2026 CFL Amateur Draft

[ArgoRavi]

From a highly uninformed fan here is my preferred Argo draft choices, with alternatives (in brackets) in case 1st choice is already taken:
at #2 --Bell OT (Henning)
at #11--Demontagnac (Ojutalayo)
at #16--Cromwell (Elad)
at #22--Boutin (Latendresse Regimbald)
at #23--Marios (Stuart DB)
at #30--Janvier (Vreugdenhil)
at #40--Cumberbatch (Gauthier)
at #49--Diouf (Schechinger)
at #57--Smith (Mombo)
at #67 Shipley (McBean)

Note--would have chosen Henning at #2 but his outstanding athletic talent might attract even more NFL attention

Please feel free to comment (criticize) on these choices

In the recent past the Argos were pretty deep in Canadian talent and perhaps could be a little more patient waiting on some of their drafted players to sign but this year they hopefully draft players they are confident will be in training camp as their Canadian talent has eroded the last season or two.

I agree. I hope that at least 5 of their first 6 picks are in camp this year.

[primetime321]

Well, it is Draft Week, so I thought I would initiate a new thread about the topic. NFL Amateur Draft has concluded and now fans get to see which CFL prospects are either signing professional contracts or accepting Mini Camp offers with NFL teams. I was thinking Argos could have drafted an immediate starter at RT in Kevin Cline, but he signed with an NFL team as a UDFA.

Yeah, that likely eliminates Cline for at least a year or two from being in the CFL.

Not sure how Cline rates being this top prospect? - maybe a getting more common example nowdays of a guy who qualifies late for the CFL draft (cause one of his parents is Canadian), and being from a US college program gets the CFL scouts all ga ga over the guy; and then their disciples at 3 Down dutifully report the rating.

But Cline was just a one year starter in college ball (thru 6 seasons?), and aside from a super strong bench press # at testing, the rest of the results were average to sub-par; that plus according to 3 Down's report via Pro Football Focus, he gave up 22 QB pressures and 5 QB sacks last season at OT (in what - 10 games or so) .

I hope the Argos go nowhere near this guy unless he's available in the later round as a flyer/gamble type pick.

That is a very interesting take and one that is supported by a Boston College season ticket holder, who is a close business contact of my son's. His opinion of Cline by seeing him play is that he will have a hard time with the Canadian game due to his difficulty with speed rushers, which comprise the vast majority of CFL defensive ends. As a caveat, this gentleman has been watching BC football intently since the Flutie days. In other words, the league may have dodged a bullet with Cline's early signing in the NFL.

[gilthethrill]

Yeah, that likely eliminates Cline for at least a year or two from being in the CFL.

Not sure how Cline rates being this top prospect? - maybe a getting more common example nowdays of a guy who qualifies late for the CFL draft (cause one of his parents is Canadian), and being from a US college program gets the CFL scouts all ga ga over the guy; and then their disciples at 3 Down dutifully report the rating.

But Cline was just a one year starter in college ball (thru 6 seasons?), and aside from a super strong bench press # at testing, the rest of the results were average to sub-par; that plus according to 3 Down's report via Pro Football Focus, he gave up 22 QB pressures and 5 QB sacks last season at OT (in what - 10 games or so) .

I hope the Argos go nowhere near this guy unless he's available in the later round as a flyer/gamble type pick.

That is a very interesting take and one that is supported by a Boston College season ticket holder, who is a close business contact of my son's. His opinion of Cline by seeing him play is that he will have a hard time with the Canadian game due to his difficulty with speed rushers, which comprise the vast majority of CFL defensive ends. As a caveat, this gentleman has been watching BC football intently since the Flutie days. In other words, the league may have dodged a bullet with Cline's early signing in the NFL.

Looks like gil won't be seeking employment as a CFL talent evaluator anytime soon!

[OV Argo]

Not sure how Cline rates being this top prospect? - maybe a getting more common example nowdays of a guy who qualifies late for the CFL draft (cause one of his parents is Canadian), and being from a US college program gets the CFL scouts all ga ga over the guy; and then their disciples at 3 Down dutifully report the rating.

But Cline was just a one year starter in college ball (thru 6 seasons?), and aside from a super strong bench press # at testing, the rest of the results were average to sub-par; that plus according to 3 Down's report via Pro Football Focus, he gave up 22 QB pressures and 5 QB sacks last season at OT (in what - 10 games or so) .

I hope the Argos go nowhere near this guy unless he's available in the later round as a flyer/gamble type pick.

That is a very interesting take and one that is supported by a Boston College season ticket holder, who is a close business contact of my son's. His opinion of Cline by seeing him play is that he will have a hard time with the Canadian game due to his difficulty with speed rushers, which comprise the vast majority of CFL defensive ends. As a caveat, this gentleman has been watching BC football intently since the Flutie days. In other words, the league may have dodged a bullet with Cline's early signing in the NFL.

Looks like gil won't be seeking employment as a CFL talent evaluator anytime soon!

Hey, the guy could end up another Chris Schultz or Chris Walby in the CFL - we don't know. I just found his all of a sudden top CFL draft prospect rating way over the top - that type of rating should be reserved for multi-year college ball starters who were all-stars or good stats #s , and maybe backed-up by a complete set of Combine type test results. Just IMO.

[gilthethrill]

That is a very interesting take and one that is supported by a Boston College season ticket holder, who is a close business contact of my son's. His opinion of Cline by seeing him play is that he will have a hard time with the Canadian game due to his difficulty with speed rushers, which comprise the vast majority of CFL defensive ends. As a caveat, this gentleman has been watching BC football intently since the Flutie days. In other words, the league may have dodged a bullet with Cline's early signing in the NFL.

Looks like gil won't be seeking employment as a CFL talent evaluator anytime soon!

Hey, the guy could end up another Chris Schultz or Chris Walby in the CFL - we don't know. I just found his all of a sudden top CFL draft prospect rating way over the top - that type of rating should be reserved for multi-year college ball starters who were all-stars or good stats #s , and maybe backed-up by a complete set of Combine type test results. Just IMO.

You are right to think that OV.

[Scooter McCray]

I think the league needs to have their draft after NFLs for 2027. 18 of the 20 top CFL prospects play US college ball this year.

For tonight, most agree I think if a player has signed an NFL FA contract or was drafted, no point even picking them except very late. Because you are at least 2 years from seeing them if ever. But that means there is a ton of depth with CIS and other players in NCAA. Really the first 4, 5, 6 rounds are full of legitimate players.

The CFL draft is tricky enough as it is, but it should come after NFL even if it means coming to training camp a little a week later.

[ARGO57]

I think the league needs to have their draft after NFLs for 2027. 18 of the 20 top CFL prospects play US college ball this year.

For tonight, most agree I think if a player has signed an NFL FA contract or was drafted, no point even picking them except very late. Because you are at least 2 years from seeing them if ever. But that means there is a ton of depth with CIS and other players in NCAA. Really the first 4, 5, 6 rounds are full of legitimate players.

The CFL draft is tricky enough as it is, but it should come after NFL even if it means coming to training camp a little a week later.

Top Canadian talent signing NFL FA contracts takes a lot of starch out of the CFL draft IMO.

[Unplayable]

Well, to start off Ottawa takes Vaccaro, and then the Argos take Henning. It will be interesting to see if Henning is at the Argos camp.

[OV Argo]

Henning might take some time to develop still at OT; but - an imaginative, creative, outside the box offence could have a guy with that skill-set and experience as a 7th O-line but still line him up as a secret tight end the odd time and release him downfield for pass plays. Wonder if new HC Miller would think of that and ask for a guy like that ?

[OV Argo]

Wow ! - I'm stunned that the Argos used a top pick on a RB. but seems like good dual (tailback & fullback ) type threat; calling for bigger power backs - this guy is 230