It has now been almost six months since the Winnipeg Blue Bombers captured a historic win at the 2019 Grey Cup in November. There have been plenty of changes in the CFL since then, with teams bringing in new players, coaches and even owners.
With the 2020 Draft behind us, teams are now starting to look ahead to the upcoming season. Questions still linger over when — or if — the season can begin, but the league seems determined to award the Grey Cup this year, even if it means receiving hundreds of millions of dollars of government aid.
CFL Draft 2020: Full list of selections | Team-by-team draft grades
With a new season on the horizon, here are Sporting News Canada's post-draft CFL power rankings:
No. 9: Ottawa Redblacks
After four straight years of making the playoffs, the Redblacks came crashing back to earth last season with a woeful 3-15 record. As a result, plenty of changes have been made throughout the team. Head coach Rick Campbell was fired, along with his entire staff, and replaced by Paul LaPolice. There's also a new starting quarterback in town, with 26-year-old Nick Arbuckle taking the reigns after three different quarterbacks started games last year.
The team added versatile defender Adam Auclair in the draft and he should be able to make a decent contribution in his rookie year. Michael Hoecht could end up being a star in the future, but that will be at least a year or two down the road as he chases his NFL dream with the Los Angeles Rams. This season has all the makings for a rebuild in Ottawa, and 2020 could be another long year.
No. 8 Toronto Argonauts
After back-to-back four-win seasons, the Argos decided to blow things up at the end of last year. General Manager Jim Popp was fired with four games to go and replaced by Michael "Pinball" Clemons. Next out the door was head coach Corey Chamblin, who was replaced by Ryan Dinwiddie. Dinwiddie's first challenge will be to figure out the team's situation at quarterback after McLeod Bethel-Thompson and James Franklin played hot potato with the starting job throughout last year.
Taking receiver Dejon Brissett with the second overall pick will at least give the eventual quarterback an offensive weapon to work with, but both of the team's picks in the first round seemed a bit shaky. It's possible that the Argos will be able to put it all together and have a successful 2020 season, but it's not likely.
No. 7: Edmonton Eskimos
Another team with a new head coach, the Eskimos gave former Argos boss Scott Milanovich the job after an 8-10 season last year. Their quarterback, Trevor Harris, will be hoping to stay healthy after missing five games last season.
The Eskimos went pretty safe in the draft, targeting mostly offensive linemen and defensive depth players. If Edmonton's defense plays as well as they did last year and the offense takes a step forward, there's a good chance the Eskimos will be a playoff team. However, the difficult West division isn't doing them any favors.
No. 6: BC Lions
Last year was a forgettable one for the Lions, but they've done some good things so far this offseason. They brought in former Redblacks head coach Rick Campbell and made a couple of big signings, adding OL Ryker Mathews and DT Micah Johnson along with a pair of solid receivers in Dominique Rhymes and Caleb Holley.
They took linebacker Jordan Williams with the first overall pick of this year's draft, and the East Carolina University product should be a starter right out of the gate. They also managed to snag Nathan Rourke, a great QB prospect who will be able to develop behind veteran Mike Reilly. The Lions may not set the league on fire this year, but they're certainly moving in the right direction.
No. 5: Montreal Alouettes
Montreal finally made the playoffs last season after a four-year dry spell, going 10-8 before losing to Edmonton in the first round. There were a lot of changes behind the scenes this offseason, with new owners, a new president and the arrival of new GM Danny Maciocia.
The revamped front office had an impressive first draft despite no first-round pick. Marc-Antoine Dequoy would be a great addition to one of the league's weakest defenses last year — if he fails to make the Green Bay Packers' roster — and Carter O'Donnell could also be a future stud if his NFL plans don't work out. The Alouettes will be hoping to take a step forward in 2020 after getting the playoff monkey off their back last year.
No. 4: Calgary Stampeders
The Stamps put together a solid 12-6 season last year, but two of their biggest offensive pieces are coming off of major injuries entering 2020. QB Bo Levi Mitchell had surgery in January to deal with a nagging shoulder injury but he should be good to go this year. Receiver Kamar Jorden hasn't played since 2018, when he suffered a torn ACL, but if he can return and be anywhere near the level he was, Calgary's offense will reap the benefits.
In the draft, the team added promising DE Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund who will help shore up the defensive front. Receiver Rysen John is also a very interesting prospect with game-changing size. He was signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent but he also posted enthusiastically on Twitter about getting picked by the Stamps. There's potential in Calgary, but the roster doesn't look quite ready for a run at the Grey Cup.
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No. 3: Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan was one of the biggest surprises of last season, going 13-5 before losing to eventual Grey Cup champion Winnipeg in the playoffs. QB Cody Fajardo came into his own with the help of weapons like receiver Shaq Evans and running back William Powell to work with on offense. With all of their main pieces back, it looks like that side of the ball will be a big strength once again this year.
The Riders only had one pick in the first four rounds of the draft, taking OL Mattland Riley. They also selected DT Neville Gallimore, but he'll probably be a little busy with the Dallas Cowboys after getting taken 82nd overall in the NFL Draft. If the defense can hold up, Saskatchewan has a real shot at the championship this year.
No. 2: Hamilton Tiger-Cats
After falling just short in the Grey Cup last year, the Tiger-Cats have been busy this offseason extending the contracts of a few key defensive linemen along with QB Jeremiah Masoli. Brandon Banks, the league's Most Outstanding Player last year, will also be back and hungry for more in 2020. On paper, Hamilton is a team with very few weaknesses.
However, the front office made some head-scratching decisions at this year's draft, not least selecting raw OL prospect Coulter Woodmansey with the fifth overall pick. They could easily have gotten the Guelph product in later rounds, so you'd have to chalk it up as a missed opportunity.
No. 1: Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg took home the Grey Cup for the first time in almost 30 years last season, and they'll be hungry to defend their title. QB Zach Collaros will be helped by one of the league's best offensive lines along with Andrew Harris, the league's top running back last year. The team also extended the contract of Willie Jefferson, one of their best players on defense.
Despite having just two picks in the first four rounds, the Bombers did what they needed to in the draft, bringing in Noah Hallett (brother of Nick Hallett) to help shore up their group of defensive backs. They 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. With so many weapons, Winnipeg has a great chance to repeat as Grey Cup champions in 2020.
