The 2020 CFL Draft took place Thursday night, with each of the league's nine teams bringing in a new crop of rookies to help build their franchise.
The coming season is still shrouded in uncertainty, with the league recently asking the government for up to $150 million in coronavirus relief funds, but the draft went ahead as scheduled.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers enter the season as defending Grey Cup champions, and they'll be looking to repeat in 2020. Other teams, like the Ottawa Redblacks and Toronto Argonauts, are trying to move on from unsuccessful campaigns.
MORE: Complete results for the 2020 CFL Draft
Here are Sporting News Canada's team-by-team grades for the 2020 CFL Draft:
BC Lions
The Lions took former East Carolina linebacker Jordan Williams first overall. Williams was a three-year starter in college but hasn't played since he graduated in 2017. Still, he has the speed and agility to be a starter in his first season with the Lions. The team also managed to snag Nathan Rourke, arguably one of the best Canadian quarterback prospects in years, in the second round. Rourke can continue to develop while backing up the aging Mike Reilly before making the transition to starter.
Deeper in the draft, BC reached on Court Hammond in the third round to address its need at defensive tackle and also picked up offensive lineman Matt Guevremont and receiver Cordell Hastings. Running back Kayden Johnson is an intriguing raw prospect who possesses breathtaking speed but has struggled with injuries. He was still worth a late-round flier.
Overall, the Lions were able to address their biggest needs while also picking up some boom-or-bust late-round prospects, but Hammond definitely went off the board earlier than he should have.
Grade: A-
Calgary Stampeders
Calgary's first-round pick, defensive end Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund, sacked Heisman Trophy winner and recent NFL Draft No. 1 pick Joe Burrow three times in his college career. He's joined in Calgary by second-round pick Trivel Pinto, an explosive receiver who racked up yards at UBC.
The Stampeders also took a risk by selecting receiver Rysen John in the third round. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the NFL's New York Giants, but the pick could end up being a shrewd move if he fails to make New York's roster. Drafting another receiver in the fourth round, Tyson Middlemost, seemed excessive.
Adeyemi-Berglund was a very good pick, but the team could have done more than just stock up on receivers in the middle rounds.
Grade: B-
Edmonton Eskimos
The Eskimos went for substance over style with their first-round pick, taking offensive lineman Tomas Jack-Kurdyla out of Buffalo. It was a smart pickup because he could well end up starting as a rookie. Their second-round selection was questionable, though; they took unproven defensive end Alain Pae from the University of Ottawa.
The rest of the draft was solid, if unspectacular, with the team picking linebacker Malik Tyne and defensive back Dotun Aketepe in the second and third rounds, respectively, before adding two more offensive linemen, Chris Gangarossa and Nick Summach, and kicker Dante Brown in the later rounds.
It wasn't the most exciting draft in Eskimos history, but they did a good job of adding potential foundation pieces.
Grade: B
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton surprised everybody by taking developmental O-line prospect Coulter Woodmansey with the fifth overall pick. He has upside, but the Tiger-Cats are already set along the offensive front and they could probably have gotten the Guelph product later. They took defensive end Mason Bennett with the eighth overall pick and their second selection in the first round.
Bailey Feltmate was a nice find in the second round to help bolster the linebacking corps, while speedy receiver Tyler Ternowski can be an offensive weapon. Defensive back Stavros Katsantonis was a steal in the fourth round. The UBC product fell because of a lack of size and a failed drug test last year, but he has starting potential.
The questionable first-round selection is almost salvaged by a few value picks in later rounds, but not quite.
Grade: C
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Montreal Alouettes
With no first-round pick, the Alouettes did extremely well to grab Montreal native Marc-Antoine Dequoy in the second round. The defensive back was signed as a UDFA by the Green Bay Packers, but he'd be a great addition to the Alouettes defense if he doesn't make Green Bay's roster. Reliable defensive tackle Cameron Lawson should help provide more physicality up front.
The team took another risk with their third pick by taking another NFL signee, offensive lineman Carter O'Donnell. O'Donnell, one of CFL Central Scouting's top draft prospects, signed with the Indianapolis Colts last week. If the NFL doesn't work out, then he'd be a stellar blocker in the CFL The team also added defensive end Benoit Marion, linebacker Brian Harelimana and offensive lineman Andrew Becker, who could be a steal if he stays healthy.
This is a boom-or-bust draft class with a lot of upside and some reliable mid-rounders.
Grade: A
Ottawa Redblacks
The Redblacks took versatile defender Adam Auclair, brother of Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end Antony Auclair, with their first-round selection. He should make an immediate contribution on special teams and could turn into a very good defensive player. In the second round, they took Michael Hoecht, a risky pick considering the defensive tackle signed with the Los Angeles Rams last week. He's an absolute monster, however; he posted a 4.65 40-yard dash despite being listed at 295 pounds. If he does report, he would be a force.
Fellow second-rounder Daniel Basambambo has potential as a linebacker but he's planning going back to school in 2020. Offensive lineman Jakub Szott highlights the team's late-round selections.
Odds are Auclair will end up a decent player, but Hoecht is likely going to make or break this draft class depending on whether he ends up playing for the Redblacks.
Grade: B+
Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan went with a local boy, offensive lineman Mattland Riley, with their first pick, and gained a physical presence up front. They didn't pick again until the fourth round, when they took receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker. The Guelph product has good size and has a high ceiling, but he probably won't make a huge impact in his first season. Another former Guelph player, linebacker A.J. Allen, was a solid pickup in the fourth round. Defensive back Vincent Dethier and running back Jonathan Femi-Cole could help out situationally as rookies.
The Roughriders also selected defensive tackle Neville Gallimore with the 71st overall pick of the draft. However, Gallimore was taken by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round of last week's NFL Draft, meaning it'd be a real shock if the Oklahoma product ever suited up for Saskatchewan. Still, in the event that Gallimore fails to stick with an NFL team, it would be well worth a late-round flier for the Roughriders to own his future CFL rights.
It doesn't look like a draft class of superstars on paper, but it should help the Roughriders build on their solid 2019 season.
Grade: B
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Toronto Argonauts
The Argos went flashy with the second overall pick, taking receiver Dejon Brissett out of Virginia. He didn't exactly shine at UVA, though, making just one catch in 12 games last year after transferring from Richmond. Toronto also passed on a few notable offensive linemen who could have addressed their need for blockers, including Jack-Kurdyla. They did try to fill that hole later in the first round, taking Theren Churchill, but that pick seemed like a reach.
Second-rounder Jack Cassar is a good pass-rushing linebacker and defensive tackle Sam Acheampong has plenty of potential as an interior rusher. The Argos also added another offensive lineman, Dylen Giffen, and a possible sleeper pick in running back Dion Pellerin.
After a rough first round, the team managed to cobble together a pretty decent-looking group of prospects, but question marks still linger around the offensive line.
Grade: C+
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The reigning Grey Cup champs traded away their first-round pick, meaning they had to wait until the end of Round 2 to make their first selection. They ended up taking Noah Hallett, the younger brother of Blue Bombers defensive back Nick Hallett. Also a DB, Noah is a freak athlete who will help fill one of the team's main needs.
Winnipeg also added Brendan O’Leary-Orange, who has maybe the highest potential of any receiver taken in this year's class if he stays healthy, before taking kicker Marc Liegghio and defensive end Nicholas Dheilly in the fifth round.
Despite only having two picks in the first four rounds, the Bombers did exactly what they needed to by addressing their main needs and adding players with high upside.
Grade: A-
