Ticats mining for gold in always-tricky CFL Draft

Unlike the NFL Draft where every fan knows the name and minute details of every guy who’s chosen (whether he’s a quarterback for one of the biggest college teams or an offensive lineman for a smaller school), the CFL Draft is more of a role call of the often anonymous.

Need proof? Go ask any casual football fan to tell you who Dontae Bull, Michael Brodrique and Lake Korte-Moore are.

They were last year’s first three picks.

That said, this lack of immediate name recognition isn’t to suggest Tuesday’s annual draft (the Ticats pick seventh overall and have eight picks in total) lacks importance. To the contrary. Finding great Canadians who can stand out in a league that requires a certain number of homegrown athletes to be on the field at all times can be the difference between success or failure.

It’s also incredibly hard.

There’s a case to be made – and it’s not a tough one to argue – that a general manager’s job at the CFL Draft is considerably more difficult than at the NFL Draft. Based solely on the added number of unknowns that are factored into these selections.

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• Dec 31, 1969
• Comments

• Dec 31, 1969
• Comments

Nearly everyone in the NFL draft has been playing in the NCAA. Most of those have been in Division One, which makes comparisons relatively easy. The athletes up for consideration have possibly faced each other. At the very least, they’ve lined up against similar opponents. They’ve certainly been playing with the same rules on the same-sized field. All the measurables are constant.

There are still a million variables, to be sure. Athleticism, attitude, smarts, desire and more. But for the most part you’re talking apples and apples.

Not here.

The first round of last year’s CFL Draft saw five Canadians who’d played U.S. college ball selected and four who’d played for U Sports schools.

Take a guy who’s been playing at an American school and you might love the fact that he’s played on a big stage against superb competition. But you can’t really be sure how he’ll do on a larger field with fewer downs, more motion, linemen being a yard off the ball and other new rules.

Take a guy from a Canadian school and you’ll never be certain how he’ll do against guys who’ve played at a higher level. Because remember, the CFL is also filled with American guys who’ve been brought here as free agents. Some who’ve played in the biggest of the big time and have benefitted from superior coaching, training and enhanced opportunities.

If you’re thinking about selecting a guy who played at McMaster or Western, you do have to wonder how he’ll do against guys who’ve been playing for Clemson or Texas or Michigan.

It makes the CFL Draft so intriguing even if the names might be unfamiliar. There’s just so much unknown.

For GMs, it also brings significant stakes.

Hit on one or two of picks who can step in and play well at this level and you’ve done well. Find three or four and you’ve had a great haul. Do that two or three years in a row and you’ve got the foundation for real success.

And if you can find not just good, serviceable players but a star or two – last year’s finalist for most outstanding player was Brady Oliveira, who was taken in the second round in 2019 – you’re golden.

But whiff on these picks and you’re in a huge hole. Because in this league, Canadian talent carries a premium. If you have to trade for it rather than finding it for free in the draft, it’ll be costly.

Which brings us back to Katsantonis.

It’s unlikely too many Hamiltonians had ever heard his name before he was called by the Ticats in the fourth round four years ago even though he was a star while playing for the University of British Columbia. Canadian college ball simply tends to be more regional with almost no national TV exposure. 

They’ve heard of him now. Last season, he had 54 tackles, two sacks and five interceptions. He’s become a huge part of Hamilton’s defence and a draft success story.

He’s a perfect example of what fans are hoping to see repeated Tuesday night. Ideally two, or three or four times.