text: Bombers' GM Walters doesn't expect this year's CFL draft to be all that different than most years | Winnipeg Sun
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  Bombers' GM Walters doesn't expect this year's CFL draft to be all that different than most years
  Amid the startling news that the Canadian Football League is in urgent need of a government bailout to survive through the Covid-19 shutdown, there is still some business as usual to be taken care of on Thursday.
  The CFL draft will be conducted via conference call, starting at 7 p.m., CT on TSN, and the good news is, that's nothing new.
  Bombers' GM Walters doesn't expect this year's CFL draft to be all that different than most years Back to video
  "It's not gonna feel that much different," Winnipeg Blue Bombers general manager Kyle Walters said. "For our normal draft, it was all done via conference call anyway."
  The difference this year is that teams will be assembling their "war rooms" virtually in light of pandemic-induced social distancing rules.
  Normally scouts, general managers and player personnel directors from each of the CFL's nine teams assemble on the evening of the draft and then phone in their selections to the league.
  This year, they'll have a team Zoom call on the go and a league conference call going at the same time.
  "It will feel very similar to years past as far as the draft goes," Walters said.
  Leading the draft team will be Walters, Bombers head coach Mike O'Shea and assistant general manager Ted Goveia.
  The Bombers don't pick until 18th overall, having traded their first-round pick to the Toronto Argonauts in the deal that brought Grey Cup-winning quarterback Zach Collaros to Winnipeg.
  That doesn't mean any less work has gone into the preparation. In fact, there has been more work than usual, since the league's scouting combine was cancelled, players haven't been holding pro days and film is limited for some prospects.
  "We've talked to pretty much every kid in our top 100, Ted, Mike and myself," Walters said. "There's a component to the interviews to make sure you're getting accurate information with regard to injury history and academic situation and just the background that you need. You pick their brains about their training process and their testing results and goals that they have.
  "It's just to gather the quality of character and passion for the game. It's much more difficult doing it on the phone this year, rather than in person, but we put a lot of time and energy into speaking with these guys."
  The Calgary Stampeders have the first pick in the draft, acquiring it when they traded quarterback Nick Arbuckle to the Ottawa Redblacks.
  They appear to be leaning toward taking a defensive player — if they don't trade the pick. Calgary has been rumoured to be interested in East Carolina linebacker Jordan Williams and could also be considering Southeastern Louisiana defensive end Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund.
  Williams is eighth in the CFL scouting bureau's final rankings, while Adeyemi-Berglund is 12th.
  A potential rise to the top of the draft would be partly because five of the top-10 players in the scouting bureau rankings were either drafted or have signed free-agent deals in the NFL.
  While the Stampeders can pick anyone they want, the Bombers will have to wait and hope someone they ranked highly falls to the 18th pick.
  Winnipeg also picks in the fourth round (37th), twice in the fifth round (39th and 46th) and in the sixth (55th), seventh (64th) and eighth (73rd).
  Regardless of how the draft turns out, there is massive uncertainty surrounding the CFL due to the coronavirus sports shutdown.
  The league has asked the Canadian government for a bailout of up to $150 million in order to survive a drastically shortened or cancelled season.
  There are fears the storied league could fold entirely if it does not receive any government assistance.
  The news has not been good since mid-March when the cancellations began, but Walters and his team have done their best to block it out and focus on the task at hand.
  "It's been a real nice break from the real world, to be honest with you, to just dive into the world of football," Walters said. "Everybody is very excited about this draft. I'm glad that it's still going. We have no idea what's gonna be happening in the future but it sure is awesome to focus on the draft."
  Handful of Manitobans hoping to get selected in CFL draft
  As uncertain as things are for the CFL as it conducts its annual draft on Thursday, imagine how it must be for prospects who are hoping to break into the league.
  Of the 73 players expected to be drafted, a handful are from Manitoba, including defensive lineman Mason Bennett of the University of North Dakota, currently ranked 10th by the CFL scouting bureau but expected to rise on Thursday.
  Bennett has been projected to go as high as third, to the B.C. Lions.
  Others in the mix include Manitoba Bisons defensive lineman Brock Gowanlock, Manitoba receiver Macho Bockru, Bisons offensive lineman Ryan Wengelenski.