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“I anticipate XFL players coming to the CFL and NFL,” Sunderland added giving you the idea he’s got a couple more he players from the folded league he hopes to land.

It’s business as usual … but not really as usual.

As always when it comes to the NFL Draft, it’s not only evaluating the players that are eligible, but the science of deciding if they fit the CFL game better than they might the NFL game, and evaluating the Canadian content and the odds of them being available after an NFL training camp, a year or two on the practice roster, or perhaps never.

“We always track players who are draft eligible that we feel we may have a chance at signing and especially players on our negotiation list to see if they’re drafted or signed as a post draft free agent,” is how Sunderland phrased it. “On top of that, are the top-tier Canadians such as Chase Claypool of Notre Dame and Neville Gallimore of Oklahoma and others who are eligible for our draft.”

One of the most interesting players in the CFL draft for the Eskimos, you would think, is University of Alberta Golden Bears six-foot-six, 300-plus pound offensive lineman Carter O’Donnell who was highly impressive at Shrine Bowl and even if he does get drafted in the NFL, would likely be a first-round pick in the CFL draft, maybe even No. 1 overall.

A Red Deer native, O’Donnell is probably going to have NFL interest. If he’s still available when the Eskimos pick fourth in the CFL draft, Sunderland might have to decide if there would be a reasonable chance of ending up with him if Edmonton would be willing to wait. The Eskimos have a good offensive line right now and can wait and a year or two.

Time for O’Donnell on an NFL practice roster would probably even count to a CFL team as development. But COVID-19 and a short training camp and reduced schedule for games in empty stadiums or maybe even no season at all, certainly could complicate that.

There’s an old Chinese curse. ‘May you live in interesting times.’ Thanks to China, we are indeed living in an interesting time.

E-mail: tjones@postmedia.com

On Twitter: @ByTerryJones