 3rd year guys?

I understand the logic of this but this raises the question of whether you then rob future drafts of Canadian NCAA players. I also wonder how many would give up their education and the dream of heading to the much more highly paid NFL, even for those whose performance so far makes that highly unlikely, for a job that often isn't much different in rookie salary from what they would get with a degree. On the other hand, there may be a famine in jobs in general for newcomers in an economy going through a severe recession much like that that followed the 2008 economic crisis even with widespread vaccination.

[Shatto]

Perhaps, the draft could have fewer rounds this year and make it up with a more rounds next year.

[doubleblue]

I understand the logic of this but this raises the question of whether you then rob future drafts of Canadian NCAA players. I also wonder how many would give up their education and the dream of heading to the much more highly paid NFL, even for those whose performance so far makes that highly unlikely, for a job that often isn't much different in rookie salary from what they would get with a degree. On the other hand, there may be a famine in jobs in general for newcomers in an economy going through a severe recession much like that that followed the 2008 economic crisis even with widespread vaccination.

Drafting red shirt juniors again for 1 year would be a good idea IMO. Most if not all would go back for their Senior year. Then in 2022 CFL teams would be drafting in theory two U Sports Seniors years. so number wise it would all work out. Draft two years of NCAA players in 2021 and two years of U Sports players in 2022.

[doubleblue]

Top NCAA Juniors:

OL Sidy Sow 6'5 315 Eastern Michigan - Starter
OL Dontae Bull 6'6 325 Fresno State - Starter

WR Samuel Emilus 6'1 200 U Mass - Starter

RB Chuba Hubbard 6'0 205 Oklahoma - Starter

TE Julien Bourassa 6'6 255 Buffalo - Back-Up

QB Cam Fietz 6'1 296 Arizona - Back-Up

DE Travis Robinson 6'6 250 Mississippi - Starter
DT Lwal Uguak 6'5 270 Connecticut - Back-Up
DT Justin Sambu 6'3 285 Maine - Back-Up

LB Jesse Luketa 6'4 245 Penn State - Starter
LB Tyrell Richardson 6'3 235 Syracuse - Back-Up
LB Tyrus LeBeau 6'1 210 U Mass - Starter

S Javon Holland 6'1 196 Oregon - Starter
S Sidney Brown 6'0 210 Illinois - Starter
S Brandon Brown 5'10 180 Central Mich. - Back-Up
S Enock Makonzo 5'11 195 Costal Carolina - Starter
S Jonathan Sutherland 5'11 200 Penn State - Back-Up
CB Katley Joseph 5'11 175 Maine - Starter
S Shaquille St-Lot 6'0 195 Maine - Back-Up
S Woodley Appolon 6'4 205 Northern Illinois - Back-Up
CB Arthur Hamlin 6'0 190 Colgate - Starter

Probably can add more going forward and some of the players listed with this years Seniors may be still Juniors.

[jerrym]

Here's a look at the performance of NCAA Canadians in week 14 where MLB Amen Ogbongbemiga led all LBs in rankings and might be too small to stick in the NFL.

https://3downnation.com/2020/12/08/i...ur-in-week-14/