Argofans

It would be great if Grandison develops the way Magri and Russell (and others before them) did, so fingers crossed. On the other hand, it's depressing to be reminded that Dinwiddie's projection of Ojo making an impact on defence in Year 1 didn't come close to true, Shand might or might not ever surface, Rayam is a complete mystery and Zorn didn't make it to the end of camp. Not a great draft at this point. (For the record, I'm not saying that Grandison is to blame for this.)

Jim Barker on the Rod Pedersen show announcing his return to the Toronto Argonauts (at the very end of the show).
Judging by Barkers comments he will be bringing some new people into the player ops department which is great news!!

https://youtu.be/RDjg96du_1U?si=pEMj0k9xpP1huabk

ARGO57 wrote: ↑Sat Dec 06, 2025 3:43 pm Jim Barker on the Rod Pedersen show announcing his return to the Toronto Argonauts (at the very end of the show).
Judging by Barkers comments he will be bringing some new people into the player ops department which is great news!!

https://youtu.be/RDjg96du_1U?si=pEMj0k9xpP1huabk

Very good indeed. I do wish though that the Argos couod retain their young personnel talent instead of losing them to the NFL or other CFL teams. They seem to be the only CFL team that's unable to do so.

Welcoming Jim Barker as our new director of player personnel.

https://x.com/TorontoArgos/status/19981 ... 19571?s=20

Argoriffic wrote: ↑Mon Dec 08, 2025 3:22 pm Welcoming Jim Barker as our new director of player personnel.

https://x.com/TorontoArgos/status/19981 ... 19571?s=20

4th tour of duty for Barker with the Argos; is that more than Leo ?

I think this is one thing we all can agree on...
Jim is far better at running football teams than running the PTL Club.

paulwoods13 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 05, 2025 10:07 pm It would be great if Grandison develops the way Magri and Russell (and others before them) did, so fingers crossed. On the other hand, it's depressing to be reminded that Dinwiddie's projection of Ojo making an impact on defence in Year 1 didn't come close to true, Shand might or might not ever surface, Rayam is a complete mystery and Zorn didn't make it to the end of camp. Not a great draft at this point. (For the record, I'm not saying that Grandison is to blame for this.)

There's very few (if any?) CFL teams that nail drafts with an A grade year after year; Argos did a nice to excellent job for some recent years (2022 was not a good Argo draft though IMO) and maybe Magri & Russell were key cooks there (?)

There is also the notion that it's best to wait at least a couple of seasons to judge a draft class. Ojo might prove a good player if a new coaching staff gives him any chance; Shand may yet show up and have an impact; Assibo-Dadzie went back for a final year of U Sports ball and was named an all-Canadian at corner again; but Rayam was one of those WTF weird CFL draft picks, and a productive tailback in Zorn switched to "fullback" was typical GOB myopia stuff.

Always next draft to do better; hope they address some team needs and make some sharp picks; also hope it is not just Jim Barker in charge of the Argos draft braintrust.

OV Argo wrote: ↑Mon Dec 08, 2025 6:49 pm

paulwoods13 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 05, 2025 10:07 pm It would be great if Grandison develops the way Magri and Russell (and others before them) did, so fingers crossed. On the other hand, it's depressing to be reminded that Dinwiddie's projection of Ojo making an impact on defence in Year 1 didn't come close to true, Shand might or might not ever surface, Rayam is a complete mystery and Zorn didn't make it to the end of camp. Not a great draft at this point. (For the record, I'm not saying that Grandison is to blame for this.)

There's very few (if any?) CFL teams that nail drafts with an A grade year after year; Argos did a nice to excellent job for some recent years (2022 was not a good Argo draft though IMO) and maybe Magri & Russell were key cooks there (?)

There is also the notion that it's best to wait at least a couple of seasons to judge a draft class. Ojo might prove a good player if a new coaching staff gives him any chance; Shand may yet show up and have an impact; Assibo-Dadzie went back for a final year of U Sports ball and was named an all-Canadian at corner again; but Rayam was one of those WTF weird CFL draft picks, and a productive tailback in Zorn switched to "fullback" was typical GOB myopia stuff.

Always next draft to do better; hope they address some team needs and make some sharp picks; also hope it is not just Jim Barker in charge of the Argos draft braintrust.

I agree, OV, that we can't yet properly assess the 2025 draft. Hopefully, Ojo can contribute on the d-line in 2026 and I would be surprised if Shand doesn't show up as well. I was recently reading some old articles to try to get a handle on Rayam. Barker is quoted in one as saying that Rayam would have been a first rounder if not for his injuries. Having said that, I can't find any evidence that Rayam played in 2025, which means he hasn't played much since 2022. They took a flyer on him, but it may not pay off.

I got the sense that they like Assibo-Dadzie, whom I believe will be back in 2026. I don't recall UBC OL Gavin Coakes being in camp in 2025 so, presumably, he will be in 2026 after another year in USports. OL Ethan Pyle from Guelph, like Zorn, failed to impress, I think. The last pick was another player who was injured in 2024, but seemed to be highly-regarded - DB DeMetrius Masuka, who played at Guelph in 2025. Presumably, he too will be at camp in 2026.

ArgoRavi wrote: ↑Mon Dec 08, 2025 8:07 pm

OV Argo wrote: ↑Mon Dec 08, 2025 6:49 pm

paulwoods13 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 05, 2025 10:07 pm It would be great if Grandison develops the way Magri and Russell (and others before them) did, so fingers crossed. On the other hand, it's depressing to be reminded that Dinwiddie's projection of Ojo making an impact on defence in Year 1 didn't come close to true, Shand might or might not ever surface, Rayam is a complete mystery and Zorn didn't make it to the end of camp. Not a great draft at this point. (For the record, I'm not saying that Grandison is to blame for this.)

There's very few (if any?) CFL teams that nail drafts with an A grade year after year; Argos did a nice to excellent job for some recent years (2022 was not a good Argo draft though IMO) and maybe Magri & Russell were key cooks there (?)

There is also the notion that it's best to wait at least a couple of seasons to judge a draft class. Ojo might prove a good player if a new coaching staff gives him any chance; Shand may yet show up and have an impact; Assibo-Dadzie went back for a final year of U Sports ball and was named an all-Canadian at corner again; but Rayam was one of those WTF weird CFL draft picks, and a productive tailback in Zorn switched to "fullback" was typical GOB myopia stuff.

Always next draft to do better; hope they address some team needs and make some sharp picks; also hope it is not just Jim Barker in charge of the Argos draft braintrust.

I agree, OV, that we can't yet properly assess the 2025 draft. Hopefully, Ojo can contribute on the d-line in 2026 and I would be surprised if Shand doesn't show up as well. I was recently reading some old articles to try to get a handle on Rayam. Barker is quoted in one as saying that Rayam would have been a first rounder if not for his injuries. Having said that, I can't find any evidence that Rayam played in 2025, which means he hasn't played much since 2022. They took a flyer on him, but it may not pay off.

I got the sense that they like Assibo-Dadzie, whom I believe will be back in 2026. I don't recall UBC OL Gavin Coakes being in camp in 2025 so, presumably, he will be in 2026 after another year in USports. OL Ethan Pyle from Guelph, like Zorn, failed to impress, I think. The last pick was another player who was injured in 2024, but seemed to be highly-regarded - DB DeMetrius Masuka, who played at Guelph in 2025. Presumably, he too will be at camp in 2026.

Didn't want to get into being critical of that linked article about Grandison and the last Argo draft, but since you raise the issue: Rayam would have been a CFL 1st rounder in what universe? - a guy who hadn't played in plenty of times due to injury, was not tested at the CFL Combine and his "great" 2022 season featured a modest number of tackles (with nothing otherwise in D play making stats), with one start (? / ! ) playing on a smaller US college ball team (i.e. not a big Div I power) = more like he would not have been drafted by any other CFL team and the Argos could have just signed him as a FA - where is he now by the way - showing up for this Argo TC ?


And meanwhile - last draft - IF the Argo were looking at outstanding LB talent - they passed on drafting Sask. Husky LB Seth Hundeby, who just won U Sports D player of the year (that he told CFL teams he was returning for a 5th season might have given some of them pause?), and who was at the CFL Combine last year and put up a just superb set of testing #s for any LB, and at pro plus (6-3, 251) LB size. He was got in the 4th round after the Argos had drafted Coakes (where they already had a huge pile of National O-linemen to sort thru). Hundeby will be going to the Riders' that drafted him this TC and IMO will likely be an impact CFL D player in short order. I would wonder if somebody in the Argos org. had some sort of connection to Rayam's father Thomas who was a CFL O-lineman for years, and maybe the pick was some sort of nod or tribute to the Dad? - sort of like Joe Paopao getting to CFL draft his son in the last round - a QB out of Div III ball - back in the Ottawa Renegades days.

OV Argo wrote: ↑Mon Dec 08, 2025 6:49 pm There's very few (if any?) CFL teams that nail drafts with an A grade year after year; Argos did a nice to excellent job for some recent years (2022 was not a good Argo draft though IMO) and maybe Magri & Russell were key cooks there (?)

The Argos' first seven picks in 2022 all played in the CFL, and I believe six of them were still on rosters this year. MacKellar has started at times for two clubs. That said, they could have selected Sam Emilus, Tyson Philpot or either Ford brother instead of MacKellar, which is a major bust in hindsight. Could have had Tyrell Ford instead of Knight. Could have had Ryder Varga instead of Penney-Laryea. Could have had Kiondre Smith instead of Braydon Noll. Could have had Jayden Dalke instead of Kwamou or Sutton. So all things considered, I can't disagree that it was not a good draft -- it yielded some roster/marginal guys instead of three or four eventual starters/stars who were available (all at "skill" positions, which may or may not be coincidental. I assume Barker was in the room for the 2022 picks.