Bonus draft picks.

[OV:54-40]

The Lions finish in the top 2, second to the Bombers in playing time (combined snaps on O & D) for Canadian talent for last season, and thus again (2nd year this bonus has been in effect) get a bonus end of 2nd round draft pick (19th overall I believe). I think the return of Rourke and Betts probably pushed them past the Argos into 2nd spot.

Nice (last year used the bonus to pick receiver Tiede, who did not do much, but could still). Might be able to get a real gem this coming draft.

[Gridiron Ernie]

Good news, although expected. Congrats to them.
Also expected, they will need to forfeit their slated 3rd-overall (first round) pick due to salary cap infractions. JC Abbott says "likely" seemingly suggesting there's some uncertainty about that. I'm not sure why there would be any uncertainty, given they overspent.

[B.C.FAN]

Good to know. I still haven’t heard whether the Lions will lose a first-round draft pick for exceeding the salary cap.

[Toppy Vann]

Good to know. I still haven’t heard whether the Lions will lose a first-round draft pick for exceeding the salary cap.

And neither has JC Abott as of yet.

https://3downnation.com/2025/03/07/b-c- ... ps-played/

[Hambone]

Good to know. I still haven’t heard whether the Lions will lose a first-round draft pick for exceeding the salary cap.

I can't imagine any way after the mid-season additions of Rourke and Betts that BC could not exceed the cap by the $100K that would cost them their 1st, especially since they didn't 6-game Adams. They did run with the thinnest PR all year spending anywhere from $20K to $50K less than the other 8 clubs. Couture, Hatcher and Lee were bigger tickets who did spend time in the 6G. Woods spent 14 games in the 6G. I don't recall any of the other 6G IR contract savings being for players making significant dollars; Robertson, Knevel, Schleuger, Cherry, Bemiy, Siddiqi. I think they wind up exceeding the cap by roughly $200K.

I also don't believe signing Rourke was a move all about getting to the Grey Cup. I think it was a move with first priority being to secure him as their QB for 2025 & 2026 and hopefully beyond. If it cost them a fine and 1st rounder so be it. The alternative was to let him go elsewhere.

[SammyGreene]

Good to know. I still haven’t heard whether the Lions will lose a first-round draft pick for exceeding the salary cap.

I can't imagine any way after the mid-season additions of Rourke and Betts that BC could not exceed the cap by the $100K that would cost them their 1st, especially since they didn't 6-game Adams. They did run with the thinnest PR all year spending anywhere from $20K to $50K less than the other 8 clubs. Couture, Hatcher and Lee were bigger tickets who did spend time in the 6G. Woods spent 14 games in the 6G. I don't recall any of the other 6G IR contract savings being for players making significant dollars; Robertson, Knevel, Schleuger, Cherry, Bemiy, Siddiqi. I think they wind up exceeding the cap by roughly $200K.

I also don't believe signing Rourke was a move all about getting to the Grey Cup. I think it was a move with first priority being to secure him as their QB for 2025 & 2026 and hopefully beyond. If it cost them a fine and 1st rounder so be it. The alternative was to let him go elsewhere.

Look to be bang on Hambone and there is speculation it will be $300,000 over which would also cost them their 2nd round pick. But what to do when two star players return from the NFL mid-season,

B.C. has already acknowledged that they will be over the salary cap as the club tried desperately to win the Grey Cup at home last year, adding high-priced Canadian stars Nathan Rourke and Mathieu Betts midseason after they were cut by the NFL. Some in CFL circles believe the team will lose not only its first-round pick but also its second-round pick, meaning the violation will be over $300,000, though this remains unconfirmed.

https://3downnation.com/2025/03/08/b-c- ... tampeders/

[DanoT]

I'm not going to lose any sleep over the Lions losing one or two draft picks as they already have a good group of National players. And adding Rourke and Betts mid season was a must do, regardless of draft pick consequences.

[David]

I am still scratching my head why we gave up a 3rd round pick in October (to Montreal) for Jeshrun Antwi when we knew that we would be losing one or more draft picks and Antwi was set to become a FA in a couple of months. Antwi played in 3 regular season games and a playoff game.

Nothing against the player. I think he's a great back. But it wasn't a pressing need at the time.



DH

[OV:54-40]

I am still scratching my head why we gave up a 3rd round pick in October (to Montreal) for Jeshrun Antwi when we knew that we would be losing one or more draft picks and Antwi was set to become a FA in a couple of months. Antwi played in 3 regular season games and a playoff game.

Nothing against the player. I think he's a great back. But it wasn't a pressing need at the time.



DH

A lot of CFL GMs or coaching staff will want or defer to "experienced" Canadian "depth", when they could easily have drafted a player at that position and had him on the PR even, learning & developing. I guess Antwi - agreed, a very capable tailback - was going to be depth or an emergency replacement for a play-off run; but it was clear they had no intention of giving him any work at RB otherwise (for a guy who produced the 1st and 3rd longest runs from scrimmage on the CFL season when he filled in for Stanback in Montreal a few seasons back). And wasn't Mackie healthy as an emergency RB anyways?

Not a smart trade IMO. 7th rounder - maybe.

[Hambone]

I am still scratching my head why we gave up a 3rd round pick in October (to Montreal) for Jeshrun Antwi when we knew that we would be losing one or more draft picks and Antwi was set to become a FA in a couple of months. Antwi played in 3 regular season games and a playoff game.

Nothing against the player. I think he's a great back. But it wasn't a pressing need at the time.



DH

There was indeed a need at the time of the trade for depth. They were in a situation where Mackie was out with a hamstring injury leaving them down to backfield options of Stanback, Terrell, Pickett and St. Pierre who had been brought back 3 days prior to dealing for Antwi. At least Antwi was in game shape. St. Pierre hadn't been doing anything since BC cut him halfway thru training camp. If something happened to Stanback they'd be relying on Terrell and I guess St. Pierre, Pickett and another player to be airlifted in, possibly new to the CFL, having to carry the mail possibly for the rest of the season.

When they acquired Antwi Mackie was out having missed the previous 2 games with a hamstring issue. In those two games BC dressed Stanback and Jordan Terrell at tailback with Riley Pickett at "fullback". That was all they had. They brought both Antwi and St. Pierre in after Mackie's 2nd game out. Given how finicky hamstrings are Mackie's return may have been in question. As it was he would go on to miss a 3rd straight game after Antwi arrived. But he could have missed more if it didn't come around.

[Hambone]

And wasn't Mackie healthy as an emergency RB anyways?

Not a smart trade IMO. 7th rounder - maybe.

No Mackie wasn't healthy as an emegency at least not until after the 1st game Antwi played for BC which was also after the trade deadline. It was BC's last chance to beef up their backfield depth via trade. Maciocia would have told BC to pound sand if they offered a 7th. For a 7th they'd be far better off to keep him for their own possible depth/insurance needs thru the playoffs.

Unfortunately when a team has an immediate need right at the trade deadline they are not dealing from a position of strength. They other team is holding all the cards. Unless Montreal was wanting to dump him BC was in a position of trying to pry Antwi loose from a team that didn't feel they had need to move him.

[Toppy Vann]

The mention of not '6- gaming' Vernon Adams reminded me that despite what the club was saying, I had been by a number of practices and VA to me looked more hurt then they let on.

I know he's a gamer and wanted back earlier- and they desperately needed him - pre-Rourke, I know it's a moot point but was there any cap advantage or other they missed OR they were saying WTF we're way over now and 6-gaming him save a bit but not enough?

If there's no cap advantage or other, I suspose it's really a non-starter of a question.

VA took the high road in leaving positively (as there's no upside to trashing anyone) in the CFL given its size and any desire you might have to want to coach here IF that was ever in VA's mind. The REC chatter said it all.

[OV:54-40]

And wasn't Mackie healthy as an emergency RB anyways?

Not a smart trade IMO. 7th rounder - maybe.

No Mackie wasn't healthy as an emegency at least not until after the 1st game Antwi played for BC which was also after the trade deadline. It was BC's last chance to beef up their backfield depth via trade. Maciocia would have told BC to pound sand if they offered a 7th. For a 7th they'd be far better off to keep him for their own possible depth/insurance needs thru the playoffs.

Unfortunately when a team has an immediate need right at the trade deadline they are not dealing from a position of strength. They other team is holding all the cards. Unless Montreal was wanting to dump him BC was in a position of trying to pry Antwi loose from a team that didn't feel they had need to move him.

So Mackie was due to come back but they went out and gave up a 3rd rounder for Antwi in case he had to - emergency/injury only - play in one game (and when they had no real use for a proven 2nd RB) ?

And a smart GM woulda told Maciocia to go pound sand instead of giving up a 3rd rounder; plus, as I tried to point out, could have had a Canadian RB (that they drafted in late rounds even) on the PR ready to go in and do the same job as Antwi - i.e. they would have already had that good old "depth" and not have had to give up assets for it.

[Hambone]

And wasn't Mackie healthy as an emergency RB anyways?

Not a smart trade IMO. 7th rounder - maybe.

No Mackie wasn't healthy as an emegency at least not until after the 1st game Antwi played for BC which was also after the trade deadline. It was BC's last chance to beef up their backfield depth via trade. Maciocia would have told BC to pound sand if they offered a 7th. For a 7th they'd be far better off to keep him for their own possible depth/insurance needs thru the playoffs.

Unfortunately when a team has an immediate need right at the trade deadline they are not dealing from a position of strength. They other team is holding all the cards. Unless Montreal was wanting to dump him BC was in a position of trying to pry Antwi loose from a team that didn't feiel they had need to move him.

So Mackie was due to come back but they went out and gave up a 3rd rounder for Antwi in case he had to - emergency/injury only - play in one game (and when they had no real use for a proven 2nd RB) ?

And a smart GM woulda told Maciocia to go pound sand instead of giving up a 3rd rounder; plus, as I tried to point out, could have had a Canadian RB (that they drafted in late rounds even) on the PR ready to go in and do the same job as Antwi - i.e. they would have already had that good old "depth" and not have had to give up assets for it.

He wasn't due to come back. He came back when he he was able to which was 10 days after trade. He was dealing with a hamstring. You've been following football long enough to know soft tissue injuries and things like hamstrings are very unpredictable when it comes to declaring a player is 100%. You also know very well that hammies are prone to tweaking or reinjury.

What we do know is Mackie had been nursing hamstring problems for several weeks prior to sitting out those 3 games. Injury reports listed him as LIMITED or DNP for 4 of 5 practices prior to BC's 10th and 11th games. He still played those 2 games and 2 more before going on the 6G for 3. Clearly he never was 100% for several weeks and may not have been even after returning off the IR

Seems in your esteemed medical opinion BC should have been able to confidently predict on Oct 2nd that Mackie would be 100% recovered on Oct 12th AND would not reinjure his hammie the rest of the season. I don't think the Lions could reliably count on either of those things coming about hence they had to do something to provide insurance.

Hamstrings are similar to concussions. Nobody knows when the player is good to return to action until he's good to return to action.

[Hambone]

The mention of not '6- gaming' Vernon Adams reminded me that despite what the club was saying, I had been by a number of practices and VA to me looked more hurt then they let on.

I know he's a gamer and wanted back earlier- and they desperately needed him - pre-Rourke, I know it's a moot point but was there any cap advantage or other they missed OR they were saying WTF we're way over now and 6-gaming him save a bit but not enough?

If there's no cap advantage or other, I suspose it's really a non-starter of a question.

VA took the high road in leaving positively (as there's no upside to trashing anyone) in the CFL given its size and any desire you might have to want to coach here IF that was ever in VA's mind. The REC chatter said it all.

Actually the cap savings wasn't as much as one would presume. While his deal according to the 3D highest paid QB article was for $403K hard money. However that included $200K signing bonus. Apparently only $155K was base salary. I stand to be corrected but I believe they'd only get cap relief on the base. 6 games at $155K = $51.667K savings for VA. However with him out another player making at least CFL min of $70K is getting added. Net relief would be less than $30K.