When the clock starts ticking for the first overall pick in the CFL Draft, don’t be surprised if it’s someone other than the Saskatchewan Roughriders selecting that pick.

The Riders are looking for two things: a player who could contribute right away and more depth for their national talent.

I think they’re more likely to find those things by trading the first overall pick than holding on to it.

But Assistant Vice President of Player Personnel John Murphy told me this past week on ‘The Green Zone’ there are many factors that will weigh in on whether the Riders pick first overall or trade away that pick for a stock load of picks later or maybe a player who can contribute right away.

For the Riders to know for sure what they will do will depend on the players they would be interested in at the top of the list.

The Riders would like to have that number one pick in Regina, ready to sign a contract and slap on a Rider hat the instant his name is called out as the first overall.

The threat of the NFL mini-camps are real, solely due to college players in Canada getting better and better and getting more interest from the four-down league.



The Riders would rather not wait for their first overall pick to be cut after a mini-camp or worse, be one of the last cuts in late August or worst case scenario, get a full time gig and never play a game in the CFL.

That’s where the due diligence comes in.

Vice President/GM/Head Coach Chris Jones, Murphy and the conglomerate of scouts working for the team will have to work their sources to gauge the NFL interest of those top players in this draft who don’t get drafted later this week in the NFL.

They’ll also have to speak to the players and their agents to see where their head is at ahead of the May 10 CFL Draft.

At the end of all this work, if they don’t have one of their top players ready to commit to the CFL or he’s been drafted or added to an NFL mini-camp roster, the three or four teams that have already been trying to work out a deal with the Riders are likely to get a deal done.

In recent history, the Ottawa REDBLACKS were able to stabilize their offensive line instantly by trading the first overall pick for Jon Gott. The eventual number one, Pierre Lavertu, however, has turned into a CFL Divisional All-Star in just his second season.

In 2010, it was the Riders who were looking for a difference maker at number one and traded two first round picks (second and fourth overall) to Toronto for the first and eighth overall picks.

Shomari Williams became a Rider and never discovered the potential in the pros he showed out of Queen’s University.

That history will also weigh on the mind of the Riders brain trust.

You also have to consider the goal of this organization.

The Riders changeover this off-season has the new man in charge. Jones is hoping to win right away. He’s disposed of big money veteran contracts and brought in capable and proven talent with much more reasonable salaries.

Don Landry lists the Riders’ pass rush among thing that must improve in 2016.

It’s not like Jones’ rebuild will include a year or two of hard knocks.

Defenders like Shawn Lemon, Justin Capicciotti, Greg Jones, Ed Gainey and Otha Foster were all brought in to give the team a chance to lift the Grey Cup in 2016.

But there is one major issue with the Riders roster: the depth of Canadian talent and the need to get better.

With the first overall pick, it isn’t guaranteed you’ll get a player that will contribute right away or be a difference maker. Since 2000, only five of the first overall picks have ever been Divisional All-Stars. Compare that to the NFL’s first overall pick and 10 of 16 have been named to the pro-bowl.

Would the Riders be better off trading down, picking up an extra pick or two? The Riders don’t have a second round pick and after no. 1 don’t pick again until late in the third round.

After seeing the yield the Tennessee Titans received for trading the first overall pick to Los Angeles last week, Murphy joked he wished the Rams would have called the Riders with an offer like that for first overall.

By now, CFL fans should know Chris Jones isn’t afraid to pull the trigger on a major move. Trading the first overall pick may just be the next big splash the Riders make after a series of them this off-season.