Recently, John Ng reached out to me on twitter and asked if I would be doing a mock draft. I said yes, and, well, here we are. My CFL Mock draft. Who will go where? This is what I think. Also, credit to John Hodge for the mock draft idea.
PICK ONE: EDM SELECTS LB JOEL DUBLANKO, CINCINNATI
Some people (including John Hodge) believe that the Elks will take Nick Mardner as their first overall pick. I believe that they're already talented enough at WR with names like Eugene Lewis, Kurleigh Gittens Jr, Dillon Mitchell, Kyran Moore and Vincent Forbes-Mombleau. I see them taking Joel Dublanko to fill the void they created when they released Aaron Grymes, and also to help a bit of a struggling Elks defense.
PICK TWO: OTT SELECTS OL GABE WALLACE, BUFFALO
Bit of a different choice here, but RNation needs a bit of help along their o-line. Sure, it's not the cool pick that some Redblacks fans may be wanting, but Wallace will definitely be a help to a line that released and re-signed Jacob Ruby in less than a week. He's an outstanding run blocker too, which might just be what their running backs need to re-establish their running game.
PICK THREE: SSK SELECTS LB MELIQUE STRAKER, ARKANSAS STATE
Although the Green and White definitely added some great help to their linebacking core, if one of their men goes down, Straker can fill the role. He plays strong side linebacker and safety, which is some pretty nice versatility, and he can play special teams as well. He's projected to be a starter, but he'll have pretty tough competition against one of the best strong-side linebackers in the game, that being CJ Reavis.
PICK FOUR: CGY SELECTS WR NICK MARDNER, AUBURN
The Stamps needed serious help in their receiving core last year, and didn't do a whole lot to address it in free agency. Nick Mardner would be a huge pickup for them. He went for almost 1,000 yards with the Rainbow Warriors back in 2021, and I'm sure the Stamps are hoping that he can turn into their next Reggie Begelton.
PICK FIVE: TOR SELECTS DB BEN LABROSSE, MCGILL
This one is a bit of a reach, but with all the Argos losses in free agency, they need some DB depth. Labrosse can absolutely play as a starter in the CFL, but it may take him a while to warm up as he didn't play last year. He was a standout at McGill, gaining first-team U-Sports all-Canadian honors in 2022. He's also a wicked special teams player which would be a great addition to Toronto's already stellar teams.
PICK SIX (haha): BC SELECTS OL GIOVANNI MANU, UBC
A local product from UBC who may sign in the NFL as a UFA, Manu has it all for BC. They may be hoping he doesn't sign with an NFL team because he's a beast on the line. Hopefully for both parties, Manu signs with his hometown team and runs over defenders for a long time in his home province.
PICK SEVEN: HAM SELECTS OL KYLE HERGEL, BOSTON COLLEGE
This is a very rich OL class in this draft. Hergel is a 6'2", 310lb gamer who will warm up very nicely in Hamilton. He played his college ball at Boston College with the Eagles, earning PFF first-team all-sun belt honors in 2022 and ranked as the fourth highest o-lineman in the sun belt in 2021. Hamilton should be thrilled if they land Hergel.
PICK EIGHT: WPG SELECTS OL GEORGE UNA, WINDSOR
Winnipeg's O-line is OLD. Even after losing 33 year old Jermarcus Hardrick to the rival Riders, their line is still quite old, with Stanley Bryant at 37, Liam Dobson at 26 (but entering the final year of his contract), Chris Kolankowski at 32, Eric Lofton at 31 and Patrick Neufeld at 35, they need some younger talent to come replace the older bodies when the eventually retire, and George Una could be just that for them.
PICK NINE: MTL SELECTS DL DANIEL OKPOKO, SAN DIEGO STATE
With Lwal Uguak gone to the NFL and Almondo Sewell not being re-signed, the Als may be looking for help along their D-Line, which was one of the best last year. Hopefully for them, Okpoko can fill the giant shoes left by Lwal Uguak when they want to use him.
By Bruce Chimirri-Olson
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