Bombers not interested in trading draft picks

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This article was published 17/03/2010 (5997 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The CFL Entry Draft is less than two months away and Blue Bombers coach Paul LaPolice says the club is not interested in trading away any of its picks despite lots of offers.

"There’s lots of trade talk and lots of offers like, ‘we’ve got a good American linebacker that can help you, we’ll take a fourth-round pick for him,’ but we’re not interested in dealing our picks," said LaPolice.

"The key to this league is Canadian content. We want to keep our picks. We’re not going to be in the business of trading our picks."

LaPolice and his staff attended the CFL Evaluation Camp in Toronto this past weekend and the rookie head coach liked what he saw.

"The CIS coaches have done a real good job of preparing their players. In the last five years, the players have become faster and stronger," said LaPolice. "A few years ago you would go to the camp and some offensive linemen would have trouble getting four of five reps on the bench press at 225 pounds. That’s not the case anymore."

One fellow who looked good on the bench press was University of Manitoba Bisons defensive tackle Eddie Steele. The 21-year-old Kelvin High School graduate pushed out 33 reps of 225 pounds on the bench-press drill.

"I think I did really well at the camp," said the 6-1, 280-pound Steele, who is expected to be drafted in the first couple of rounds on May 2. "I think I improved my stock. I don’t think I hurt myself, that’s for sure."

LaPolice says the Bombers will look to use their first-round pick to draft a player that will have an immediate impact.

"We’ll draft the best player available with some consideration to position," said LaPolice, who will introduce his coaching staff to the media on Wednesday and is also expected to announce a receivers coach in the next 24 to 48 hours.

"We have the seventh pick in the first round and because Hamilton made a pick in the supplemental draft, they forgo their first-round selection so we actually choose in the sixth spot. We’re hoping to select a player that will come to camp and make our team."

The Bombers also have a pair of fourth-round picks and a sixth-rounder this year.

"We’ll look to take a senior that doesn’t have eligibility left and that can come in help us right away and be a real good player. We need Canadian depth on the offensive line, at receiver and at linebacker," said LaPolice.

Steele says a chance to play for the Bombers is too much to even consider at this point.

"That would be a dream come true. The chance to play with Don (Oramasionwu) again on the line would be awesome," said Steele, who was a teammate of Bombers tackle Oramasionwu at both Kelvin and the U of M. "To see how well Don has done and to try and be a part of that success, that would be incredible."

LaPolice says the draft is critical to building a successful CFL franchise.

"I would rather have picks in the draft than the opportunity to sign Americans through free agency," said LaPolice. "There’s a limited number of Canadians that can be impact players in the CFL but you can always go and find another American. Drafting and developing Canadians gives you flexibility on the roster that is so important."

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca