Primer: What you need to know about Tuesday’s CFL Draft

TORONTO — Plenty of intrigue surrounds the 2016 CFL Draft, which kicks off Tuesday, May 10 at 7 p.m. ET. From Laval’s chance to make history to the trades that have affected the order, here’s what you need to know going into Tuesday night:

1. What’s the priority draft order?

The priority draft order was set in reverse order of the 2015 CFL standings, with the Saskatchewan Roughriders holding the first overall pick and the Grey Cup Champion Edmonton Eskimos capping things off. The selection order for Round 1 is as follows:

*Winnipeg forfeited its first round selection in the supplemental draft to select Garrett Waggoner.

2. Why are there only eight first round picks?

The Bombers used their 2016 first round selection to win the rights to Garrett Waggoner in last year’s supplemental draft. Waggoner became available only after the 2015 CFL Draft after obtaining national status late.

In the supplemental draft, every team is allowed a shot at each player involved. Teams bid on one player at a time, and the team willing to bid the highest original draft pick of the following year is awarded the player.

The last team to forfeit a first round pick in supplemental draft was also Winnipeg in 2012 for the rights to receiver Kito Poblah, and before that Hamilton in 2010 for offensive lineman Zac Carlson.

Garrett Waggoner was taken by the Bombers in last year’s supplemental draft (Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca)

3. Will the Riders trade the first overall pick?

It wouldn’t be the first time. The Ottawa REDBLACKS held onto the first overall pick last year to select Alex Mateas the year after trading it to Calgary for offensive lineman Jon Gott. That year the Stamps selected Laval centre Pierre Lavertu.

There’s been a lot of talk around the league of the Riders trading the pick this year, including some from Chris Jones and John Murphy as the team looks to stock up on Canadian talent in what appears to be a deep draft. Also to consider is the fact that after the first pick of the draft, the Riders aren’t on the clock again until the seventh pick of round three, 24th overall.

4. Keep an eye on…

Josiah St. John — If the 6-foot-6, 300-pound tackle goes first overall he’ll be the first Oklahoma player to do so in CFL Draft history. It was also mark the first time since 1998 that an NCAA player is taken first overall two year in a row after Connecticut’s Alex Mateas went first last year. Since the start of the modern era in 1985, 14 of 31 players (45 per cent) of first overall picks came from NCAA schools.

Mateas going first last year ended a run of eight straight seasons with a CIS player going first overall.

Laval O-linemen — If one of the three highly-touted offensive linemen from Laval go first overall, Laval would move into a fourth place tie with Toronto for the most first overall picks all-time with four. Previous Laval players to go first overall: Pierre Lavertu (Calgary, 2014), Miguel Robede (Calgary, 2005) and Alexandre Gauthier (Ottawa, 2002).

Laval O-linemen Part II — If all of Jason Lauzon-Seguin, Charles Vaillancourt and Philippe Gagnon go in the first round as projected, Laval would tie the University of Calgary for the record of most players taken in round one in a single draft with three. Calgary achieved the feat in 2013 with Linden Gaydosh (1, HAM), Mike Edem (3, MTL) and Steven Lumbala (5, MTL).

It would also mark the first time in history a school has had multiple players go in the first round of back to back years, potentially bringing Laval’s total to five first round picks between 2015 and 2016. In all, Laval ranks second since 2001 with eight first round picks, but Calgary with 11 is reachable.

Offensive Linemen — If an offensive lineman goes first this year as is expected, it would mark the third straight year that has occurred. Only three times in history has that happened including once in the modern era. The last time it happened was 2002 to 2004 (Alexandre Gauthier, Steven Morley and Wayne Smith). Never has an OL been the first overall pick four years in a row.

5. Recent draft trends

• Over the past 15 years, 67 per cent of draft selections have come from CIS schools.
• In 2014, 98 per cent of draft picks were from Canadian universities (all but one of 65 players), the largest margin of the last 15 years.
• In 2012, 47 per cent of draft picks came from NCAA schools, the highest percentage in 15 years (including four picks from Simon Fraser University, which now competes in the NCAA).
• The most players of one position taken in a single draft in the last 15 drafts is 18 (18 defensive linemen in 2014 and 18 offensive linemen in 2005).
• Offensive linemen have accounted for 25 per cent of all draft picks since 2001, the most for any position group, followed by defensive linemen at 18 per cent.
• Since 2001, 46 of the 124 first round picks (37 per cent) have been offensive linemen. In the last four drafts (2011 through 2015) that has intensified as 18 of 34 first round picks have been offensive linemen (up to 53 per cent). CFL.ca’s Justin Dunk projects in his latest mock draft that six of this year’s eight first round picks will be OL, including picks one through four.
• The University of Calgary has the most first round selections in the CFL Draft since 2001 with 11, while Laval is second with eight. The Dinos have also had at least one prospect selected in the first round in three straight drafts (2011-2013), a feat Laval is on track to match on Tuesday.
• The University of Calgary had three first round selections in the 2013 CFL Draft, the most ever — a mark Laval could match in this year’s draft based on projections.

6. Trades that impact the CFL Draft

FIRST ROUND

First Round Selection – Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Winnipeg forfeited its original first round selection after selecting Garrett Waggoner in the 2015 CFL Supplemental
Draft.

SECOND ROUND

9th Overall – Winnipeg Blue Bombers via Edmonton Eskimos via Saskatchewan Roughriders

Winnipeg acquired Edmonton’s second round selection (9th overall) along with offensive lineman Selvish Capers in
exchange for offensive lineman Chris Greaves.

Edmonton originally acquired Saskatchewan’s second round selection (9th overall) along with receiver Cory
Watson in exchange for the rights to national long-snapper Jorgen Hus and Saskatchewan’s third round pick (26th
overall) in the 2016 CFL Draft.

THIRD ROUND

18th Overall – Hamilton Tiger-Cats via Saskatchewan Roughriders

Hamilton acquired Saskatchewan’s third round selection (18th overall) in 2016, and 2015 third round pick (24th
overall that was traded to the Montreal and was used to select James Bordanis), for defensive end Brandon
Boudreaux and Edmonton’s lowest fourth round selections in 2015 (35th overall used to select Matt Rea) and 2016
(35th overall).

Hamilton originally acquired the Edmonton’s fourth round pick (35th overall) in a trade for Steve Myddleton.

24th Overall – Saskatchewan Roughriders via Calgary Stampeders

Saskatchewan acquired Calgary’s third round pick (24th overall) and kicker Tyler Crapigna in exchange for running
back Jerome Messam and Saskatchewan’s fifth round selection (38th overall) originally Montreal’s.

Saskatchewan originally acquired Montreal’s fifth round selection (38th overall) in exchange for Kevin Glenn.

26th Overall – Saskatchewan Roughriders via Edmonton Eskimos

Saskatchewan acquired Edmonton’s best third round selection (26th overall) and the rights to national longsnapper
Jorgen Hus in exchange for Cory Watson and Saskatchewan’s best 2016 second round selection (9th
overall), later traded to Winnipeg.

FOURTH ROUND

27th Overall – Toronto Argonauts via Saskatchewan Roughriders

Toronto acquired Saskatchewan’s fourth round selection (27th overall) for offensive lineman, Bruce Campbell.

35th Overall – Saskatchewan Roughriders via Hamilton Tiger-Cats via Edmonton Eskimos

Saskatchewan acquired Hamilton’s lowest fourth round selection (35th overall) along with Brandon Boudreaux and
their lowest fourth round pick in 2015 (used to select Matt Rea) in exchange for Saskatchewan’s best third round
selection in 2016 (18th overall).

Hamilton originally acquired the Edmonton’s fourth round pick (35th overall) in a trade for Steve Myddleton.

FIFTH ROUND

38th Overall – Calgary Stampeders via Saskatchewan Roughriders via Montreal Alouettes

Calgary acquires Saskatchewan’s fifth round selection originally Montreal’s (38th overall) along with running back
Jerome Messam in exchange for Calgary’s 2016 third round selection (24th overall) and kicker Tyler Crapigna.

Saskatchewan originally acquired Montreal’s fifth round selection (38th overall) in exchange for quarterback Kevin
Glenn.

39th Overall – Hamilton Tiger-Cats via BC Lions

Hamilton acquired BC’s fifth round selection (39th overall) in exchange for offensive lineman Timothy O’Neil.

SIXTH ROUND

45th Overall – Ottawa REDBLACKS via Saskatchewan Roughriders

Ottawa acquired Saskatchewan’s sixth round selection (45th overall) and seventh round selection (54th overall) in
exchange for receiver Maurice Price and Ottawa’s sixth round selection (52nd overall).

50th Overall – Montreal Alouettes via Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Montreal acquired Hamilton’s sixth round selection (50th overall) in exchange for defensive back Mike Edem.

52nd Overall – Saskatchewan Roughriders via Ottawa REDBLACKS

Saskatchewan acquired Ottawa’s sixth round selection (52nd overall) and receiver Maurice Price in exchange for
Saskatchewan’s sixth round selection (45th overall) and seventh round selection (54th overall).

SEVENTH ROUND

54th Overall – Ottawa REDBLACKS via Saskatchewan Roughriders

Ottawa acquired Saskatchewan’s sixth round selection (45th overall) and seventh round selection (54th overall) in
exchange for receiver Maurice Price and Ottawa’s sixth round selection (52nd overall).

Seventh Round Selection — Calgary Stampeders

Calgary forfeited its original seventh round selection after selecting Brandon Tett in the 2015 CFL Supplemental
Draft.