We
start our annual pre-draft look at each team with the team currently slated to
pick first overall. Kavis has been very forensic about his preparation... or what ever weird word he uses to describe his "unique" way of running things.
Picks: 9 picks, first selection is 1st Overall
2017 Draft Assessment: Much like pretty much everything
related to the 2017 season, the draft was not very good. They had no first
rounder because they traded it to BC for Vernon Adams (solid return on that
investment). They wasted their 2nd round on a D-lineman (who ended
up dressing for just 3 games) despite that being the least pressing need they
had. The only real good thing they did was Donte Wright in the 3rd
round. Most shocking to me was the bold decision not to draft any O-linemen at
all (the only team not to do so).
Potential Pipeline: n/a (at one point they
had DL Tyrone Crawford on their neg list but not sure if they still do… not
that it matters, he ain’t coming north anytime soon).
Current Strengths:
They
have the ability to start 2 quality Cdn DL in the Westerman brothers with
Joseph and Foote for depth. Chris Ackie is another starting calibre defender
who can play safety or DB. They also have a decent crop of special teamers and
guys like Patrick Lavoie, Tevaughn Campbell and Shaq Murray-Lawrence who can contribute.
Current Needs:
Their
O-line is old and not very good. Gagnon is really all they have waiting in the
wings with the rest of their starters over 32 (maybe they should have drafted
an OL or 2 last season). This needs to be addressed. With the exception of DB
and DL they pretty much have needs across the board. All their best Canadians
are over 30 and very few of their sub-30 group have the potential to be
starters.
Prediction:
Ideally what Montreal wants to do is trade down to
lower in the first round a get another pick or 2. That said it doesn’t sound
like anyone is too eager to make such a trade (especially with no consensus #1 prospect
and every team still having a 1st rounder). Logic says if they keep the pick
then it has to be an O-lineman and one that is not likely NFL bound. Guys like
Dakota Shepley or Ryan Hunter come to mind. A few people have then taking WR Mark Chapman first overall which is a possibility but they need a better line more than they need another receiver Josh Freeman won't be able to complete a pass to. That said Kavis Reed has never been big on logic
and may just say screw it and draft another D-lineman.
Kavis really wanted Behar last year so Chapman wouldn't surprise me but OL is the way to go. Of course Manziel could be in play so that pick might be going to Hamilton, giving them 6 in the first 14. I wouldn't be surprised to see Hamilton trade some picks. The Riders are without picks for 2 rounds & the Eskimos are without picks in rounds 2 & 3 due to their injury problems last year - hello Chick & Gable. That's for a later date but the TiCats are an interesting team this year. Stood still in free agency, not a bad move but I expect some interesting action with them this month. Look at Riders & Esks both offering some players for picks.
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