This is an exciting time for CFL teams. Training camps open up May 10, and the CFL draft will be held next Tuesday. Stampeders head coach Dave Dickenson says football is in the air. “I like the CFL draft because that kind of makes the start of the season for us,” said Dickenson. “Whenever you know the draft is coming, you know the CFL season is right around the corner. It’s also fun to get some fresh new faces and see where you can make your team better.” Important for ratio The CFL draft is an important time for teams because it helps them load up on Canadian talent and meet the mandatory roster ratio of 20-plus Canadian national players, including seven starters. Dickenson says a good CFL draft can help your team for years to come. “If you can get good young players that you can keep in-house for a reasonable rate for at least three years, I think that can really change the fortunes of your team and put you in a great position.” First-round pick key The Stamps will have the sixth overall pick at this year’s draft. Dickenson says he feels they’re in better shape compared to last year when they had two picks in the first round. The Stamps had the first overall pick and selected receiver Damien Alford. With the eighth pick, they went with offensive lineman Chris Fortin. Both made an impact. “We had some holes,” said Dickenson. “We definitely weren’t the team we needed to be going into last year, and we found some great players.” “This year, we do have a little bit more depth, so the competition will be greater,” he said. “I want a starter with the sixth overall pick—a guy that can develop into a starter within his first or second year.” In all, the Stamps will make eight picks in this year’s CFL draft. Here’s a look at where they select: “We’re going to be waiting a bit because we don’t have a second- or fourth-round pick where a lot of good players are still there,” said Dickenson. “But we’ve been able to find some other solid picks later on. An example is running back Ludovick Choquette in the sixth round last year.” The Stamps’ first pre-season game is on May 18, when they host the defending Grey Cup champs, the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
