The Saskatchewan Roughriders selected Shomari Williams as the No. 1 pick in Sunday's CFL draft.
Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Leader-Post
REGINA — Brendan Taman wasn't willing to risk losing a shot at linebacker Shomari Williams.
The Saskatchewan Riders' general manager wanted the Queen's University product so badly that Taman completed a pre-draft trade with the Toronto Argonauts for the first overall pick in Sunday's CFL draft. Taman sent the Riders' second and fourth overall picks and the rights to non-import punter Jamie Boreham to Toronto for the No. 1 and No. 8 selections.
The Saskatchewan Riders' general manager wanted the Queen's University product so badly that Taman completed a pre-draft trade with the Toronto Argonauts for the first overall pick in Sunday's CFL draft. Taman sent the Riders' second and fourth overall picks and the rights to non-import punter Jamie Boreham to Toronto for the No. 1 and No. 8 selections.
Taman used the first overall pick to select Williams, who was the top-rated player by the CFL's Scouting Bureau. Taman then selected University of Regina Rams receiver and Regina product Jordan Sisco with the first pick of the second round.
"The talks (with the Argos) went on for a while because we really wanted the guy that we took,'' Taman said Sunday during a media conference to introduce Williams at Mosaic Stadium. "We were very concentrated on getting Shomari's rights. We didn't want to wait for our second pick and risk that if (the Argos) didn't pick him. There were some concerns that we might get one-upped by someone else. We didn't think we sold the farm to get the picks, so we felt it was a pretty good deal for us.''
The Riders then had to wait for the draft to work its way to their eighth selection. They used that pick to select Sisco, who had spent the weekend attending a mini-camp with the NFL's Indianapolis Colts. Sisco hasn't signed with the Colts, so his status remains uncertain. Taman said he's willing to wait no matter how long it takes.
"Jordan is a Saskatchewan kid and he's played in this environment,'' said Taman. "He knows what Saskatchewan is all about and he has been a productive player. We're excited to get him. We were doing jumping jacks after that.''
Sisco sounded just as pleased to be selected by the Riders when reached in Indianapolis before returning to Regina.
"When you're little you cheer for them every weekend,'' said Sisco. "I never expected that I would be picked by them. I know a lot of the guys because I've either played with them or been introduced to them. Its exciting and I can't wait to see where am I in the next month or two.''
The Riders concluded the draft with two picks in the fifth round. They selected University of Saskatchewan Huskies offensive lineman and Regina product Patrick Neufeld with the 33rd pick overall and Bruno Lapointe, a defensive end from the University at Buffalo Bulls, with the 38th overall pick.
"We got the top guys we wanted to get with our top two picks,'' Taman said. "We had those guys earmarked and we were able to get them.''
What would take place with the first-round pick was the subject of a great deal of speculation prior to the draft. Taman said he confirmed the deal with Toronto on Friday, thus was able to fly in Williams for Sunday's media conference. The two were expected to complete details on a three-year contract late Sunday.
Williams, a native of Brampton, Ont., was as close to a consensus No. 1 pick in this year's draft as there was. He had heard the buzz about being selected first and his named being included in the trade talks.
"I got to make history by being the No. 1 pick and I'm coming to a great organization,'' Williams said. "It was crazy and you never know how it's all going to play out. Toronto would have been a good fit for me because it was close to home. I also knew that Saskatchewan was a good organization to go to. As soon as I knew it was a done deal, I was ecstatic.''
Williams played defensive end with Queen's and shared in the school's 33-32 victory over the Calgary Dinos in the 2009 Vanier Cup. He's expected to play the same position with the Riders.
"He was a positional need,'' said Taman. "He's a defensive end who will be a big part of our special teams going forward. He'll get some playing time on defence as his career goes on. He's a guy with a big future and we're looking forward to seeing him develop.''
"He was a positional need,'' said Taman. "He's a defensive end who will be a big part of our special teams going forward. He'll get some playing time on defence as his career goes on. He's a guy with a big future and we're looking forward to seeing him develop.''
The uncertainty around the status of the draft was heightened by some of the top prospects signing NFL contracts or attending mini-camps on the weekend. Williams, who spent three seasons at the University of Houston before joining Queen's last year, didn't pursue any NFL options.
"My agent (Darren Gill) put me in the best position to be a top prospect in the CFL,'' said Williams. "As a Canadian growing up here and playing in the system, I wanted to be here. I figured this would be the best opportunity for me to develop as a player.
"If the NFL is something that happens in the future, I can hone my skills here but I get to be part of the community here and get to be a somebody.''Read more:
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