I found Cleveland's draft to be very intruiging. It will take me a few sittings to get it done since they had 48 picks but it will be the last one I'll do on my own accord.
I won't be able to get to every team before camp gets here but if there are some requests I will try to honor them. If I don't get to all the requests - too bad.
Cleveland went on hiatus in 2019 after facing Las Vegas in the 2018 CFL Bowl. A large number of moves culminate din the 2020 draft where Cleveland had 13 selections, with 7 of them by the 3.04. This looked to be a chance for TLK to put Cleveland right back in contention in the EFC.
[b6e75daf]1.04[/b6e75daf]
WR - C.J. Ipcock
Missouri
6'1" 210
[img6e75daf]
http://www.columbiamissourian.com/media ... 0_h600.jpg[/img6e75daf]
There's not a lot to say about Ipcock other than he's the clear #1 WR in the 2020 class. For starters, he's fast. Not fast fast but [i6e75daf]fast[/i6e75daf] fast. Add his loose hips, crazy knees, and quick feet and you have a serious weapon. He can make the big plays and gain yards after th catch. He will catch everything in his vicinity. He can play ST but his willingness to go over the middle, or lack thereof, may be his only weakness. He also has been accused of taking plays off at the end of games but some say his endurance may be a concern. All the naysayers will see how good this kid is from the first snap he takes in a Cleveland uni.
[b6e75daf]1.07[/b6e75daf]
T - Shawn Clark
Southeast Missouri State
6'6" 338
[img6e75daf]
http://media.scout.com/Media/Image/55/554496.jpg[/img6e75daf]
It should be against the rules for a team to get two picks this close together, especially when the second of those picks is the best player in the draft. We said it before and continue to say it now, Shawn Clark is the best player in the 2020 draft. Clark didn't attend the combine nor did he need to, his performance throughout the season was one of the best offensive lineman performances in NCAA history and he looked like a man among boys in the Senior Bowl. His only knock is his rawness. He has played with superior athleticism and may need some time to learn the techniques that will allow him to dominate at the pro level.
[b6e75daf]2.06[/b6e75daf]
CB - Byron Whelan
Arizona State
6'3" 203
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http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/09j ... 5/610x.jpg[/img6e75daf]
Whelan was a great secondary acquisition for Cleveland in the 2nd round. However, pundits wonder if he will transition to a safety spot. We say a CB of Whelan's caliber should play where he has the most experience but the thought of him moving to safety to join 2.30 selection Tony Reyman would make offenses shudder.
[b6e75daf]2.21[/b6e75daf]
DE - Emmitt Coe
Air Force
6'4" 268
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http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/086 ... Q/610x.jpg[/img6e75daf]
Emmitt Coe has the potential to be one of the best DE's to come out of this class. His ability to defend the run and diagnose a play already resembles that of a CFL veteran. The rest of his skills indicate he is a sure thing at the pro level. How he ended up at Air force is beyond us, this man would never fit in a cockpit.
[b6e75daf]2.29[/b6e75daf]
OLB - Jeffrey Nicholson
West Virginia
6'3" 242
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http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/0es ... m/610x.jpg[/img6e75daf]
<center>(Nicholson winning Defensive MVP in 2019)</center>
Yes, Cleveland had yet another pick and we're still discussing 2nd round talent. Nicholson looks like he might contribute from the strong side in the CFL with solid run defense skills and the ability to rush the passer. He'll contribute defensively thanks to his ability to identify offensive sets and will maim someone on special teams.
[b6e75daf]2.30[/b6e75daf]
SS - Tony Reyman
Cincinnati
5'8" 207
[img6e75daf]
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... eption.jpg[/img6e75daf]
Reyman will be a special player in Cleveland's defensive backfield. He has the speed and agility of a cornerback as well as the cover and run defense skills of a starting strong side corner. He doesn't hit like a prototypical strong safety nor does he have the ball hawking skills of an elite free safety, but he just flat out defends. His development will be key to his contribution in years one and two.
[b6e75daf]3.04[/b6e75daf]
P - Jack Johnstone
UCLA
6'2" 215
[img6e75daf]
http://www.thekickinggame.com/TKG%20Web ... unting.gif[/img6e75daf]
Everyone and their brother wants to draft someone from UCLA, even their punter. Somoe GM's were salivating over the skills of Johnstone such as Atlantic City GM, thenewchuckd, who anonymously said, "He has great legs! Not only does he have a strong kicking leg, but his plant leg looks good too. People don't realize how important a good plant leg is." Johnstone dazzled thenewchuckd and other GM's at the combine and appears to be good value in the early 3rd. Hopefully, Cleveland won't be developing him too quickly this year...
[b6e75daf]3.28[/b6e75daf]
TE - Mario Chrisman
Memphis
6'5" 282
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http://media.scout.com/Media/Image/48/481490.jpg[/img6e75daf]
Chrisman was a ho-hum pick in our opinion. Yes the kid can block, especially run block, but he doesn't force defenses to game plan against him. He's a serviceable receiver and may get a couple TD's a game when he is ignored but other than that he will be a member of the CFL's rank and file for the next 10 years. There's nothing wrong with that, it's just not the bang you expect from a Day 1 pick and definitely anti-climactic to Cleveland's 2020 draft trend.
[b6e75daf]4.03[/b6e75daf]
DT - Artie McIntyre
Mississippi
6'2" 284
[img6e75daf]
http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/64044/JerryPeria.jpg[/img6e75daf]
McIntyre is a well rounded defensive tackle that should do well in Cleveland. Good value at the 4.03 pick but nothing to distract you from the other selections. He should excel at stopping the run in the Flats' uniform.
[b6e75daf]4.07[/b6e75daf]
RB - Bobby Jennings
UCLA
6'0" 229
[img6e75daf]
http://bloggingwiththedevils.freedomblo ... prb201.jpg[/img6e75daf]
Bobby Jeninngs, first cousin to former Rounder Anthony Jennings, is someone that might distract you from the other picks. Jennings has all the skills to be a late round steal of a starter. He has vision, elusiveness, speed to the outside, and also has the ability to block and catch balls out of the backfield. This is easily one of our favorite mid-round picks.
[b6e75daf]5.06[/b6e75daf]
DT Irv Ardan
San Diego
6'1" 285
[img6e75daf]
http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/04W ... B/340x.jpg[/img6e75daf]
With all of these picks at the defensive line positions we're not sure if TLK is rebuildiing or just guessing. The talent suggests he knows what he is doing but Ardan is another body to put on the line with a chance of being productive in the pass rush game.
[b6e75daf]5.25[/b6e75daf]
QB - Ron Hutek
Maryland
5'10" 216
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http://www.baltimoresun.com/media/photo ... 287532.jpg[/img6e75daf]
Hutek is one of those QB's you hate to call a game manager but that's what he is. His size contributes to his skills in that he can hit the short and long passes but struggles with intermediate routes. We think it has to do with his inability to see over the line. Hutek also struggles with sensing the pass rush which could be a big issue in the CFL. It will be interesting to see if Hutek can make the Cleveland roster.
[b6e75daf]7.07[/b6e75daf]
FS - Tony Connell
Kansas
6'1" 202
[img6e75daf]
http://media.charlotteobserver.com/smed ... te.138.JPG[/img6e75daf]
Connell can perform at the pro level as a free safety but will struggle when asked to be the extra man in the box. As long as he can stay on the perimeter and cover guys with opportunities to hawk the ball, he should do well at this level. He'll also contribute as a returner and on kick coverages. Like most young guys, his development the first couple of years will determine if he's a fit for the long haul.
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ROF Division Champions: 2039 - 2043, 2045, 2047, 2054, 2056 - 2060, 2063, 2066-2067
WFC Conference Champions: 2018, 2041, 2042, 2057-2058, 2060, 2062-2063
CFL Champions: 2018, 2041, 2057-2058, 2060, 2062