In addition to following the 2009 Grey Cup playoff run, the Ticats and their fans are also beginning to look toward next season. The 2010 CFL Canadian Draft is a part of that process. The following is a summary of the Ticats' draft situation in 2010.
First off, the Ticats finished tied with the Edmonton Eskimos for fourth place in the 2009 CFL standings with 18 points apiece. If they use 2009 head-to-head matchups to determine which tied team finished higher in the standings to also establish the teams' draft positions, then Ticats hold the edge via a 28-21 victory and a 31-30 loss against the Eskimos this year thereby finishing fourth and picking fifth in each round of the 2010 draft in which they have a pick.
The Ticats no longer have the following 2010 draft choices:
First Round- forfeited when they selected Zac Carlson in the 2009 CFL supplemental draft;
Second Round- traded to the Riders in the Dan Goodspeed trade;
Third Round- traded to the Argos in the Arland Bruce trade.
The Ticats did pick up the Riders' fifth round choice in the Goodspeed trade.
Therefore, unless I am missing something and barring any future trades, the Ticats appear to have only have four choices in the 2010 Canadian Draft and they are all late rounders:
Fourth Round (own choice-28th overall);
Fifth Round (own choice- 36th overall);
Fifth Round (Riders' choice- 38th overall);
Sixth Round (own choice- 44th overall).
In the meantime, here is a link to the "2010 Draft Rankings - Early Season Edition" by Duane Forde posted on the tsn.ca website back on Sep 16/09. While Forde will no doubt update these rankings as the draft approaches, it provides a starting point on potential top choices in the 2010 Canadian Draft. He identifies "The Top 20" then lists five more players to "Keep an Eye On" and five more players "Under the Radar...For Now". Therefore, even though the Ticats presently have a very weak draft position in 2010, at least one of the thirty players on Forde's list will be available by the time the Ticats make their fourth round selection.
http://tsn.ca/columnists/duane_forde/?id=291296Although the Ticats have added good Canadian content to their roster over the past few years, it looks as though the Argos and Bombers will gain some ground on the Ticats in stocking their rosters with Canadian players at the 2010 Draft. Still, it will be interesting to see what Obie does to counter this. Will he make any trades to pick up some 2010 draft choices over the off-season or will he stand pat and do what he can with his late round picks? If Obie sought your opinion, what would you suggest?