Kyle Walters settled into a chair in his office and then mulled over a list of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ current collection of Canadian talent on his laptop.
About 10 feet to his immediate right is a white board listing the club’s wish list for Tuesday’s Canadian Football League Draft and on a wall facing him is a monitor offering quick access to the film of all the top homegrown prospects available in the annual talent grab.
D-Day – Draft Day – is upon us, and the Blue Bombers are in a good spot heading into the main Canadian draft along with the Global Draft, held earlier in the day – and are eons removed from the first draft of the current management regime back in 2014.
Yes, back then the Canadian Blue Bombers talent was thin and roster spots, heck starting spots, were virtually guaranteed for the team’s top selections.
“We like where we are now,” said Walters in a chat with bluebombers.com. “We’re a veteran group that isn’t reliant on Canadian rookies to come in and fill holes. We give them time to develop and then get on the field, but it’s tougher now for a Canadian to come in and get a spot and get on the field with the way we’re set.
“That said, our young Canadians are growing, they’re ready and they want to start playing more. Guys like (guard) Liam Dobson, Redha (Kramdi, defensive back) and (Brendan) O’Leary-Orange (a receiver) are all going to be pushing the guys in front of them.”
The team did see centre Michael Couture leave during free agency, but the O-line still features five returning vets – all with experience as starters – returning to man three spots along the interior in two-time CFL All-Star Pat Neufeld, guards Geoff Gray and Liam Dobson and centre/guards Chris Kolankowski and Tui Eli.
All the starting Canadian spots have depth – some more than others – and so the team’s objective heading into Tuesday is to find players who could morph into long-term starters or, at the very least, further fill the talent pool.
And, interestingly, while the Blue Bombers are a veteran squad in a win-right-now mode after three consecutive Grey Cup appearances and two championships, the collection of starting Canadians is younger.
Neufeld is 34, Kolankowski is 31 but has low miles with 41 career games played, slotback Nik Demski is 29, Gray and Drew Wolitarsky are both 28 while Eli is 27 and Oliveira 25.
Some of the team’s Canadians are older in long-snapper Mike Benson (35), linebackers Jesse Briggs (33) and Shayne Gauthier (31), and fullback Mike Miller (34), but are still at peak performance.
The Blue Bombers have all eight of their selections in Tuesday’s CFL Draft – beginning with eighth overall – in the first round and what follows below is our annual CFL Draft primer, which touches on a few issues as the Bombers finish up final preparations for Tuesday.
FAQ ABOUT THE BOMBERS IN THE DRAFT
What are the club’s areas of need, Canadian-wise?
The defensive line is a bit thin after Thomas and Lawson and Cole Adamson, a pick from last year, is going to get a long look in camp on the other side of the ball. The team could also look at the other layers in the defence, from the linebacking corps to the secondary, and may want to add more depth to the receiving corps, especially with two Canadians starting.
What are the trends from Walters & Co in their previous draft classes?
This regime tends to stock the trenches with early picks. Consider that of the 18 first and second-round selections by this bunch dating back to 2014 – seven first rounders, 11 second rounders – seven were used on O-linemen and three on D-linemen. The other early picks included four defensive backs, two receivers, one linebacker and one running back.
Would the team use any of its selections on Canadian players selected in the NFL Draft last Thursday-Sunday or signed as free agents? (see list below)
Possible, but not likely. The five Canadians drafted by NFL teams might not ever cross the border back into Canada to play football and the free agent signings – depending on the size of their signing bonuses – could also be long shots. Walters did indicate the club will be shuffling its draft board Monday after evaluating where Canadians have landed in the NFL over the last few days.
What are the chances the club could move up – or down – in the draft?
The Blue Bombers have done this before in recent years, moving down to get more picks later, and so it’s possible that plays out again.
But…
“It’s different than in the NFL,” said Walters. “Teams trade down and acquire extra picks later and built a ton of depth. Usually in the CFL Draft the first 15-20 picks are where you find your starters. There’s just not the value in our draft to trade down to acquire a ton of picks. That makes it difficult to trade up because that means someone would have to trade down and generally, they don’t see the value to trade down as much unless you’re wowed by something.
“If we’re sitting at eight and a team behind us wants to trade up to get somebody they think they can get, then they’ll approach us. It’s the same vice-versa – if we’re a little nervous about the way the board is going and we want to get up to four or five, what are you going to have to give up for that team to drop to eight?”
What can we expect the Blue Bombers to do in the Global Draft?
The team is set with its international players already with linebacker Les Maruo, defensive end Thiadric Hansen (coming back from an Achilles injury but expected to begin cranking things up as camp progresses), along with offensive lineman Tomoya Machino, defensive back Soulemayne Karamoko and receiver prospect Timothy Knuettel all returning.
It’s possible the team may look at a punter in the draft, but finding more Global talent is not currently a high priority.
“We’re good,” Walters said. “We like our globals.”
Are there any Manitobans to keep an eye on in the draft?
Offensive lineman Dayton Black, a Brandon product who played at the University of Saskatchewan, is the 20th-ranked prospect heading into Tuesday. His teammate, defensive back Charlie Ringland, attended the CFL Combine in March but suffered a knee injury which could impact his status.
Collin Kornelson, a defensive tackle from the University of Manitoba and St. Paul’s High School, and teammate Nick Thomas, a linebacker from B.C. who played with the Bisons, could also hear their names called.
CFL DRAFT DAY
What: The CFL’s 2023 Global and CFL Drafts
When: Tuesday, May 2nd. The Global Draft begins at 10 a.m. and is then followed by the main CFL Draft at 7 p.m.
How to watch: The Global draft is not televised. The first two rounds of the CFL draft can be seen on TSN. Rounds 3-8 can be seen live on TSN+. The picks can also be followed here: https://www.cfl.ca/draft-tracker/2023/
THE BOMBERS CFL DRAFT PICKS:
ROUND 1: 8th overall
ROUND 2: 15th overall
ROUND 3: 26th overall
ROUND 4: 35th overall
ROUND 5: 44th overall
ROUND 6: 53rd overall
ROUND 7: 62nd overall
ROUND 8: 71st overall
THE BOMBERS GLOBAL DRAFT PICKS:
ROUND 1: 8th overall
ROUND 2: 17th overall
BLUE BOMBERS DRAFT PICKS CURRENTLY ON THE ROSTER
DT Jake Thomas* (Round 4, 29th overall, 2012)
LB Jesse Briggs (Round 2, 17th overall, 2014)
LB Shayne Gauthier (Round 4, 28th overall, 2016)
OL Geoff Gray* (Round 1, 8th overall, 2017)
WR Drew Wolitarsky* (Supplemental Draft, 2017)
RB Brady Oliveira* (Round 2, 14th overall, 2019)
OL Tui Eli (Round 4, 34th overall, 2019)
DB Nick Hallett (Round 7, 61st overall, 2019)
DB Noah Hallett (Round 2, 18th overall, 2020)
WR Brendan O’Leary-Orange (Round 4, 37th overall, 2020)
K Marc Liegghio (Round 5, 39th overall, 2020)
LB Tanner Cadwallader (Round 7, 64th overall, 2020)
OL Liam Dobson (Round 1, 3rd overall, 2021)
DB Redha Kramdi (Round 2, 16th overall, 2021)
OL/DL Cole Adamson (Round 4, 38th overall, 2022)
DB Cedrick Lavigne (Round 7, 65th overall, 2022)
DB Tyrell Ford (Round 2, 13th overall, 2022) – Signed a futures deal with Green Bay; CFL rights remain with Winnipeg.
FB Konner Burtenshaw (Round 8, 74th overall, 2022)
*indicates starter
OTHER BOMBER CANADIANS CURRENTLY ON THE ROSTER
OL Patrick Neufeld* – Round 5, 33rd overall, by Saskatchewan in 2010; traded to Winnipeg in 2013 for DE Alex Hall and a second-round pick in the 2014 draft. CFL All-Star last two seasons.
SB Nic Demski* – Round 1, 6th overall, by Saskatchewan in 2015; signed with Winnipeg as a free agent in 2018. The Bombers’ Most Outstanding Canadian and a West Division All-Star in both 2021 and 2022.
FB Mike Miller – First signed as an undrafted free agent by Edmonton in 2011; signed as a free agent with Winnipeg in 2017 and was the team’s top Canadian in 2019 and the top special teams player in 2019 and 2021. The CFL’s all-time leader in special teams tackles.
RB Johnny Augustine – First signed as an undrafted free agent by Edmonton in 2017; signed with Winnipeg as a free agent in 2018 and has 57 regular season games now to his name.
LS Mike Benson – Veteran long snapper signed as a free agent with his hometown team in 2021. First signed by Edmonton as an undrafted free agent in 2012 and has now played in 121 career games with Edmonton, B.C., Ottawa, and Winnipeg.
OL Chris Kolankowski – Round 6, 49th overall, by Toronto in 2016; Proved to be a valuable contributor after an early-season injury to Michael Couture, dressing for 17 games and making 15 starts at centre.
DT Cameron Lawson – Flashed promise in his first full season in Winnipeg after being acquired from Montreal, playing in every game and registering 12 tackles and a sack.
OL Tyler Grisolia – University of Toronto product who played seven games last year with the Varsity Blues. Caught the club’s eye after he was invited to the CFL’s Invitational Combine.
DB Charles-Antoine Beaulieu – Two-time Vanier Cup champ from his days at Laval who signed in February as a free agent.
DB Jacob Janke – Former fourth-round selection by Saskatchewan (2019) who attended camp with them in 2021. Second-team U-Sports All-Canadian in 2019.
P Chris MacLean – U Sports First Team All-Canadian and a Canada West All-Star in 2022. A transfer from the University of Toronto where he played from 2019-21, MacLean was an OUA Second Team All-Star in 2021.
OL Brandon Sanford – UBC product attended camp previously before heading back to school
DB Jordan Veltri – Spent five seasons at Wilfrid Laurier (2017-22) and signed as an undrafted free agent this winter.
*indicates starter
CFL SCOUTING BUREAU’S FINAL DRAFT RANKINGS
- Matthew Bergeron, OL; Syracuse, (Victoriaville, Que) — selected by Atlanta Falcons, second round, 38th overall
- Chase Brown, RB; Illinois (London, Ont.) – selected by Cincinnati Bengals, 5th round 163rd overall
- Sydney Brown, DB; Illinois, London, Ont. –selected by Philadelphia Eagles, third round 66th overall
- Tavius Robinson, DL; Mississippi, Guelph, Ont. — selected by Baltimore Ravens, fourth round, 124th overall
- Sidy Sow, OL; Eastern Michigan, Bromont, Que. — selected by New England Patriots, fourth round, 117th overall
- Jared Wayne, WR; Pittsburgh (Peterborough, Ont.) – signed by Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent
- Dontae Bull, OL; Fresno State (Victoria, B.C.)
- Jonathan Sutherland, DB; Penn State (Ottawa, Ont.)
- Lwal Uguak, DL; TCU (Edmonton, Alta.) – invited to attend New York Giants mini-camp
- Francis Bemly, DL; Southern Utah (Montreal, Que).
- Michael Brodique, LB; Montreal (Sainte-Marthe-su-le-Lac, Que.)
- Cole Tucker, WR; Northern Illinois (DeKalb, Ill.) — invited to attend Minnesota Vikings rookie mini-camp.
- Lake Korte-Moore, DL; UBC (Ottawa, Ont.)
- Clark Barnes, WR; Guelph (Brampton, Ont.)
- Siriman Bagayogo, DB; Guelph (Bois-des-Filion, Que.) – invited to attend Kansas City Chiefs rookie mini-camp.
- Anthony Bennett, OL; Regina (Weston, Fla.)
- Phillip Grohovac, OL; Western (Victoria, B.C.)
- Jacob Taylor, DB; Alberta (Beaumont, Alta.)
- James Peter, LB; Ottawa (Ottawa, Ont.)
- Dayton Black, OL; Saskatchewan (Brandon, Man.)
