2015 CFL Mock Draft 3.0

2015 CFL Mock Draft 3.0 

The dust has settled following the completion of most NFL mini-camps, where numerous CFL draft prospects competed in hopes of landing a contract. And now, it's time for me to complete my third and final mock draft featuring the 2015 class.

Round One: 

1:1 Ottawa Redblacks: C Alex Mateas, UConn 

Alex Mateas is the perfect candidate to join the Ottawa Redblacks as the first overall pick. The 22 year old out of UConn is an Ottawa native, has experience playing against Americans, is tough, athletic and, best of all, he's out of NFL options at this point. The Redblacks are in need of a third interior offensive lineman to start, and that is exactly what Mateas will do.
 

1:2 Winnipeg Blue Bombers: OT Danny Groulx, Laval

The Bombers have been dreaming of starting a superstar Canadian offensive tackle for a long time. Enter Groulx, a likely CFL All-Star for years to come with the Blue Bombers. The nasty Laval product is arguably the most polished lineman available (aside from newly-signed Philadelphia Eagle Brett Boyko, that is) and proved so at the CFL combine in March, where he was victorious on every rep during one-on-ones. 

1:3 Toronto Argonauts: G Sukh Chungh, Calgary 

Don't expect Jim Barker's Argonauts to be on the clock for very long when they see Sukh Chungh available. Aside from 2013 draft pick Matt Sewell, the Argos have very little depth behind an aging offensive line and adding Chungh would solidify his position in Toronto for years to come. The Argos can't go wrong with drafting a nasty guard with striking comparisons to Saskatchewan's Branden Labatte to play alongside Tyler Holmes. 

1:4 Montreal Alouettes: WR Lemar Durant, Simon Fraser

The Alouettes have a couple options with the fourth overall selection. Jim Popp could go with the safe pick and draft DT Daryl Waud out of Western University to form a solid duo with Michael Klassen, or he could attempt to hit a home run in SFU's Lemar Durant. Knowing Popp, I think he steps up to the plate and swings for the Grand Slam. Anthony Calvillo was fortunate to have Ben Cahoon throughout his career, so perhaps Popp will try to provide his new pivot, Jonathon Crompton, with a potential Canadian superstar of his own in Lemar Durant.

 

1:5 BC Lions: C Sean McEwen, Calgary

This pick is a no-brainer for the Lions organization. Protecting QB Travis Lulay is BC's number one priority and their offensive line hasn't done a very good job of that recently. Centre Matt Norman has been inconsistent since moving into the middle and would benefit from a position change back to guard if McEwen is ready to start, which I believe he is.

1:6 Saskatchewan Roughriders: DB Chris Ackie, Wilfred Laurier

Daryl Waud or Chris Ackie? This was the hardest decision to make in the entire mock draft. After looking long and hard at Saskatchewan's depth chart, I think they'll take the versatile Chris Ackie. While an all-Western duo featuring 2014 2nd round pick Dylan Ainsworth and potential 2015 pick Daryl Waud would be fantastic for the future, the Riders currently need to add Canadian depth behind national linebackers Keenan MacDougall and Shea Emry. Ackie can play safety, halfback and SAM linebacker for the Riders, therefore drafting this combine star could pay huge dividends for them in the future. 

1:7 Edmonton Eskimos: OL Jacob Ruby, Richmond

The Eskimos absolutely cannot afford to pass up on an offensive lineman in the first two rounds for the sixth consecutive year. They already boast a poor starting group of Canadian lineman and need to begin to re-stock the cupboards after seeing Mike Reilly take a beating for two straight seasons. Ruby will likely make the switch from tackle in the NCAA to guard in the CFL, where his 6'7", 315 pound frame and inability to defend speed rushers best suits him. 

1:8 Hamilton Tiger Cats: SB Nic Demski, Manitoba

If you thought Hamilton was in need of Canadian pass-catchers before Spencer Watt went down with a season ending injury, you'll know that now, they are more desperate than ever to add another receiver to the mix. The Tabbies really only have recently acquired 2013 2nd round pick SJ Haidara (7 catches in 2 seasons) behind Andy Fantuz, therefore Demski will contribute in a rotational role for Hamilton in his rookie season. Keep in mind, Andy Fantuz is getting up there in age and is a pending free agent next off-season.

1:9 Calgary Stampeders: OT Brett Boyko, UNLV 

The Stamps are fortunate enough to have enough Canadian talent across the board to invest their first round draft pick in an NFL-bound offensive lineman. There's a very good chance Boyko doesn't last long with the Philadelphia Eagles after signing as an undrafted free agent. If that's the case, the Stamps will add a ratio breaking offensive tackle immediately to their starting lineup. 

Round Two: 

2:1 Ottawa Redblacks: DT Daryl Waud, Western

Everybody associated with R-Nation would be absolutely thrilled if this Western star fell out of the first round due to team's drafting based on their positional needs. Waud has the potential to develop into a special player for Ottawa while also contributing as a rookie for the Redblacks should Keith Shologan go down with an injury. Ottawa will take Waud without hesitating. 

2:2 Winnipeg Blue Bombers: DL Maxx Forde, Idaho

At 6'3" and 271 pounds, Forde has the body of a CFL defensive tackle, however, his impressive 4.78 second 40-yard dash proves he could also play defensive end. With his incredible athleticism for a 271 pounder, Forde has the potential to become a force inside as a three-tech. Winnipeg is also looking to add younger depth behind newly-signed pass-rusher Jamaal Westerman, which the Idaho product could offer as well.

2:3 Toronto Argonauts: MLB Byron Archambeault, Montreal

Just like the next player selected in this mock, Archambeault had an excellent combine. After recording 46 reps on the bench press, the big man saw his draft stock improve after clocking fantastic times during the shuttle and three cone tests. Archambeault would provide depth behind first-year starting middle linebacker Cory Greenwood, and may also line up beside his new partner-in-crime sometime in the near future. 

2:4 Montreal Alouettes: DB Tevaugn Campbell, Regina

When a team has as many talented Canadians on their roster as Montreal does, they are able to take the best player available with each pick. Without a doubt, the star of the combine, Tevaughn Campbell, is that player. The always speedy, former Regina Ram could develop into a ratio breaking starting cornerback for the veteran Alouettes in the future. In the meantime, Campbell would be a great option for Montreal to use as a gunner on their punt team. 

2:5 BC Lions: RB Shaquille Murray-Lawrence, UNLV

Murray made a splash at the combine after clocking the fastest electronically-timed 40-yard dash in the CFL history with a 4.41, only to later have his brand new record smashed by Tevaughn Campbell's 4.35 time. Lawrence was productive down south with UNLV and ran for 552 rushing yards in 2014 with 9 touchdowns. The Lions will reap the rewards of finally getting another capable national tailback behind Andrew Harris. 

2:6 Winnipeg Blue Bombers: WR Addison Richards, Regina

Like Hamilton, the Bombers are also desperately looking to add a promising Canadian receiver in the draft. Richards may not have the sky-high potential that Durant and Demski have, but will likely develop into a solid starter in the future. A first rounder on tape in most draft classes, Richards is a player the Bombers will not hesitate to select if they decide against trading up for Winnipeg native and former Manitoba Bison Nic Demski.

2:7 Edmonton Eskimos: OL Karl Lavoie, Laval

Lavoie was originally viewed closer to the top tier of offensive lineman available until an injury forced him to miss the national combine. After testing well at a recent workout in front of CFL teams, Lavoie's stock is back on the rise. Similarly to Ruby, this CIS tackle will probably move inside to guard, which is no big deal for the Esks considering their depth of national receivers and defensive lineman doesn't make a fourth starting lineman all that much of a benefit. After losing Matthew O'Donnell to the NFL while already having an aged and mediocre O-line, utilizing their first two picks on two hogs is the right thing for Edmonton to do.

2:8 Hamilton Tiger Cats: James Bodanis, Michigan State

James Bodanis may have the highest ceiling of any prospect available. Despite only playing two years of football in his life and one as an offensive lineman, Bodanis did enough to attract attention from CFL scouts up north. The Ti-Cats will look to upgrade their aged and mediocre offensive line that protects Zach Collaros with this selection.

2:9 Calgary Stampeders: RB Tyler Varga, Yale

Varga shockingly went undrafted last week in the NFL draft and was signed by the Indianapolis Colts shortly after. While I'm confident Varga can make a living in the NFL as a special teamer, it should be noted that it's a lot easier to cut a player that went undrafted rather than one that the team invested a draft pick in.

Round Three: 

3:1 Calgary Stampeders: LB Nick Shortill, McMaster 

Jon Hufnagel's Stamps have enough Canadian depth across the board at this point to take the best player available. The heart of McMaster's defence, Shortill possess' the speed and open-field tackling ability to become a special teams demon for years to come. 

3:2 Hamilton Tiger Cats: WR Jake Harty, Calgary

Even after adding Demski, Hamilton could still use another receiver. Harty compares well to Zach Collaros' favourite target, Luke Tasker, which essentially means he's a perfict fit for Tommy Condell's short pass offence.

3:3 Toronto Argonauts: DT Ese Mrabure Ajufo, Wilfred Laurier

The Argos would be smart to draft and develop more Canadian defensive line talent after changing up their starting NAT-INT ratio in a trade for DE Ricky Foley. Mrabure-Ajufo will compete for playing time right away.

3:4 Calgary Stampeders: SB Melvin Abankwah, St. Mary's

It was recently revealed that Abankwah tested positive for PEDs at the combine, but I don't think that will stop Calgary from picking up the former CIS runningback. With Brad Sinopoli gone to Ottawa, the Stamps, who typically dress more national receivers than most other teams, will look to pick up another National pass-catcher to develop. 

3:5 BC Lions: DT Brandon Tennant, Laval

The BC Lions let go of two starting defensive tackles from 2014 in Eric Taylor and Khalif Mitchell, meaning they are looking for some youth- and possibly a ratio change- to fill that position. Tennant is a big boy at 6'2", 309 pounds and is capable of plugging gaps in the CFL as he did at Laval if he can get down to around 290 lbs. 

3:6 Hamilton Tiger Cats: LB Adam Konar, Calgary

For a team that doesn't start any Canadians at linebacker, the Ti-Cats are loaded with depth behind their International starters. Beau Landry, Frédéric Plésius and Marc Beswick are all solid contributors, but like any other team, Hamilton could always use another special teamer like Konar.

3:7 Edmonton Eskimos: DB Kwame Adjei 

The Eskimos lost Chris Rwawakumba to the Lions in free agency and have plenty of uncertainty regarding their current safeties. Aside from depth at safety, Adjei would also slot in well behind Alonzo Lawrence at Sam Linebacker while contributing on special teams. 

3:8 Saskatchewan Roughriders: LB/DE Ron Omara, St. Francis Xavier

It sometimes seems as though NFL teams are paying more attention to Ron Omara than CFL teams are. While I obviously say that jokingly, it's no joke that Omara attending an NFL regional combine and mini-camp shows Saskatchewan would be adding a talented football player behind incumbent starter Keenan MacDougall. 

3:9 Calgary Stampeders: G Campbell Allison, Eastern Michigan

A disastrous combine performance has Allison's draft stock plummeting south; right into the hands of the Calgary Stampeders. The Stamps will find a way to bring out the best of this NCAA product from Eastern Michigan. 

Eyes Light Up as Varga, Bridge Go Undrafted

Christian Covington was unsurprisingly the first Canadian-born prospect selected in the NFL draft this year. No one predicted he would also be the only.

The son of the CFL's all-time sack-leader Grover Covington, Christian played his college ball at Rice University and fell to the Houston Texans in the sixth round, 216th overall. The 6'2", 289-pound Junior ranked 1st overall in the CFL's annual scouting bureau and headlined a talented pool of Canadians eligible for the NFL draft.

Behind Covington in the rankings include Senior Bowl standout Tyler Varga of Yale, intriguing Quarterback Brandon Bridge of South Alabama, Offensive Tackle Brett Boyko of UNLV and Centre Alex Mateas out of UCONN. Shockingly, none of these Canadian-born stars had their name called during the NFL draft.

Varga (Colts) and Boyko (Eagles) were both snatched up immediately following the completion of the seventh and final round of the draft with undrafted free agent contracts. Bridge, surprisingly, settled to attend the Dallas Cowboys' rookie mini-camp despite being projected to be drafted sometime during day three.

Meanwhile, eight other (and counting) NCAA and CIS Canadian prospects- Mateas, Sukh Chungh, Sean McEwen, Lemar Durant, Jacob Ruby, Byron Archambault, Tevaughn Campbell and Daryl Waud- have all accepted NFL mini-camp invites.

All the mini-camp invites given to projected early-round CFL draft prospects show that NFL teams are keeping an eye on what's going on up north of the border. As a result, one big question suddenly looms: How will the large amount of NFL attention for CIS stars (and lack thereof for NCAA stars like Varga and Bridge) affect their CFL draft stocks as the draft approaches on May 12th?

Since the majority of the projected first round prospects will all be off to NFL mini-camps just before the CFL draft May 12th, it now becomes equally as risky for a team to alter their draft board based on the mini-camp invites than it is to keep it the same since most projected 1st-rounders received an invite.  The best bet for CFL teams may just be to leave their draft board (minus Varga and Bridge) as mini-camp invites don't mean anything unless the player is awarded a contract following the three day activity.

Unfortunately, possible contracts following the rookie camp may not be signed until after the completion of the CFL draft, therefore it doesn't seem smart for teams to try and predict who will receive a contract and who won't. Their best move may be to stick to their originally rankings formed by game-tape and combine performances, not minor NFL interest. Of course, teams that can't afford to wait a few months for their draft pick if they do in fact quickly earn a contract prior to May 12th will need to have a backup plan in place.

As for the three NCAA players who were expected to be drafted only to have to settle for a UDFA contract, their CFL draft stocks are surely on the rise.

Yale's Tyler Varga was originally projected to be a late-third, early-fourth round CFL selection due to NFL interest. After seeing Varga fail to be drafted down south, it wouldn't be surprising if a CFL team took the bruising runningback as early as the second round.

Varga, who missed the NFL combine due to injury, may only make it as far as training camp before being without an NFL contract. He may also have a stint (or more) as a solid special team player awaiting him. The latter of the two seems more likely, although it still makes more sense now for a CFL club to invest an early round pick in a potential ratio-changing back that could be an even better version of Jon Cornish.

Bridge, meanwhile, received his own fair share of hype following his final year of eligibility at South Alabama University. Dubbed an "intriguing, raw developmental project with potential" by NFL scouts, the Mississauga native was expected to surely be selected in the sixth or seventh round.

Up here in Canada, Bridge likely would have gone in a similar round during the CFL draft. Not anymore though, as Bridge will have to prove himself in mini-camp before he can hope to join Dallas' Quarterback group that already includes 2 undrafted free agents. Bridge's chance of making the Dallas Cowboys aren't looking as good as the could've had he been drafted.

In a league where we haven't seen a Canadian dominate the quarterback position since Russ Jackson in the '60s, Bridge going undrafted has helped his case on why a team should snatch up the most talented QB we've seen in awhile during the middle rounds of the CFL draft on May 12th.

Although Canada only ended up producing one NFL draft pick in 2015, it's quite evident Canadian football players are gathering more attention than ever from our neighbours' NFL teams down south.

And while it's helps build a good reputation for the country, it only complicates things for our own CFL teams. How they approach this situation will be hard to predict and interesting to observe; Good luck to those creating mock drafts this year!

As for the coaches and general managers around the league, knowing the Canadian you're drafting is good enough to be apart of an NFL team can't necessarily be a bad problem, though. Let's see how it all plays out.

The Next Canadian Superstar?

Simon Fraser University receiver and draft-eligle prospect Lemar Durant (#23) runs under a pass in NCAA division II action.

Many experts feel that Simon Fraser product Lemar Durant is not only far and away the best draft-eligible receiver, but the overall most talented player available in the 2015 CFL draft class. That includes all eligible Canadians in both the NCAA and CIS, such as NFL bound studs Tyler Varga from Yale and Brett Boyko from UNLV.

The last time that I can recall a Canadian pass catcher receiving such hype was when University of Western Ontario legend Andy Fantuz was selected with the third overall pick in the 2006 draft by the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Despite being the best CIS receiver of all time, Fantuz was selected third overall behind defensive end Adam Braidwood and linebacker Jay Pottinger.

Similarly to Fantuz, Durant will likely not be drafted first overall due to the importance of offensive and defensive lineman in the player ratio. Teams typically start three or four national offensive lineman versus two Canadian receivers, while the offensive line position is also without a doubt far more vital to a team’s success than a good receiving corps, particularly the Canadian players on the line.

It's also often considered perhaps a risky pick when clubs decide to use their first round draft pick on a receiver. While being selected in the first round does not mean that the receiver is expected to have a career as successful as Fantuz's or Chris Getzlaf's, it is expected that they develop into a solid starter at some point during their career.

From 2007 to 2014, 11 receivers were taken off the board in the opening round of the draft. The combined average yards-per-season for all 11 is a mere 246 yards. Meanwhile, Andy Fantuz has averaged a whopping 757 yards per season which included a 1,000 yard campaign in 2010.

While Durant's college career was impressive when he was in the lineup, it was not nearly as good as Fantuz's for reasons I'll touch on soon. Although from what I've seen on tape, I think he possesses the skill set to match the former Hec Crighton winner's production in the professional ranks and become the next Canadian superstar.

Durant was originally recruited by the University of Nevada, but transferred to Division II Simon Fraser after redshirting his freshman year with the Wolfpack. He then utilized a medical redshirt in year two to treat juvenile arthritis in his knee, which has not bothered him since he took a year off to treat it in 2011.

Nevada was hoping Durant would return to be an asset in an offence that was centred around some quarterback named Colin Kaepernick. In fact, Nevada coaches even told Durant he would compete for a starting job as a redshirt freshman with Rishard Matthews, who's currently a wideout for the Miami Dolphins. However, he opted to return home and officially start his collegiate career with his high school coach and friends at Simon Fraser, which had just entered the NCAA ranks.

Durant had an incredible freshman year, recording 91 receptions for 1,318 yards (120 YPG) with 17 touchdowns in 11 games. After starting quarterback Trey Wheeler left to pursue bigger and better things in Division I, Durant caught 29 passes for 389 yards and five touchdowns in only four games during his sophomore season while playing with two struggling quarterbacks, which ultimately led to the Clan becoming a very run heavy offence during Durant's final two seasons. Simon Fraser's quarterbacks led the conference in interceptions while Durant missed seven games with an ankle injury; the only sport-related injury of his athletic career.

Durant looked to get back on track in his junior season, but had another case of bad luck as he contracted infectious mononucleosis (mono) and missed another four games. In 23 college games, the Coquitlam, BC native had 175 catches for 2,392 yards and 28 touchdowns, which averages out to 7.6 catches per game, 104 yards, and 1.2 touchdowns. He was named Simon Fraser's offensive MVP in 2012, was a three-time 1st-team All-Conference selection, was named an All-American in 2012 and was selected by Beyond Sports College Network in 2014 as the No. 1 draft sleeper for the 2015 NFL draft. While Durant's stats on paper under these circumstances are quite impressive, it's his game on film that really blows me away.

You don't have to be an expert scout to recognize Durant's raw talent. His highlight tape is essentially six minutes worth of entertainment featuring the 23-year old burning cornerbacks down field.


Durant is a bigger receiver at 6'3”, 231 pounds, and has great speed for a receiver of that size with a sub 4.5 40-yard dash time. Durant has a large catching radius and maximizes his vertical leap and physicality when fighting for the jump ball. Durant's freakish athleticism, size, speed and big-play ability have me sold that he can immediately be a respectable deep-threat and red-zone target in year one in the CFL.

In order to be labelled as "Fantuzable," Durant will have to find success in the CFL quickly and average around 600 yards with three touchdowns per season for his first three years.

The last rookie national receiver to start a good chunk of games was Edmonton's 2012 first-round pick Shamawd Chambers, who started 11 games, missing time due to injuries, and chipped in 390 yards and two touchdowns.

While Chambers was a first-round pick himself, he was nowhere near the prospect Lemar Durant is. Chambers' best season at Wilfrid Laurier University was his senior year when he recorded 652 receiving yards in eight games, good for 13th overall out of all CIS schools.

Chambers was fortunately put in a good situation to step up mid-season after injuries piled up in Edmonton. He had time to learn and adjust to the professional game before being thrust into the starting lineup for 11 starts. Despite him being far more prepared physically than Chambers, the same is likely to occur for Durant.

With that being said, I do believe there are a couple teams where Durant could beat the odds and start early on as a national rookie. One team that comes to mind is the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who hold the second overall pick.

Winnipeg's starting inside national receiver is Julian Feoli-Gudino, who had zero career catches in two seasons before registering a mere 240 yards in 2014. The Laval product's three seasons of experience likely mean he has a good understanding of CFL coverages and can find soft spots in zones better than Durant (not that Julian has really proved any of that to be true), yet the latter has given me no reason to believe that he would not be able to learn quickly, like many international rookie receivers do during their first season. Feoli-Gudino, a fifth round draft pick in 2011, is not nearly as talented as Durant and cannot do anything, skill-wise, that Durant can’t do right now.

The 400 yards Fantuz accumulated during his rookie season is certainly doable for Durant, and I expect him to breakout in year two with around 600-700 yards.

As far as I am concerned, Durant is the best draft-eligible receiver since Fantuz in 2006. The former SFU Clan and Nevada Wolfpack member is reportedly viewed as the best player available in the best draft class in a very long time; far better than that of 2007 when a certain bust named Chris Bauman was selected with the top pick by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Durant was even viewed as a legitimate mid-to-late round future NFL draft pick after his incredible freshman year.

This kid is special, and I'm completely confident that he can follow in the footsteps of CIS-great Andy Fantuz.

2015 CFL Mock Draft: Version One

After nearly a month of research, watching film and typing, I have finally finalized my first 2015 Canadian Football League mock draft. 

I will likely have two more mock drafts released (one after the combine and one after the NFL draft) as players' stocks tend to trend either way based on those two events. 

ROUND ONE: 

Round One, Pick one: Ottawa Reblacks

Alex Mateas: centre/guard, UCONN 

Mateas, an Ottawa native, could start right away for the Redblacks at either centre or guard. Ottawa lost Alex Krausnick-Groh to the Eskimos in Free Agency and will be looking to fill the void by either starting Mateas or veteran Jon Gott at centre, with the other playing left guard. 

Ottawa may choose to draft a different offensive lineman should Mateas' NFL draft stock rise with a solid combine or pro day. 

Round one, pick two: Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Sukh Chungh: left guard, Calgary

The Bombers have plenty of options with their second overall pick. They are most starved for Canadian talent at the receiver position, on the defensive line and of course, on the offensive line. Every one of those positions includes a can't miss prospect (Chungh, LeMar Durant, Daryl Waud), however I'm beginning to think the team that gave up a league high 71 sacks goes with the safe pick: Sukh Chungh from the University of Calgary.

The Bombers already have four possible starters for the three interior offensive line positions, but need to be prepared in case injuries pile up as they did in 2014. 

Chungh is a natural left guard that would slot in behind Chris Greaves. Chungh was especially dominant when run-blocking and has first overall pick talent with a scary combination of size, athleticism and strength. Whoever impresses Kyle Walters the most at the combine will be in Blue and Gold next season; don't be surprised if it's LeMar Durant or even Danny Groulx, which would throw off my entire mock draft.

Round one, pick three: Toronto Argonauts 

Daryl Waud: defensive tackle, Western

The Argos are aging along the offensive line, but are hoping 2013 first round pick Matt Sewell will break out in his sophmore season after he returned to McMaster for his senior season. 

That leaves defensive line as their biggest need for Canadians, which is an issue they addressed when they traded for defensive end Ricky Foley. But who do they have to step up should the soon-to-be 33 year old Foley, or another Canadian, go down with an injury? 

The next man up for the boatmen may end up being Waud, who is considered a CFL-ready prospect. 

Waud is an athletic down lineman that is particularly good against the pass. His height at 6'5 will also affect opposing quarterback's throwing lanes, and his weight at 285 pounds makes him a shiftier threat that makes guards move their feet. Waud will need to prove himself as a run-stuffer.

Round one, pick four: Montreal Alouettes 

Lemar Durant: wide receiver, Simon Fraser

Jim Popp won't even hesitate before selecting LeMar Durant if the talented wideout is available when the Alouettes are on the clock. 

The Alouettes boast the leagues oldest receiving corps after they signed two veterans in Nik Lewis and Fred Stamps. They're national receivers, Sam Giguere and Eric Deslauriers, will both be in their 30s once Giguere has his birthday on July 11th. Deslauriers, 33, has only averaged 166 yards per season but is a solid contributer as a blocker in the run game; a duty Nik Lewis make take over from the 8 year veteran.

Durant is viewed by many as the most talented player in draft and will surely not be available for Popp's taking if some of the top ranked lineman sign NFL contracts before the CFL draft. 

Round one, pick five: BC Lions 

Sean McEwen: centre, Calgary 

McEwen, who was a four year starter, may be the best centre former Calgary Dinos coach Blake Nill has ever produced. 

McEwen is a natural centre who reminds me a lot of former Stampeder centre Brett Jones. The Calgary Dino will likely replace centre Matt Norman in BC, who was underwhelming in his second season at centre. In such event, Norman would likely move back over to guard. 

Round one, pick six: Saskatchewan Roughriders 

Danny Groulx: offensive tackle, Laval

Saskatchewan lost Ben Heenan to the NFL this off-season and will be looking to replace the Indianapolis Colt with another national. 

The Laval product is a perfect fit in Saskatchewan. He brings more nastiness to a Rider offensive line that is already known for their mean streak. 

Groulx's footwork is good enough for professional football while his quickness and speed is also as good as any CFL prospect in the last few years. Groulx excels in both pass and run blocking and can make blocks downfield on screen passes. 

Round one, pick seven: Edmonton Eskimos

Jacob Ruby: offensive tackle, Richmond 

The Eskimos need to boast their national talent all over the offensive line. They ended up losing Matt O'Donnell to the NFL which leaves a big void to fill. Although he played tackle in university, that player can hopefully be Ruby by the 2016 season. If Ruby does manage to beat the odds and successfully transition to the CFL as a tackle, he could end up being one of the biggest draft steals in this class.

Unfortunately, I don't believe Ruby is quick enough to play tackle in the CFL against the speed rushes of most international pass rushers. 

I did, however, take notice of Ruby's aggressiveness and power as a run blocker. Given Ruby's excellent size (6'7, 315lbs), the University of Richmond star should smoothly transition over to guard with the Eskimos. Ruby will be a project, but is the most logical pick for Edmonton based on the remaining talent available. 

Round one, pick eight: Hamilton Tiger-Cats 

Nic Demski: slot-back, Manitoba 

The Cats have no shortage of offensive or defensive lineman, so I figure they'll take the best player available with the 8th overall pick. 

Demski has the talent to be a top-3 draft pick and will be given time to develop in Hamilton. Demski is essentially Chad Owens but with better size as he's always a threat to take the football to endzone whether he's punt returning or catching passes in the flats. The 6'0, 215 pound speedster can stretch the field as a deep threat and is underrated as a run-blocker. Demski could replace Andy Fantuz if he shockingly leaves as a free agent as Hamilton's number one national receiver. 

Round one, pick nine: Calgary Stampeders

Brett Boyko: left tackle, UNLV 

It may seem too early into the draft for the Stamps to pick up an NFL-bound player, but there's always a chance Boyko is one and done in the NFL and comes back north. In that case, the Stamps would get a sure starter at either tackle or guard with All-Star potential. 

ROUND TWO: 

Round two, pick one: Ottawa Redblacks 

Addison Richards: wide receiver, Regina

Ottawa signed Brad Sinopoli this off-season and also have Matt Carter as their second national receiver, however it's unknown if Sinopoli will ever emerge as a true number one Canadian slot-back. Richards has first round talent and could be that guy for Ottawa. 

Round two, pick two: Winnipeg Blue Bombers 

Jake Harty: slot-back, Calgary 

The Bombers need to boast their Canadian talent at the receiver position. Harty won't see the field in 2015, but can hopefully compete for a starting job come 2016. 

Round two, pick three: Toronto Argonauts 

Karl Lavoie: left tackle, Laval

The Argos could use some more youth along the offensive line, and the 6'4, 285 pound tackle from Laval could provide some depth in the future. 

Round two, pick four: Montreal Alouettes 

Kwame Adjei: defensive back, Mount Allison 

Montreal's lone defensive starter is the hard-hitting Marc-Olivier Brouillette at safety. Adjei plays a similar game to Brouillette and would help make an even stronger case that Montreal has the best Canadian depth in the league. 

Round two, pick five: BC Lions 

Brandon Tennant: defensive tackle, Laval 

The BC Lions let go of two starting defensive tackles from 2014 in Eric Taylor and Khalif Mitchell, meaning they are looking for some youth, and possibly a ratio change, to fill that position. Tennant is a big boy at 6'2, 309 pounds and is capable of plugging gaps as he did at Laval. 

Round two, pick six: Winnipeg Blue Bombers (from SSK) 

Adam Konar: linebacker, Calgary 

The Bombers recently picked up national middle linebacker Sam Hurl from Saskatchewan to start, and will need some depth behind him if that were to be the case.

Konar is a prototypical Canadian middle linebacker at 6'2, 225 lbs and racked up an impressive 40 tackles with an interception and forced fumble during his senior season at Calgary. Oddly enough, his old coach at Calgary Blake Nill compares his former All-Canadian middle linebacker to Sam Hurl. 

Round two, pick seven: Edmonton Eskimos 

Sean Smith: offensive tackle, McMaster

Fortunately for the Eskimos, they have great Canadian depth at the receiver and defensive line positions, thus are able to continue to draft and develop their offensive line. 

Smith is another offensive tackle but has better size than Ruby at 6'7 and 310 pounds. Smith will likely stay at offensive tackle and will develop for a few seasons. His ceiling isn't particularly high. 

Round two, pick eight: Hamilton Tiger-Cats 

Chris Ackie: defensive back, Laurier

Ackie is a lot like Hamilton's current national safety Craig Butler. Both can play either safety or linebacker and have similar body frames. The hard-hitting Laurier defensive back will likely play SAM linebacker at 210 pounds, but a solid 40-yard dash time at the combine may make team's re-think his ability to play safety, thus improving his draft stock. 

Round two, pick nine: Calgary Stampeders 

Nick Shortill: linebacker, McMaster

The Stamps lost Keenan MacDougall to the Riders this off-season and will need to replace his presence on special teams and on the defensive depth chart. 

Shortill's speed and open field tackling ability has me convinced he'll be a dominant special teams player in the CFL. Despite his body frame, he's best suited as a WILL linebacker in the Stamps defence.