The NFL draft has come and gone, meaning it is officially time for the most speculative and rumour-filled four days of the year.

Draft week!

As happens each year, there are talented national players flirting with the chance to make an NFL roster by starting from the bottom as an undrafted free agent or rookie mini-camp signing.

The question becomes how serious is the interest from both the player and the teams willing to give players divided by drafts on both sides of the border?

Depending on the level of interest and perceived ability of a national player to challenge for an NFL roster or practice squad position, they can be deemed a larger risk to being drafted as the drafting team might never get a chance to work with the player.

While the hype and circumstance around the CFL Draft is typically about big names and risky top-level players GMs hope to coerce North, the real story in my opinion is how many value picks a team can hit on.

To me, a value pick is simply defined as a player that wears a CFL uniform sooner rather than later and contributes while showing constant improvement and production.

Basically the goal should be to not come up empty handed by your own doing. With that being said, some teams are more willing than others to take the risk in hopes of cashing in on their roll of the dice months and even years later. There are case studies to support both the liberal and conservative approach to the draft, which makes all of this much more about luck and art than skill and science.

Last year saw Manitoba Bisons talented offensive lineman Geoff Gray rumoured to be amongst the players favoured for the top CFL pick sign with the Green Bay Packers before being released and spending the majority of the season with the New York Jets. After another release, Gray would end the season with former Winnipeg Blue Bombers offensive line coach Bob Wylie, who ushered him to the Cleveland Browns.

Gray’s Packers signing resulted in a drop to eighth where the Bombers’ gamble has yet to pay off.

A big-bodied receiver from Laval, Antony Auclair also opened eyes last winter with his appearance at the East-West Shrine Bowl and pro day numbers before being inked by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after the 2017 NFL Draft, which dropped Auclair to 30th in the CFL Draft.

With these recent precedents in mind, let’s take a look at the eight talented CFL Draft-eligible players reported to have garnered varying levels of NFL attention and how it might affect their draft stock come Thursday.

Montreal REC Regis Cibasu

Rookie mini-camp invite – Chicago Bears

Cibasu projected in the second round of the CFL Draft for me. A big-bodied receiver with blocking ability, he will be looked at differently in the American game — likely as a fullback or physical slot receiver. If he shows a singular intent to develop those skills – rarely utilized in the CFL – in Chicago or anywhere else, Cibasu could fall into the twenties.

Bowling Green OL Ryan Hunter

Signed as undrafted free agent – Kansas City Chiefs

In Mock Draft 2.0 I had Hunter as my top overall selection to the Montreal Alouettes. Getting the priority free agent label and going to a team already well aware of Canadian linemen ability thanks to Chiefs guard Laurent Duvernay-Tardif could scare teams away, but Hunter still deserves to be a top-10 pick. He might be more worth the risk than any other player on this list.

UBC OL Dakota Shepley

Signed as undrafted free agent – New York Jets

Shepley is one of the most athletic lineman in this or any draft over the last 10 years. His performance at the Eastern Michigan pro day no doubt opened NFL eyes, but similar to Hunter I can’t imagine him falling far out of first round contention.

Ottawa DB/LB Jackson Bennett

Rookie mini-camp invite – New York Giants

Giants assistant general manager and Western Mustangs grad Kevin Abrams’ love affair with Canadian talent continues with Gee-Gees combo defender and return man Jackson Bennett. Bennett’s stock rose significantly at the 2018 CFL Scouting Combine presented by adidas with a combination of speed and power displayed in both tests and on-field drills.

Cracking an NFL defensive backfield as a Canadian is almost unheard of. Bennett could actually be drafted earlier than projected despite this invitation as several others slide backwards.

Alberta OL Mark Korte

Rookie mini-camp invite – New York Jets and New York Giants

Ryan Hunter and Mark Korte have more in common than just being talented CFL Draft-eligible linemen. They were both approached by teams currently experiencing the benefits of welcoming a Canadian lineman to the fold. The Giants have benefited greatly from former Calgary Stampeder Brett Jones’ presence at centre and Korte’s ability to swing tackle to tackle should keep him in the conversation for a longer stay in the big apple.

In Mock Draft 2.0 I had Korte fourth overall to the REDBLACKS. While he will fall slightly, it’s hard to imagine the risk here greatly out weighing the benefit, which should result in a top-20 selection.

Nebraska OL David Knevel

Rookie mini-camp invite – Oakland Raiders and New Orleans Saints

Knevel spent the majority of the scouting bureau season as top dog only to be bumped off the top step in the final rankings. With two invites to mini-camps, he could slide into the third round, possibly further pending team-by-team evaluation.

Rice OL Peter Godber

Rookie mini-camp invite – Houston Texans

Godber didn’t make teams happy when he refused to test at the national combine and now receives a rookie mini-camp invite to the Rice grad’s college-town Texans, where Canadian Christian Covington continues to produce. Whichever team drafts Godber will have to be comfortable with the Texans’ interest and the inevitable negotiations should he turn north.

UConn OL Trey Rutherford

Turned down NFL opportunities

How about this!

UConn offensive lineman Trey Rutherford appears to have spurned the small percentage chance he had of making an NFL roster for the chance to make a name for himself in the CFL Draft. While this might seem counter intuitive to financially-educated observers, I applaud the move and believe teams will as well.

Already one of the top-rated prospects in Thursday’s 2018 CFL Draft, Rutherford should shoot up teams’ board with the news he wants to be here.

In all of these predictions it’s important to note the importance of fit and coaching over how early a player gets drafted. It’s simply not about when you get drafted but where and how you approach the opportunity. While some are critical and frustrated by the CFL Draft for any host of reasons, ranging from ratio rules to the most talented players falling thanks to other opportunities, I celebrate the CFL Draft for what it is.

The next step in welcoming our home grown Grey Cup Champions of tomorrow.