ItB次元官网网址檚 a career first that Jim Popp would rather not have.
On Thursday night, the Toronto Argonauts general manager will make the opening selection of the CFL draft for the first time in his 20-plus-year tenure in the league. The Argos secured the No. 1 pick after posting a league-worst 4-14 record last season.
Popp, 54, has enjoyed much CFL success. As a GM with Baltimore (1994-95), Montreal (1996-2016) and Toronto (2017-present), his clubs have reached the Grey Cup 11 times, winning five.
PoppB次元官网网址檚 teams have traditionally made the CFL playoffs, meaning heB次元官网网址檚 often been relegated to the lower stages of the first round in the draft. So heB次元官网网址檚 in somewhat uncharted waters this time around.
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B次元官网网址淵eah, itB次元官网网址檚 a first,B次元官网网址� Popp said with a chuckle. B次元官网网址淪ince we have the first pick, we need to celebrate it and make a big deal about it.B次元官网网址�
Toronto has 10 picks during the eight-round draft, the most of any CFL team. With five in the first 23 selections B次元官网网址� including to start the second round at No. 9 B次元官网网址� the Argos have a chance to significantly upgrade their Canadian content.
The B次元官网网址�19 draft class is deep, particularly at receiver and the offensive line, and features several intriguing options throughout. But once again the NFL draft will give CFL general managers much to ponder.
Laval defensive lineman Mathieu Betts, the top-ranked Canadian draft prospect, signed as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Bears on Saturday. Also, receivers Justin McInnis (No. 3 on CFL scouting bureau list), Brayden Lenius (No. 11), Chris Osei-Kusi, Shai Ross and Kurleigh Gittens Jr. (No. 16), offensive linemen Drew Desjarlais (No. 7), Alex Fontana (No. 10) and Maurice Simba (No. 13), defensive lineman Robbie Smith (No, 15) and quarterback Michael OB次元官网网址機onnor (No. 17) will attend NFL rookie mini-camps.
ThereB次元官网网址檚 still plenty of talent without any NFL offers, though. The list includes offensive linemen Shane Richards and Zach Wilkinson (the second- and fourth-ranked prospects, respectively), receivers Hergy Mayala (No. 5) and Kaion Julien-Grant (No. 8), defensive lineman Jonathan Kongbo (No. 6) and running back Maleek Irons (No. 8).
The dilemma facing CFL GMs is deciding whether to select a prospect who can report to training camp immediately or take a flyer on a player whoB次元官网网址檚 headed south and might report later.
B次元官网网址淚 can tell you the draft boards of all nine teams are different,B次元官网网址� Popp said. B次元官网网址滶verybodyB次元官网网址檚 top 10 would be in a different order and even maybe with different people.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 whatB次元官网网址檚 important to a team B次元官网网址� and thatB次元官网网址檚 what makes it fun.B次元官网网址�
Popp said Canadian players heading to NFL mini-camps also are taking a risk because theyB次元官网网址檙e unsigned. And the decision to head south could impact the prospectB次元官网网址檚 draft stock in Canada, causing him to drop and resulting in lost money.
B次元官网网址淭hat decision might cost them as much as $10,000, $15,000, $20,000,B次元官网网址� Popp said. B次元官网网址淏ut many of them are chasing a dream and might have in their minds that they might not get another chance to do this. ThatB次元官网网址檚 what makes our draft really interesting.
B次元官网网址淭he great thing about having the first pick is you get to make that decision, youB次元官网网址檙e not dependant on everyone else and how it all falls to you.B次元官网网址�
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats will make the second overall selection, followed by the Edmonton Eskimos. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have the fourth and fifth picks, followed by the Saskatchewan Roughriders at No. 6. The Ottawa Redblacks and Grey Cup-champion Calgary Stampeders will complete the first round.
Neither B.C. nor Montreal have first-round selections although the Alouettes have three second-round picks (Nos. 13, 16 and 19) and nine overall. The Lions are scheduled to make their first pick in the third round, 26th overall, and have seven selections on the night.
Hamilton stands to fare well early with five selections in the first 24. After making the second overall pick, Hamilton will have two choices in the second (Nos. 10-11) and third (No. 22, No. 24) rounds.
Popp said the Argos have a clear idea of who they want to take first overall and the goal remains to have the player signed prior to opening ThursdayB次元官网网址檚 draft. Popp added heB次元官网网址檇 be open to dealing the No. 1 pick, but it would have to be a sweetheart deal.
B次元官网网址淚t would have to be something that we just couldnB次元官网网址檛 pass up, something that was just too rich,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淩ight now, the Argos plan on drafting their guy with the first pick overall and it would have to be something shocking thatB次元官网网址檚 presented to us, which I have not heard yet.B次元官网网址�
Winnipeg GM Kyle Walters, with two picks, will be a definite power broker in the opening round. ThatB次元官网网址檚 a good thing for the Bombers, considering Winnipeg lost Canadian offensive linemen Sukh Chungh (free agent, B.C.) and Matthias Goossen (retirement) and safety Taylor Loffler (free agent, Montreal).
The two first-round selections give Walters much flexibility. He could use both on players for right now, one to fill a need immediately and the other on a future pick, or trade No. 5.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a nice spot to be in,B次元官网网址� Walters told reporters in Winnipeg. B次元官网网址淚f we donB次元官网网址檛 do anything, I know weB次元官网网址檙e going to get two good football players.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 going to guess if somebody really wants to come up to pick No. 5 weB次元官网网址檒l listen, but like I said weB次元官网网址檙e in a nice spot because IB次元官网网址檓 perfectly comfortable. IB次元官网网址檓 not going to move for the sake of moving B次元官网网址� if the strategy is to move down or move one of the picks then weB次元官网网址檒l certainly listen.B次元官网网址�
Walters feels the B次元官网网址�19 draft class is deep.
B次元官网网址淚 think the top 20 picks are going to be as good as weB次元官网网址檝e seen,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淏etts is the only Canadian kid thatB次元官网网址檚 got a priority free-agent deal, which generally helps our draft depth because you have to assume B次元官网网址� . mini-camp invites rarely turn into NFL contracts so youB次元官网网址檇 have to play those odds.
B次元官网网址淚 think all of that contributes to a good draft.B次元官网网址�
Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press
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