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Should one of those players leave the field for any reason in 2016, the Riders have the Canadian depth to fill the void without disrupting the entire roster.

Unlike last year, the Riders do not have the added pressure of making draft picks for the purpose of adhering to the ratio, as the team did when it chose three defensive tackles.

Asking 2015 draftee Rory Connop to successfully go from playing against Canadian university competition to starting against established CFLers only a few months later was a recipe for disaster.

If Roughriders head coach, general manager and vice-president of football operations Chris Jones decides to use the first overall pick in the May 10 draft, as opposing to trading it, look for him to draft a player who will fit into his system — a lineman, a receiver or a safety.

The top receiver in the draft, Iowa’s Tevaun Smith, is so good that he’s going to warrant some interest in the NFL that could delay his emergence north of the border and affect his draft position.

Perhaps the most pro-ready player in the draft is Michigan State defensive back Arjen Colquhoun. Video footage shows that he has the tools to be a great CFLer, but it also reminds us that the larger Canadian field is the most humbling to defensive backs.

Given the aforementioned depth the Riders have at safety, along with the youth at national receiver, I like the prospect of the pick being used on an offensive lineman.

Football insiders are drooling over 6-foot-6, 300-pound Oklahoma offensive lineman Josiah St. John. If he is selected by the Riders, look for them to test him at guard early in his career to allow him to adapt to the speed and nuances of the CFL before moving him out to tackle for the next decade.