CFL MOCK DRAFT WEST DIVISION

NFL / Football

Written by Joel Lefevre

A new season of CFL football is just around the corner as teams aim to retool and make a run at the most coveted trophy in Canadian football.

For the first time since 2015, two teams out West missed the playoffs a year ago, the BC Lions and the Edmonton Elks. Those two clubs combined to have as many wins (eight) last season as the second-place team in the East, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. This will be the first time since 2017 when a team from the West will pick first and with it comes the expectation that they can bring someone in to reverse their fortunes. There is plenty of local talent to choose from as Canadian players thrived in both the NCAA and CIS last year. The Edmonton Elks are on the clock, and as we look ahead to May 3, when the draft takes place, here is my list of potential selections for each team in the West division.

Noah Zerr | Source (Background Photo): Saskatchewan Huskies

Edmonton Elks- Round 1- Pick #1- Tyrell Richards, linebacker, Syracuse University

For the first time since 2006, the Elks will pick first, and there is a lot of work to do for this decorated franchise to rebuild following an underwhelming 2021 campaign. Edmonton has finished last in their division in two of their previous three seasons and is hoping to return to prominence in 2022. To begin with, they have turned the keys of the franchise over to a very familiar face in Chris Jones, who guided them to their last Grey Cup triumph in 2015.

Defensively speaking, 2021 was an off-year, to say the least, for this club, which could use more depth at the linebacker position. There are plenty of good players available for them to choose from, but the question will be, is that prospect ready to take the leap and contribute to this franchise?

In Tyrell Richards, the Elks will get a big and fast man, with a natural flow to his game both in and out of the box that should translate well to the CFL. When you add to that the fact that coach Jones loves versatility and athleticism on the defensive end, it feels as though selecting Richards makes a lot of sense. Despite missing last season, he had previously put together some good campaigns at Syracuse, with 54 tackles (9.5 for losses) and six sacks in 31 NCAA games.

BC Lions- Round 1- Pick# 3- Tyson Philpot, receiver, University of Calgary

The Lions have missed the playoffs in consecutive seasons and are going through some changes on offense following the retirement of quarterback Mike Reilly. Without an established veteran presence behind centre, Rick Campbell will need some receivers who can make plays and improve this team offensively. The Lions have drafted well in the past and developed some talented local content at various positions.

Tyson Philpot, a native of Delta, BC, could fit in well with what this team is trying to build. The Calgary Dinos receiver caught nine TD passes last season in what was his best year statistically, with 41 receptions for 746 yards in six games. He is fast, light, and capable of tracking deep balls. His big-play ability should be an asset to BC.

Calgary Stampeders- Round 1- Pick# 5- Jalen Philpot, receiver, University of Calgary

Since winning the Grey Cup in 2018, the Stamps have failed to make it beyond the West Semi-Final in back-to-back seasons. Kamar Jordan is likely to be the go-to guy for Bo-Levi Mitchell, but they could use a bit more depth when it comes to catching passes as they aim to compete with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The twin brother of Tyson, Jalen Philpot, has a lot of upside despite a shaky performance at the CFL combine. Jalen had a reliable career in his University days, catching 43 passes for 799 yards and three touchdowns in six games in 2021. He knows the pressure playing in Calgary and has some veteran players at his position who can groom him and help him develop into a big-play guy. Last season he averaged 18.6 yards per catch which shows that he can be a game-changer and provide an extra dimension to this dynamic offensive unit.

Saskatchewan Roughriders- Round 1- Pick# 7- Noah Zerr, offensive lineman, University of Saskatchewan

Having lost the West Final in consecutive seasons has to make head coach Craig Dickenson and the Riders feel like they are close to getting back to the top of the Canadian football mountain. They have a decent roster up front, but general manager Jeremy O’Day cannot bank on the O-Line being better a year later, given how much improvement the other teams out West became over the offseason.

Noah Zerr had a great career with the University of Saskatchewan, and the prairie-born and raised product is someone who has generated plenty of attention. He’s excellent at recognizing blitz packages and can keep the fastest defensive linemen at bay. With a QB that has the mobility of Cody Fajardo, they will need someone to give him just that extra half-second to make some magic happen, which is what Zerr can do effectively.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers- Round 1- Pick# 9- Zach Pelehos- offensive lineman, University of Ottawa

Heading into this season as two-time Grey Cup champions, the Bombers are pretty set on the defensive side of the ball, with the only significant loss being Jonathan Kongbo. On the other side, though, Mike O’Shea will not have Andrew Harris to carry the load, and they also lost former first-round pick Drew Desjarlais, who signed with the New England Patriots. Brady Oliveira proved that he could be consistently productive out of the backfield, but it wouldn’t hurt to have a strong blocker that can give the youngster more holes to run through.

Zach Pelehos was a first-team all-star in 2021, winning the 2018 Matt Anthony rookie of the year award. He is strong, intelligent, and can make that fundamental lead block to open up space for the running game. The Bombers' front office has a keen eye for talent, and Pelehos seems like one of the best-suited local players in this draft for Winnipeg, who can step in and replace a quality lineman like Desjarlais.