RIDERS 2010 CANADIAN DRAFT LOOKING GOOD

By Murray McCormick, Leader-PostOctober 21, 2009


REGINA — The draft winds could be blowing in the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ favour in 2010.
Through a series of trades and off-season moves, the Riders have two selections in the first round of next year’s draft.

“We’re in pretty good shape,’’ Joe Womack, the Roughriders’ director of player personnel, said Tuesday. “It’s the first time we’ve had multiple number ones and I’m pretty excited about it.’’
It’s the first time under current general manager Eric Tillman that the Riders have had multiple first-round selections. In 2005, former Riders general manager Roy Shivers used three first-round selection to pick offensive linemen Matt O’Meara (third overall) and Chris Best (fourth overall) and slotback Nathan Hoffart (seventh overall).

The Riders currently have two first-round picks and a fifth-rounder in the 2010 draft. They have their own selection and Edmonton’s first-round pick (fourth overall) as part of a training camp trade in which offensive lineman Joe McGrath was sent to the Eskimos.

The Riders’ position in the first round could be improved as a result of a convoluted three-way off-season trade, which included the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Winnipeg Blue Bombers. As their part of the trade, the Riders have the option of swapping first-round picks with the Blue Bombers in the 2010 or 2011 drafts.

Based on the 2009 standings, the Riders would pick sixth in 2010. The position of all teams in the draft will be improved because the Hamilton Tiger-Cats don’t have a first-round pick. The Tiger-Cats surrendered that pick after selecting offensive lineman Zac Carlson in the supplemental draft.

The Toronto Argonauts (3-13) would pick first. That means Winnipeg (6-9-0) moves up to second and the Riders would select third with Edmonton’s pick.

The Riders could switch with Winnipeg in order to have the second and third overall picks in draft. The trade also left the Roughriders with an option of taking two future second-round selections from the Blue Bombers instead of a first-rounder.

Womack cautioned that a great deal can take place before May when the draft is to be held.
“You never know what will happen between now and the draft,’’ said Womack. “I would assume because the talent pool is so good and the Canadians are getting better, we will probably hold on to (the draft picks).’’

mmccormick@leaderpost.canwest.com