Should the Argos Draft Mathieu Betts #1 Overall?

[OV Argo]

I would not wait that long. I'd take whichever of the two is better (I'm guessing O'Connor) no later than our first pick in Round 3.

So, Popp and the Argos would entertain the notion of 3 Canadian QBs to get a real shot to compete in TC ? O'Connor or Merchant added to go with Bridge & Picton ?

Could be i guess, but I'll believe pigs flying first.

A number of CFL teams have huge QB depth / need for TC competition now - Ottawa, Hamilton, Edmonton, Riders, BC, Calgary ... if any of those teams have even the slightest respect for Canadian QBs getting a look, they will be up for drafting those guys = we shall see. Wonder why none of them bothered to try to sign Laval QB Hugo Richard ? - before the Als did when they had easily the already deepest QB depth chart in the league - Manzier (before he got punted) and 4 other QBs with CFL playing experience (Adams, Pipkin, Matthews & Shiltz).

O'Connor, Richard or Merchant could easily be competing for the #2 job or #3 at least, on some of those CFL teams. They won't be.

[Argo57]

So, Popp and the Argos would entertain the notion of 3 Canadian QBs to get a real shot to compete in TC ? O'Connor or Merchant added to go with Bridge & Picton ?

Could be i guess, but I'll believe pigs flying first.

A number of CFL teams have huge QB depth / need for TC competition now - Ottawa, Hamilton, Edmonton, Riders, BC, Calgary ... if any of those teams have even the slightest respect for Canadian QBs getting a look, they will be up for drafting those guys = we shall see. Wonder why none of them bothered to try to sign Laval QB Hugo Richard ? - before the Als did when they had easily the already deepest QB depth chart in the league - Manzier (before he got punted) and 4 other QBs with CFL playing experience (Adams, Pipkin, Matthews & Shiltz).

O'Connor, Richard or Merchant could easily be competing for the #2 job or #3 at least, on some of those CFL teams. They won't be.

Will the Argos draft one of the available QB’s maybe maybe not, should they....absolutely!
The Bridge signing did nothing for me TBH, not sure he will ever develop into a reliable CFL QB.
Sadly Picton’s size may keep him from getting a chance to prove himself, time will tell.

[CFLfan]

So, Popp and the Argos would entertain the notion of 3 Canadian QBs to get a real shot to compete in TC ? O'Connor or Merchant added to go with Bridge & Picton ?

Could be i guess, but I'll believe pigs flying first.

A number of CFL teams have huge QB depth / need for TC competition now - Ottawa, Hamilton, Edmonton, Riders, BC, Calgary ... if any of those teams have even the slightest respect for Canadian QBs getting a look, they will be up for drafting those guys = we shall see. Wonder why none of them bothered to try to sign Laval QB Hugo Richard ? - before the Als did when they had easily the already deepest QB depth chart in the league - Manzier (before he got punted) and 4 other QBs with CFL playing experience (Adams, Pipkin, Matthews & Shiltz).

O'Connor, Richard or Merchant could easily be competing for the #2 job or #3 at least, on some of those CFL teams. They won't be.

The TSN analysts reporting at the combine were saying that O'Connor would be the only QB to get a legit shot. They say he has the resume, in other words he has played in the NCAA, was recruited in high school to do his final 2 years at a US high school.
The other guys may look impressive at combines when they are only measuring speed, agility, strength but when it comes to reading defenses, learning plays, they are lacking. The CIS QBs have only thrown passes into defenses with Canadian only DBs and been chased down by CIS D linemen. The CFL is a huge step up when they have to face experienced CFL defenses, ex-NFL, ex-NCAA players.

As for going after Betts as the first pick - "All Betts are off"

[OV Argo]

Hey, it's that troll from over at the 3 Down site comments gallery. Spam alert.

[AngeloV]

The TSN analysts reporting at the combine were saying that O'Connor would be the only QB to get a legit shot. They say he has the resume, in other words he has played in the NCAA, was recruited in high school to do his final 2 years at a US high school.
The other guys may look impressive at combines when they are only measuring speed, agility, strength but when it comes to reading defenses, learning plays, they are lacking. The CIS QBs have only thrown passes into defenses with Canadian only DBs and been chased down by CIS D linemen. The CFL is a huge step up when they have to face experienced CFL defenses, ex-NFL, ex-NCAA players.

As for going after Betts as the first pick - "All Betts are off"

Dude, you do realize that 95% of NCAA players are deemed not good enough to play in the pros, right? How many former Alabama QB's make it to the pros compared to FCS (1AA) or even div II schools? If your argument was valid, every Alabama QB for the last 20 years would be good to great pro QB's.

If a QB is good enough, and a team has patience to develop, reading defences at the pro level will come to them no matter where they played college ball.

[doubleblue]

Looks like Matt Betts is aiming to be in a NFL camp this summer. Laval held their own pro day and he has probably been told that he will be a FA signing down there at least.
So that ship has sailed and I'm all not that disappointed after watching the Combine on the week end. With all the WR talent this year and just average good Offensive Line prospects I believe Jim Popp will select a receiver now at #1. Hergy Mayala of U Conn and Justin McInnis of Arkansas State are rated the top two and have their pro days this week. But after seeing the talent on display yesterday I doubt those two are much better than some of the players we saw at the CFL Combine.
I really like this big guy Brady Lenius-Dickey out of New Mexico who came in at 6'5 1/4" 243 and ran a 4.7 forty caught everything with soft hands thrown his way in the one on ones. But then there is Chris Osei-Kusi out of Queens 6' 1/2" 192 4.4 forty who also showed good moves and hands. To me Osei-Kusi would be the best fit for the Argos and come in an learn the pro game behind Walker, but it would be nice to get them both but I can't see that happening. Then at #9 one of O Linemen Saxelid, Wilkinson, Williams or Gibbon should still be there.
Then at #18 and #21 could be time to take a flyer on one of NFL signees (Kobongo)? and good special teams type guy (Sopik)?. So what could go wrong?
Well, how could we forget the first two picks a couple of years ago Mason Woods and Evan Foster. But Cross, Woodson, Onyeka and Herdman were good later round picks. Alls well that ends well.
Last year was pretty good if Hunter and Cibasu eventually get here and produce.

[OV Argo]

Looks like Matt Betts is aiming to be in a NFL camp this summer. Laval held their own pro day and he has probably been told that he will be a FA signing down there at least.
So that ship has sailed and I'm all not that disappointed after watching the Combine on the week end. With all the WR talent this year and just average good Offensive Line prospects I believe Jim Popp will select a receiver now at #1. Hergy Mayala of U Conn and Justin McInnis of Arkansas State are rated the top two and have their pro days this week. But after seeing the talent on display yesterday I doubt those two are much better than some of the players we saw at the CFL Combine.
I really like this big guy Brady Lenius-Dickey out of New Mexico who came in at 6'5 1/4" 243 and ran a 4.7 forty caught everything with soft hands thrown his way in the one on ones. But then there is Chris Osei-Kusi out of Queens 6' 1/2" 192 4.4 forty who also showed good moves and hands. To me Osei-Kusi would be the best fit for the Argos and come in an learn the pro game behind Walker, but it would be nice to get them both but I can't see that happening. Then at #9 one of O Linemen Saxelid, Wilkinson, Williams or Gibbon should still be there.
Then at #18 and #21 could be time to take a flyer on one of NFL signees (Kobongo)? and good special teams type guy (Sopik)?. So what could go wrong?
Well, how could we forget the first two picks a couple of years ago Mason Woods and Evan Foster. But Cross, Woodson, Onyeka and Herdman were good later round picks. Alls well that ends well.
Last year was pretty good if Hunter and Cibasu eventually get here and produce.

What is the deal with Cibasu anyways? - why is he not signed yet - and that needs to be known before going into this draft ???

As far as using one of the top picks on another receiver ? - why bother , unless Cibasu is not coming for sure, plus the team has little faith in Noel or Coombs ? Maybe if they think one of those receivers is an instant starter, PLUS they are quite open to starting at least 2 Canadian receivers - then maybe. It is a very good receiver crop this draft IMO - those 2 US college ball guys McInnis & Mayala, but also several star U Sports receivers are up there (and maybe better) - K.J Grant, K. Gittens in particular, but also the likes of Osei-Kusi (blazing 40 time might get him a bit over-rated though - all-time CFL Combine 40 hand held time was set by Steven Turner who i don't think ever played a down in the CFL); Hunter Karl (Dinos) and Malik Richards (Mount A) and Colton Hunchak (York) are all athletic, plus put up good receiving #s in college ball.

Might be better to use the top pick on an O-lineman; I woulda said Betts for sure if there was no NFL flight risk - possible instant starter at DE - a big area of need.

[paulwoods13]

What is the deal with Cibasu anyways? - why is he not signed yet - and that needs to be known before going into this draft ???

As far as using one of the top picks on another receiver ? - why bother , unless Cibasu is not coming for sure, plus the team has little faith in Noel or Coombs ? Maybe if they think one of those receivers is an instant starter, PLUS they are quite open to starting at least 2 Canadian receivers - then maybe. It is a very good receiver crop this draft IMO

I think you answered your own question. If the draft's strongest position is receiver, why not take the best player available even if he's a receiver? Yes, it's a position of decent depth for the Argos, but picks and current players are also assets that can get something else. If Cibasu signs (and I expect he will), and if we end up spending a high pick on a receiver, too many NAT receivers is a nice problem to have. Someone could be traded for a position of greater need that isn't deep in this year's draft.

[OV Argo]

I think you answered your own question. If the draft's strongest position is receiver, why not take the best player available even if he's a receiver? Yes, it's a position of decent depth for the Argos, but picks and current players are also assets that can get something else. If Cibasu signs (and I expect he will), and if we end up spending a high pick on a receiver, too many NAT receivers is a nice problem to have. Someone could be traded for a position of greater need that isn't deep in this year's draft.

Sure would be nice to have a bunch of quality NI receivers; but how many do the Argos plan to play?

Receiver position group = 5 starting positions; and O-line = 5 starting positions. Didn't the Argos mostly start 4 at O-line and only one at receiver last year - and this could be the plan going forward? Doesn't it make sense to have more talent/depth at positions where you plan to deploy the guys ?

Cibasu may show up: i really doubt Hunter will anytime soon.

They maybe should be tempted to use a high draft pick on a DE like Robbie Smith maybe (given Betts and Kabongo are likely write-offs) and hope Smith can contribute right away - in a big area of need.