In recent CFL drafts, the Calgary Stampeders have made their presence felt with headline-stealing trades. In 2008, they wangled offensive lineman Dmitris Tsoumpas out of Edmonton’s clutches, while in 2011 they juggled the first round to acquire local product Anthony Parker.
This year, they are likely to be front and center but for a different reason. The Stampeders have nine draft picks at their disposal, starting with the fifth overall pick and culminating with the last pick on the board.
The accumulation of picks fits in with the organizations overall philosophy.
“The history of our team is we don’t like to trade away Canadian draft choices,” noted Canadian scout Brendan Mahoney. “When we keep those picks, they allow us to have some flexibility to do some of those other moves.”
That history of stockpiling picks was evident in 2011. High draft choices from each of the last six drafts were on the field with the team at various points last year.
That group includes running back Jon Cornish (2006), defensive lineman Justin Phillips (2007), receiver Jabari Arthur (2007), safety Eric Fraser (2009), place kicker Rob Maver (2010), and finally, Parker (2011) and Tsoumpas (2008).
The process of identifying that top talent is an on-going process for the Stampeders.
“In a player’s third year we start to put him on our radar screen,” noted Mahoney. ”Then we go to that East-West game and we put a lot of stock in it. It’s a weeklong setting against the top competition.”
After the East-West game, the Stampeders keep tabs on various players, while watching for other emerging prospects.
“Once the off-season begins, we set up an in-house website with info on each player,’ said Mahoney.
“Our position coaches evaluate the players, and then we’ll meet leading up to the draft.”
Now that the evaluations are all but complete, where do the Stampeders look with their top pick?”
“We go with the best player available,” said Mahoney. Exactly who that best player available is, will ultimately be determined by General Manager/Head Coach John Hufnagel.
Mahoney and Assistant General Manager John Murphy will also be consulted in the process.
Now to the draft board – early and often.
