Argos Wheel and Deal to Obtain Two of the Top Three Picks in CFL Draft
May 2, 2010 - Canadian Football League (CFL) News Release
TORONTO - The Toronto Argonauts may have made the biggest splash in the first round of the 2010 CFL Canadian Draft even though the Saskatchewan Roughriders made Queen's University linebacker / defensive end Shomari Williams the first overall pick.
The Boatmen announced two draft day deals that allowed them to make two of the top three picks, landing Washington State offensive tackle Joe Eppele and Concordia linebacker Cory Greenwood.
Eppele and Greenwood are considered to be among the best prospects at their positions in a draft that has been described by analysts as deep and talented.
CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon presided over the picks live on TSN as part of a CFL Canadian Draft special that continues on air until 2 p.m. ET today.
Williams is a lightning quick 6'2" 236 pound defender who led the Queen's Golden Gaels to a Vanier Cup in 2009.
Draft analysts suggest he can play linebacker or defensive end in the CFL and could contribute to the Riders' pass rush coming off the edge in defensive co-ordinator Gary Etcheverry's schemes.
That could help address an important need for the Riders in the wake of the departures of defensive ends and sack specialists John Chick and Stevie Baggs.
The Riders obtained the first overall pack in a trade with the Argonauts in a deal that was announced this morning.
The trade saw Saskatchewan trade the second and fourth pick and punter Jamie Boreham to Toronto in exchange for the first and eighth pick.
The Argonauts used the second pick to take Eppele, considered one of the best offensive linemen in the draft at 6'8" and 306 pounds.
The Argos obtained the third pick in a trade with the B.C. Lions and used that pick to take Greenwood, a highly regarded 6'2", 235 pound linebacker.
That deal with B.C. saw Toronto obtain the third, 18th, 26th and 30th overall picks in the draft from the Lions in exchange for the fourth, 20th, 24th and 25th over all picks.
B.C. then used the fourth pick to select Baylor University offensive lineman Danny Watkins, one of the top rated offensive linemen in this year's draft class.
With the trades with Saskatchewan and B.C., the Argos went from having the first and eighth picks in the draft, to having the second and third picks in the draft, providing them with an opportunity to draft additional Canadian talent in a league that depends on it.
There was a third trade during the first round today that saw the Edmonton Eskimos acquire the sixth pick overall from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in exchange for the 9th and 22nd picks.
The rest of the first round looked like this:
With the fifth pick, the Calgary Stampeders selected University of Guelph kicker / punter Rob Maver.
With the sixth pick, obtained by Edmonton from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the Eskimos took Stanford University defensive lineman Brian Bulcke.
With the seventh pick, the Montreal Alouettes selected Concordia University offensive lineman Kristian Matte.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats forfeited their first round pick by virtue of choosing Weber State Offensive Lineman Zac Carlson in last year's supplemental draft.
You can watch the second round of the draft unfold on TSN or follow it live at CFL.ca, the CFL Network of team websites, Facebook.com/CFL or Twitter.com/CFL.
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Canadian Football League Stories from May 2, 2010
- Als Pick Quebeccer Matte In First Round - Montreal Alouettes
- Lions Load Up on Canadian Talent; Nine Picks Complete Haul - B.C. Lions
- Updated: 2010 CFL Canadian Draft Summary - CFL
- Stampeders Select Six in CFL Canadian Draft - Calgary Stampeders
- Esks Select Four in 2010 CFL Canadian Draft - Edmonton Elks
- Tiger-Cats Select Four in 2010 CFL Canadian Draft - Hamilton Tiger-Cats
- Blue Bombers Pleased with 2010 CFL Draft Results - Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- 2010 CFL Canadian Draft Summary - CFL
- Riders Pick Up Three More in CFL Canadian Draft - Saskatchewan Roughriders
- Esks' Scott Gordon Retires From CFL - Edmonton Elks
- Eskimos Make Another Draft Day Trade to Acquire Borhort - Edmonton Elks
- Lions Add More Purple to Black and Orange Den - B.C. Lions
- Als Choose Matte First - Montreal Alouettes
- Argos Wheel and Deal to Obtain Two of the Top Three Picks in CFL Draft - CFL
- Eskimos Swing Draft Day Deal to Pick in the First Round - Edmonton Elks
- Lions Take Danny Watkins with Fourth Overall Pick in CFL Canadian Draft - B.C. Lions
- Riders Select Shomari Williams with First Overall Pick - Saskatchewan Roughriders
- Double Blue Select Cory Greenwood 3RD Overall - Toronto Argonauts
- Argos Select OT Joe Eppele with Second Overall Pick - Toronto Argonauts
- Riders Take Shomari Williams First Overall in 2010 CFL Canadian Draft - CFL
- Argos Trade First Overall Pick To Riders - Boreham Joins The Double Blue - Toronto Argonauts
- Riders Land First Overall Pick In CFL Canadian Draft - Saskatchewan Roughriders
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