RIDERS TRADE UP IN THE CANADIAN DRAFT

BY ARASH MADANIsportsnet.ca
Queen’s Golden Gaels linebacker Shomari Williams, in most CFL circles regarded as the best player on the board going into the 2010 Canadian college draft, will be the first pick taken on Sunday afternoon.

But it will not be by the Toronto Argonauts.

Sportsnet has learned that a series of trades involving three teams are ahead leading into Sunday’s draft. The Argonauts have agreed to trade its first overall pick, as well as the top selection in the second round (No. 8), to Saskatchewan. The Roughriders will give up both of its first round picks (No. 2 and No. 4) as well as a veteran Canadian player in return, to take the versatile Williams, 25, who anchored the Gaels defence in their run to the 2009 Vanier Cup title last fall.

Williams’s agent, Darren Gill, declined comment Saturday, but a source aware of the negotiations indicated that the University of Houston transfer has already come to terms on a three-year contract (including an option) with the Roughriders.

Toronto plans on taking Washington State offensive tackle Joe Eppele second, addressing an immediate need. The Argonauts also have an agreement in principle with B.C. to acquire the Lions’ No. 3 selection, swapping third and fourth picks. The Argos will then draft Concordia’s Cory Greenwood third overall, less than a week after the linebacker received faint NFL interest from the Kansas City Chiefs.

It is believed the Lions will make that move so long as they can still select wide receiver Shawn Gore, which would make the 23-year-old Toronto native the third Bishop’s Gaiters player drafted by the Lions over the past two drafts. Gore received a mini-camp invite from the Green Bay Packers last Saturday, but has yet to ink a contract with the NFL club.

A spokesperson for the Argonauts said head coach Jim Barker was unavailable for comment Saturday.

No trades have been registered formally with the CFL, sources said, which means no deal is official. It is believed the Argonauts will wait until they are on the clock Sunday to pull the trigger on the move with Saskatchewan. The Lions are set on taking Gore, so B.C. will likely sit until the top two picks move before agreeing to flip No. 3 and No. 4 with Toronto.

The Argos had been fielding calls from teams across the league regarding the top pick, but it was last week when discussions began to heat up with clubs who were legitimately interested after initial inquiries were over.

By Friday, a deal was in place between Toronto and Saskatchewan, two sources confirmed, and the Argonauts were already negotiating with Eppele’s new agent, former CFL defensive lineman Tim Fleiszer, yesterday.

Williams is expected to arrive in Regina Saturday, accompanied with his wife, to be unveiled as the newest Roughrider on Sunday afternoon