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Last week both the Canadian and Global Drafts went down. In an amazing stat per @CFLStats it marked the first time since 1986 that every team made a first round pick. While we likely won’t know the true value of this draft for 2-3 years, at first blush it looks like O’Day did what was needed, addressing depth at OL, WR and getting a potential playmaker on D. The only thing that really surprised me was that we took zero DL. But that may have just been a product of picking late and not having anyone available worth reaching for.
In the CFL to have sustained success you need to hit on 2 of your first 3 round picks and hope to get lucky by finding 1 or 2 depth guys in the later rounds. Year over year O’Day has been doing that, which is a major reason we had the Canadian depth we had last year.
Round 1 - DB Malcom Bell
Based on how the first round went this was a very logical pick for the Riders. We start 2 Canadians in the secondary and don’t have much for depth, particularly behind Campbell. All Rider fans should collectively thank O’Day for taking steps to prevent Exume from ever needing to line up a corner again.
Bell was a starting corner in D1 NCAA. He has good size and knack for making plays. He has a mini-camp invite from the Cleveland Browns but odds are good he will be in camp following that. Bell can immediately contribute on teams and provide depth. He also has a high enough ceiling to be a starter down the road.
Round 2 – WR
Dylan Djete
While I’m somewhat bummed that the guy taken before Djete was named Shakespeare, he is a good pick nonetheless. With Ajou, Picton and Neild all gone (off-field issues, retirement, banished to Winnipeg respectively), we need to start restocking our Canadian depth at WR. O’Day says they liked Djete from the beginning of their evaluation process. Given his recent track record in identifying and drafting WR that bodes very well. He’s a smaller WR but speedy and described by O’Day as “a willing blocker”.
Round 3 – OL
Darius Bell
In an effort to draft all the Bell’s O’Day added Darius (who I can only assume is Malcolm’s brother). For a 3rd round pick this Bell offers potential good value for a team in need of OL depth. He can play centre which is important. He is not the most refined in terms of technique but certain has the size and athleticism needed. With a coach like Edwin Harrison he could be developed into a solid depth option.
Round 4 – LB
Osasere Odemwingie
The surprise retirement of Seth Hundeby makes this pick even more important and creates an immediate opportunity for Odemwingie. He made a ton of tackles for Calgary. He didn’t test well at the Combine but the Riders like his game film (which quite frankly is about 100 times more important than the combine)
Round 5 - OL Jez
Janvier
When you draft an OL this late in
the draft it means they are a long-term development project. Janvier played
some D-line in college in addition to OL. He started 5 games in 2024 and played
sparingly in 2025. We are banking on his measurables… long arms, solid speed,
impressive broad jump. Odds are he never develops into a contributor but the
Riders like him enough to give it a try.
Round 6 – OL Albert Reese IV
As he has done every year, O’Day
once again showed that he is more than willing to take a chance on a guy with
an NFL contract. Reese would have been a first round pick if not for signing a
free agent contract with the Carolina Panthers. He may never play in the CFL
but if he does, securing his rights for the low price of a 6th round
pick is well worth it.
Round 7 – WR Shemar McBean
McBean was a Can-West all-start
last season who put up impressive numbers in his career with the Thunderbirds.
But obviously falling this far down tells you that GMs have some concern about
his ability to develop into a pro. Best case scenario is either practice roster
or sent back to school (like Daniel Wiebe last year).
Round 8 – TE Ryan Speight
8th round picks are
always just lotto ticket picks. Overwhelming odds are they don’t pan out but
great value for the few that do. Speight is coming off major injury so we might
have to wait on him. He would project as a special teams/FB (think
Awachie/Runge) if he makes it.
Global Round 1 – LB Mapalo Mwansa
As you can clearly guess by his
name, Mwansa is from England. This is a futures pick. Mwansa was also a part of
the NFL International program and currently on the Carolina Panthers.
Global Round 2 – K Kansei Matsuzawa
Whether or not he ever comes to Saskatchewan,
Matsuzawa is likely the most interesting story you will read. Known as the
Tokyo Toe, he taught himself to kick by watching YouTube while working at a restaurant
to pay for college. He ended up becoming a star at the University of Hawaii and
was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders. Let that be just another reminder that no
job in North America is safe from outsourcing to cheaper and more productive
Asian labour.
