bombers draft — first round busts

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/04/2014 (4424 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

What were they thinking?

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have a whole pile of bad history to overcome if they’re going to find the impact player they so desperately need in the first round of next month’s CFL Draft.

The club’s history in the first round of the draft has been inglorious, to put it mildly.

For one thing, the Bombers have a long history of not even having first-round picks after a long-standing practice of trading them away. The Bombers had just one first-rounder in the 11 drafts from 1997 through 2007. Even in the rare years when the Bombers have picked in the first round, the results have been less than impressive.

Judge for yourself. Here’s what the Bombers have done with their last 15 first-round picks dating back to 1986:

 

2013 (second overall): Andy Mulumba, DL — Never reported. Played for Green Bay Packers in 2013.

2012 (third overall): Tyson Pencer, OL — The Bombers traded up to get the third-overall pick and then raised eyebrows around the league when they used it to select Pencer. Pencer spent all of 2012 on the injured list and dressed for just one game in 2013.

2011 (fourth overall): Jade Etienne, WR — Recorded just 20 catches for 276 yards in three seasons; traded to Saskatchewan last winter in exchange for the right to sign QB Drew Willy to a contract extension prior to Willy becoming a free agent.

2011 (first overall): Henoc Muamba, LB — A standout selection. Winnipeg’s top defender, top Canadian and MVP in 2013 and the CFL’s East Division nominee for top Canadian; signed with the Indianapolis Colts in off-season.

2008 (sixth overall): Brendon LaBatte, OL — A starter and standout almost from Day 1, LaBatte bolted to Saskatchewan as a free agent following the 2011 season and the Bombers’ offensive line has still not recovered.

2000 (second overall): Daaron McField, DL — Lasted one season, never started and traded away in his second season.

1996 (fourth): Andrew Henry, DB: role player for two seasons.

1995 (sixth): Sean Graham, SB: Lasted three injury-plagued seasons.

1994 (fourth): Ryan Carey, DB: Special teams specialist.

1993 (fifth): Alan Wetmore, LB: Another special-teams guy.

1989 (eighth): John O’Brien, LB: Never played a single game in Blue and Gold.

1988 (third): Dan Wicklum, LB: Lasted one season before getting picked up by Calgary.

1987 (sixth): Andrew McConnell, DL: Never played for Bombers.

1986 (seventh): Brian Bellway, DL: Never played for Bombers.