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<\/p>\nEDMONTON \u2014 The Canadian Football League\u2019s movers and shakers have now gathered to study every single move of some of the top 2026 draft prospects like a team of forensic scientists and, undoubtedly, also slap backs and trade tales with their rivals across the loop.<\/p>\n
The CFL\u2019s Combine officially begins Thursday in the Alberta capital with some prospect interviews, followed by on-field testing beginning Friday before three practice sessions spread out over the weekend.<\/p>\n
Winnipeg Blue Bombers GM Kyle Walters and head coach Mike O\u2019Shea are here and, during a break from league meetings on Wednesday, were made available to the media. During their 20-minute or so session the pair touched on a variety of subjects and here\u2019s what stood out from this perch:<\/p>\n
THE 2026 CFL DRAFT | THOUGHTS<\/p>\n
Winnipeg holds the fourth overall selection and has three selections in the top 24 \u2014 also including picks 13, 20 (the latter a bonus selection for being one of two teams, along with Edmonton, for having the highest percentage of national snaps in 2025).<\/p>\n
The Blue Bombers still have their picks in each round, so their selection total includes 4, 13, 20, 24, 33, 42, 51, 60 and 69.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s Walters on the overall strength of the 2026 class:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe high-end talent is really, really, really good, which is fantastic for the Canadian football scene that you\u2019re seeing these players in the draft. It\u2019s great overall, from top to bottom, the talent is the best in quite a while.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe problem is it might be too good in the sense that it\u2019s NFL good, so that makes it a big challenge. It\u2019s great that you\u2019re seeing these Canadian players have so much success at a high level, but it does certainly add a stressful element to the draft process and an unknown to the draft process.\u201d<\/p>\n
The draft is said to be especially loaded with high-end talent along the offensive line, including Purdue University centre Gio Vaccaro \u2014 who transferred from University of Manitoba for last season \u2014 and some believe he could actually be the first name off the board next month.<\/p>\n
To that end, Walters was asked if the depth along the offensive line might impact the club\u2019s ratio plans, especially after he hinted last month the roster could feature three Americans up front.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter free agency\u2026 ratio flexibility is what we were aiming for \u2014 so you can come to training camp without having to say. \u2018Here\u2019s exactly where we\u2019re pencilled in.\u2019 If we wanted to go with three American offensive linemen, we have that option the way we\u2019re built. With the receivers we can go three Canadians. We\u2019re open to having a really interesting training camp to figure out when it all shakes down what is the best team to put on the field and where the ratio is.\u201d<\/p>\n
WHAT THE COMBINE REVEALS<\/p>\n
The testing numbers are a barometer, just as the game film is. And the one-on-one interviews often offer insight to a player\u2019s personality and character.<\/p>\n
Walters said the team has done all its film work in preparation for the draft and what happens over the next few days will impact what the team\u2019s final pre-draft board will look like.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThere are some baseline (testing) numbers that need to be hit in order for them to compete,\u201d said O\u2019Shea. \u201cAnd for someone who is on that average baseline, then you add in all the other things you\u2019ve seen on film \u2014 the intangibles like their compete level \u2014 those things will then move the athlete closer to getting drafted or further away. You\u2019d like to say it\u2019s unfortunate, but absolutely it\u2019s the reality \u2014 there are some numbers that have to be hit just to allow them to step on the field with these pros.\u201d<\/p>\n
We asked O\u2019Shea if there was something beyond the drills and practices that he might be watching for when the prospects are auditioning.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s one of those things where you know it if you see it,\u201d he said. \u201cI pay attention to guys how they are on the line. Like, little things that you notice, or that I notice, just stick with me. You want an example? Everybody has a process they do before a drill. They stand up, they\u2019re in line, then they turn to the camera, or whatever. And if the guy seventh in line doesn\u2019t turn to the camera, I notice that. I\u2019m like \u2018Well, he\u2019s just not paying attention.\u2019 Or he\u2019s really nervous and you give him the benefit of the doubt, and you try to dig a little deeper on that kind of stuff. All those little interactions, I happen to notice.\u201d<\/p>\n
THE EVER-EVOLVING QB PICTURE<\/p>\n
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The Blue Bombers have Zach Collaros under contract, as well as Terry Wilson returning from last season. Chase Artopoeus has stepped away from the game and veteran Chris Streveler is a free agent coming off a knee injury but also hinting at retirement through his social media channels.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s O\u2019Shea when asked if Wilson has the inside track on UFL vet Bryce Perkins and former Auburn\/Michigan State starter Payton Thorne, both of whom are under contract:<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s always competition but absolutely he\u2019s going to have a leg up just because he understands or has a greater perspective of the CFL game \u2014 defences, structures, defensive structures, how we run an offence up in the CFL, the motions \u2014 all those things. It\u2019s natural that he\u2019s going to be slightly ahead or quite far ahead on the situation just because of his time with us.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut there\u2019s always competition. It\u2019s pro sports.\u201d<\/p>\n
Walters was asked about bringing in a veteran with CFL experience \u2014 McLeod Bethel-Thompson\u2019s name did come up in the question \u2014 but said they have a list if need be, while also waiting on Taylor Elgersma, the 2025 second-round draft pick who is currently with the Birmingham Stallions of the UFL.<\/p>\n
\u201cI talked to Fred (Weinrauch, Elgersma\u2019s Canadian agent) last night and I think they\u2019re still trying to work through the work permit thing down there and I\u2019m not sure how that\u2019s all going to shake down. Still kind of an unknown.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026 Each time we talk about it there\u2019s a lot of uncertainty, and I still think there\u2019s uncertainty but the clock is ticking, you\u2019re right. Each one of these conversations, it seems it\u2019s getting less and less likely. But as I said, we\u2019ve still got a few weeks to sort it out.\u201d<\/p>\n
One more on the topic from O\u2019Shea on the team\u2019s current QB room:<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think we had a great year as a team last year. Quarterback stats, if you look at it in a vacuum, you\u2019d come up with your own answers. But I think we can be better as an entire team.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd in terms of our quarterback room, generally speaking, I\u2019m always excited. Even new guys and young guys, all these quarterbacks that we\u2019re watching now that everybody talks about being the greatest started off at some point. So, who\u2019s the next one? I don\u2019t know if we\u2019re in a rush to find that out. Zach\u2019s a stud. That guy is amazing, he\u2019s a terrific leader, and everybody, not just Zach, but everybody on the team wants to be better and have a better outcome this season.\u201d<\/p>\n
FYI<\/p>\n
-Walters on the circumstances surrounding Zach Collaros agreeing to a $50,000 pay cut this offseason:<\/p>\n
Dunk: How did the team and Zach Collaros decide on him taking a $50,000 pay reduction?<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, I just asked Zach if that was something he would be interested in and he said, \u2018If that helps the team, for sure.\u2019 That was about the extent of it.<\/p>\n
\u201c\u2026 We laid out the plan to Zach and said, \u2018This is kind of what we\u2019re thinking; this would help.\u2019 He said, \u2018Yeah, whatever I can do to help, I\u2019m on board.’\u201d<\/p>\n
REFLECTIONS<\/p>\n
Both O\u2019Shea and Walters have been around the CFL long enough to have seen the various incarnations of the league\u2019s combine \u2014 so much so that they were there in the beginnings when the event, then called the CFL Evaluation Camp, was held at the Golf Dome in Winnipeg.<\/p>\n
O\u2019Shea attended it as a draft prospect in 1993, Walters three years later in 1996.<\/p>\n
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