Shire: Roughriders can take home run swing in CFL Draft

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The Saskatchewan Roughriders should swing for the fences.

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Heading into Tuesday’s Canadian Football League draft, there aren’t any glaring holes on Saskatchewan’s roster that the Green and White need to address heading into the 2025 CFL season, which begins June 5.

Sure, there’s a need for another Canadian defensive lineman, a linebacker and a receiver at some point in the draft to give depth throughout Saskatchewan’s lineup, but other than that, the Roughriders’ roster is in good shape and any players drafted on Tuesday won’t be in line to crack the starting lineup this year, although some could earn special teams playing time.

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That gives the Riders a chance to gamble.

That heavy lifting that general manager Jeremy O’Day and the rest of Saskatchewan’s football operations staff have done with the roster this off-season allows the CFL club to have an easy mind going into the draft, which will see the Roughriders select fourth overall in the first round. Saskatchewan will also have the 13th overall pick in the second round.

While it might be wise to select a linebacker who could become a starter one day or even a defensive lineman — considering there are four ranked among the top 10 prospects — with one of their top two picks in the draft, O’Day has the chance to select one of two quarterbacks who could become stars in the CFL if they were to ever play the three-down game.

We’re talking about Taylor Elgersma and Kurtis Rourke — both top-end quarterbacks who are likely to get NFL looks before they ever consider the CFL. It’s not often we see quarterbacks get drafted in the CFL let alone in the first two rounds, but these two appear to have high ceilings, like Tre Ford, who was drafted by Edmonton eighth overall in 2022.

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Last year, when the Roughriders selected offensive lineman Kyle Hergel at third overall, it caught some by surprise as Hergel was already committed to the NFL’s New Orleans Saints.

At the time, O’Day said if the Toronto native ever came to the CFL, he would be a welcome addition to Saskatchewan’s offensive line. But Hergel may also never see Mosaic Stadium. He certainly hasn’t yet in his young career.

It’s not the first time O’Day has selected a player with NFL opportunities already on the board. In 2023, the Riders drafted offensive lineman Sidy Sow and defensive lineman Tavius Robinson, two players who had already earned opportunities south of the border; not just rookie mini-camp invites.

Considering Saskatchewan’s roster and what it takes to land an elite quarterback, a “futures” pick could be in the cards again early this year.

The Roughriders are entering the season with 38-year-old veteran Trevor Harris, 28-year-old backup Jake Maier, short-yardage specialist Tommy Stevens and prospects Jack Coan and Michael Hiers on the roster. It’s a good position to be in this year and even next year. Adding a young QB with top-end talent into the system would be a welcome addition even if he doesn’t come to Saskatchewan for a few seasons.

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Something to also consider is O’Day’s track record of selecting talent later in the draft. He’s earned the right to take gambles with some of his picks in the past.

Last year, even without Hergel, Saskatchewan had a successful draft, as they landed linebackers Nick Wiebe and Melique Straker along with receivers Ajou Ajou and Dhel Duncan-Busby — all of whom suited up for the team last season.

While Ajou is now NFL bound, Saskatchewan also has 2024 picks Daniel Johnson, an offensive lineman who spent the season on the practice roster, receiver D’Sean Mimbs and defensive back Richard Aduboffour set to attend camp this year.

That’s a nice draft class without having the first rounder in house.

Just a year prior, O’Day selected defensive lineman Lake Korte-Moore, defensive back Jaxon Ford and running back Thomas Bertrand-Hudon — another group of quality picks — in the draft before gambling on Sow and Robinson.

So yes, while landing the next Samuel Emilus (2022 seventh overall pick) or Nelson Lokombo (2021 second overall pick) should be a priority early in the draft, taking a shot at landing a Canadian quarterback who may one day become the face of the franchise would be a good gamble as well.

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tshire@postmedia.com

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