Insider Talk: CFL retirements, draft gossip & should Hamilton trade the No. 1 pick?

Photo courtesy: Wilfrid Laurier Athletics, Mike Veltri

This week’s Insider Talk is full of discussion about CFL player retirements and chatter about the 2021 CFL Draft.

Insider Talk includes anonymous quotes from people around the CFL — players, coaches, personnel experts, and agents — regarding the latest news around the league. It’s a combination of insight, analysis, rumours, and friendly gossip.

Enjoy this week’s quotes and come back next Wednesday for another edition of Insider Talk.

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The reason you haven’t seen more retirements announced is some players are hoping to qualify for CEWS if the season ends up being cancelled. Why file the paperwork now if you could qualify for government money later?

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I think a lot of the (draft-eligible prospects) who went back to school made a big mistake. Unless you’re really academically driven, it’s counter-productive. The 2022 NFL Draft class will be way deeper than this year’s group. If your goal is to make the NFL, come out now.

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The deepest position in this year’s draft by far is defensive back. I wouldn’t take one in the first round because there will be at least one really good one still available in the late second or early third.

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Hamilton would be smart to trade the No. 1 pick. They have a strong 2020 draft class coming in and two first-round picks. If I were them I’d trade down and get an extra pick in 2022.

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(Wilfrid Laurier offensive lineman) Bryce Bell is seriously underrated. I think he’s better than (University of Calgary offensive lineman) Logan Bandy. He could easily be a first-round pick.

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There has never been more Canadian talent than there is now. Saying otherwise is just a bogus narrative from lazy U.S. personnel guys to get rid of the Canadian content ratio.

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After his pro day, I really think (Cincinnati tight end) Bruno Labelle could get signed (by an NFL team) as an undrafted free agent. The other guy who could go either way is (University of Montreal offensive lineman) Pier-Olivier Lestage. He’s great.

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I think (recent draft addition and Shepherd University running back) Deonté Glover is better than (University of Regina running back) Kyle Borsa.

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I’m really upset that the league added Glover and (Boston College tight end Jake) Burt to the draft so late. They already shortened it from eight rounds to six. Now that’s two more players who won’t get drafted even though they completed their paperwork by the proper deadline.

John Hodge
John Hodge is a Canadian football reporter based in Winnipeg.