1971 NAAF Draft

Round 1

1 - Halifax Mariners (from Calgary) | QB Todd Sparrow | Rockefeller* - Yorkville, IL - Creator: idm
Now holding the #1 selection, the Halifax Mariners would set up their future by drafting Todd Sparrow first overall. Sparrow has all the tools to be a great QB in the NAAF. Great decision-making ability with a solid, accurate arm. On the negatives, he does tend to try and make a throw overtaking a sack, which can be a positive to some extent, but negative in others. The Mariners are expected to still roll with QB Lyle Painter this season and give Sparrow a year to develop but expect Sparrow to step up sooner or later and be the face of the Mariners for years to come. 

2 - London Tigers | QB Henry Johnsson | Toronto - Toronto, ON - Creator: ThisIsFine
London had an easy decision to follow up the Sparrow pick. They would grab the other top QB in Henry Johnsson. GM Joseph Johnson felt very comfortable with the pick having spent more time scouting the Toronto QB. Johnsson has a lot of similarities to QB Riley Kiernan with the desire to make big plays happen and get the ball down the field. He also has a massive arm that is very accurate down the field. Of course, he has his shortcomings with forcing passes in high-risk areas, but hopefully, the Tigers can clean that up in his early years. 

3 - Regina Wheat Kings | DL Butcher Callahan | UHamilton - Hamilton, ON - Creator: Darknes
With both QBs off the board, the Regina Wheat Kings would look to improve their very weak D-line by taking UHamilton product, Butcher Callahan. Callahan has quite a passionate personality which breathes life into his football obsession. He’s got a lot of energy which he puts into his high motor, speed, and strength. He is tough to stop if he gets a good break on the snap and is ahead of the O-line, but he does have some missteps with penalty trouble in the past as he doesn’t use his head as much once the ball is snapped. 

4 - Calgary Predators (from London) | RB Rocco Peaks | Alberta Provincial** - Creator: Scratch
The Preds moved back to 4 and they would still reach way down The Gains Report, shocking everyone in the draft room by taking RB Rocco Peaks out of the local Alberta Provincial. The “Nature Boy” has sparked a lot of hype out of Western Canada over the last few years with his ability to find ways out of tackles. His elusiveness is on a level similar to that of RB Dareion Fields. In fact, another nickname is “Rocky Pike” as he often resembles a Northern Pike in the way he slips out of defenders’ hands. Peaks has had some issues with ball security in the past, but has reportedly been working on it by learning to hold fish, pikes to be exact. The Preds hope that the training has worked. Peaks should be a great addition to a Calgary offence that is looking for dangerous playmakers to add to the Wild West offence. 

5 - Montreal Rouge | RB Bo Frazier | Allegheny* - Harrisonburg, VA - Creator: RaysUp
The Rouge would make the second consecutive running back selection by taking the back that everyone thought would be off the board first, Bo Frazier. Frazier’s power running style has been tabbed as perfect for the NAAF, being able to pick up 5 yards almost guaranteed on any run. His strength and ability to overcome would-be-tacklers is something to marvel at. Frazier isn’t as strong in the passing game, but he can be a solid blocker with his strength. He’s also a strong leader with a great personality, something Montreal clearly likes in the young player. The future bodes well for Frazier as Montreal has a history of great running backs with two superstars in RB Élisée Marchal and RB Scott Mallard-White.

6 - Toronto Steelheads | DL Max Russland | Western New York - Hudson, NY - Creator: TheEnigmaticOne
Toronto’s attempt to move up the draft board did not pan out, so they changed course and would look to add to their young defence. Russland is a towering D-lineman who is great at creating problems in the backfield. He’s got a knack for forcing fumbles and getting in the QB’s face. While he’s not as strong against the run, he can also knock balls down at the line with his height. He’s got a lead-by-example mentality, as he is a fairly quiet person, but he can get quite turned up on the field.

TRADE ALERT
After the second defensive lineman was selected, the Ottawa Royals, who also wanted a D-lineman to add to their team, would make a trade-up to grab one. They would swap picks with the Edmonton Rangers, acquiring 7th overall and 43rd overall in exchange for 11th overall and 29th overall. 

7 - Ottawa Royals (from Edmonton) | DL Mathieu Tremblay | Majeure Montreal - Saguenay, QC - Creator: Kingsfan11
With their newly acquired pick, the Royals would take DL Mathieu Tremblay. Tremblay is another ultra-aggressive lineman that loves to get to the QB. He’s got a great first step off the snap, but his aggressiveness can be used against him. If you play him right, Tremblay can overshoot his target and end up way out of position. The good side is, Tremblay is still extremely talented and could easily grow into a strong 2nd punch in the Royals’ D-line that features a former DPOY DL Bernhard Hartmann. Also to note, Tremblay’s older brother Charles was drafted by Montreal in 1965 and is currently a free agent.

8 - Winnipeg Falcons | S Vernon Redgate | Toronto - Toronto, ON - Creator: ZO82
The Falcons ended up with a bit of a steal with the 8th overall pick. S Vernon Redgate slipped from being ranked 3rd in The Gains Report all the way down to 8th. Redgate is a great addition to the backend of the Falcons. He’s got the potential of being one of the greats at the position drawing comparisons to S Garet deVale with his ability to make big plays happen with great anticipation. Still, he can sometimes miss the bigger picture if he misses a player getting behind him. Redgate also has a good personality which fits in with Winnipeg, as Redgate is very protective of his friends and teammates and will stand up for his team when they need it, in a family sort of way. 

9 - Calgary Predators (from Boston via Halifax) | LB Marcus McGhee | Toronto - Ottawa, ON - Creator: Kingsfan11
With the shocking pick of RB Rocco Peaks at 4th overall, the Predators would shift focus to the defence by taking LB Marcus McGhee. McGhee is a very strong candidate to be a solid middle linebacker. His strongest skill is open-field tackling, being able to bring down all sorts of players with great strength and tackle technique. He should be a force in stopping the run up the gut, however, he’s not as good when he has to drop back in coverage. Either way, the Predators have a competitive player to add to the defence. 

10 - Louisville Thunder | OL Donovan Hodgekins | Louisville State* - Cincinnati, OH - Creator: Stickman
Finally, with the 10th overall pick, the first American team would make a selection, as Louisville would take the local kid, OL Donovan Hodgekins. Some were skeptical of Hodgekins coming into the draft as there had been many rumours surrounding his conduct off the field. Hodgekins has a pretty aggressive personality and does not take kindly to those that get in his way. He has blown up on the sideline multiple times during his college career and there are stories of more of the same off the field, allegedly being involved in fights. However, Hodgekins is still a heck of a player. He’s super athletic, being able to keep up with the quickest of D-linemen. His talent is easily worth being top of the draft board, but his personality is one that a team is going to take a risk on, and Louisville is willing to take it. They hope the local talent will be able to control his temper and turn the high-risk player into a high reward.

11 - Edmonton Rangers (from Ottawa) | WR Stanley McClendon | UEdmonton** - Edmonton, AB - Creator: TigersFan93
Edmonton would finally make their first NAAF selection and they would take WR Stanley McClendon. Much like RB Rocco Peaks earlier, no one expected McClendon to be the first off the board at his position. However, McClendon is still a solid prospect. He’s got speed, which is his biggest draw. If he can get some space, he is taking the ball places. He also can get down the field quickly for deep plays, which often turn into touchdowns. Edmonton may not use McClendon to his full potential immediately, being a run-heavy team, but maybe the future will be bright for McClendon to shine.

12 - Providence Gold Stars | TE Kairos Knight | Western New York - New York City, NY - Creator: vladee
Kairos Knight was one of the more interesting prospects available in the draft class. Knight was the leading receiver at Western New York this past season as a tight end, a feat that is very rarely done. Knight has all the abilities of a solid WR but has the bulk to make him a great tight end. He’s a potential game-changer at the TE position if he continues what he did in college. However, there are some concerns about whether he can take advantage of holes in the defence at the same level in the NAAF. Some worry that he may not be as dominant if teams can get stronger coverage on him, but Providence is willing to take the risk, as Knight could be an x-factor if he does click at the next level.

TRADE ALERT
The Buffalo Blue Wings would look to move back from pick 13 in order to pick up some more picks and start to replenish their prospect pool. They would send pick 13 to the Montreal Rouge in exchange for pick 23 and pick 59 as well as WR Bruno Lemieux and S Gabriel Allerton. Buffalo ultimately flips one pick for 4 total prospects with the pick included.

13 - Montreal Rouge (from Buffalo) | WR Antonio Villanueva | Ben Franklin* - Wilmington, DE - Creator: Jayhawk
With their new pick, the Montreal Rouge would start to look for a Taylor Karis replacement and select WR Antonio Villanueva. As the draft neared, Villanueva’s stock rose as more saw his ability to play anywhere a team needed him. He has plenty of experience as a slot option in college but got the opportunity to spread his wings down the sidelines during his senior year. His experience in both positions makes him a great piece to add to an offence that may need his role to change as he grows. While he isn’t a master of either position, it's the versatility that ultimately led Montreal to select him at 13.

14 - Minnesota Serpents | OL Peter Palmerston | UHamilton - Guelph, ON - Creator: Jayhawk
The Serpents had conversations about trading pick 14 but ultimately decided to play it safe and add some depth to their O-line. Palmerston is nothing special, but he is at his best when creating holes for the run game. His pass protection is solid as well making him a solid overall prospect, even if he doesn’t jump off the page at first glance.

15 - Indiana Victors | WR Lew Wallendowski | New England - Boston, MA - Creator: JamHeronArk
With WR Silas Peyton calling it a career, the Victors needed to start thinking about the future at the position. WR Ed Edwards is nearing retirement as well and outside of WR Jake Abbredezzi, they didn’t have much else. So the addition of Wallendowski is a great move for the team. Wallendowski was ranked as the top WR going into the class, primarily because of his hands. He has the ability to make just about any catch, which he has to have since he is not the best at creating space between himself and defenders. He is often caught in one-on-ones, but he comes down with them a majority of the time. Wallendowski could step in as a slot option for the Victors, filling the shoes of the now-departed Silas Peyton.

16 - Pittsburgh Blacksmiths | OL Jeff Fedler | Western New York - Buffalo, NY - Creator: idm
Fedler is a solid pick for the Blacksmiths at 16. Fedler is another solid run blocker who will be able to push off the line. A good pick-up for a team that just signed RB Max Tracy and will see the run game become a larger part of the offence. Nothing much else to report on a pretty average guy from Buffalo, NY, he’s just got a milquetoast sort of personality.

17 - Vancouver Wolves | DB Apollo Duckworth | Cambridge of Boston - Berlin, NH - Creator: Dan O’Mac
The Wolves have been the least active team in the offseason thus far, so they needed to add some depth to positions at the draft. They would start by taking DB Apollo Duckworth. Duckworth is a very smart player, who can read the field well. His rich family allowed him to study at Cambridge of Boston which only enhanced his intelligence. However, he can get caught QB-watching but makes up for it with speed to catch just about anyone who manages to get a step on him. His speed served him well in college, however, there are some skeptics about his speed compared to pro-level players. 

18 - Long Island Raiders | DB Levi Woodrow | Haynes - Yonkers, NY - Creator: QCS
The Raiders would follow the Wolves in taking a corner, going with Levi Woodrow out of Haynes. Woodrow was much less fortunate than Duckworth was growing up. While Woodrow initially intended to follow in his dad’s footsteps in joining the military he was eventually turned onto football where he excelled. He worked harder than anyone and became a really solid corner in college. He’s especially great in man-to-man coverage. He’s overall a cheerful and goofy guy, but on the field he is as focused as ever and expects the same out of his team, certainly having the seeds to be a leader.

* = American Rules School
** = Canadian Rules School

2nd Round

The 2nd Round started with a flurry of offensive linemen going off the board. Calgary would take the big and physical Melvin Murray out of Majeure Montreal to help bring some power to their line. The Tigers would look to add protection for their young QB by taking Vermont Republic’s Derek Butcher, another larger O-lineman that can be tough to get by. Regina would grab Charles Hyland out of Nova Scotia, a pass-blocking specialist who can give the Wheat Kings’ QBs more time in the pocket. 

Halifax would be up to pick at 22, and they would go with S Derrick Focht. Some had some concerns over Focht, as he has limited eyesight in one eye with an eye condition, but he is very intelligent and continues to outperform expectations. Buffalo would also take a safety with their first selection of the draft. Levi Brickshaw should be a good addition for the Blue Wings who have a pair of aging safeties on their roster at the moment. Toronto would add OL Don Shred, to be the 4th O-lineman taken in the first 6 picks of the 2nd round. Toronto hopes Shred can elevate his skills as a blindside blocker to the next level.

Edmonton would continue the 2nd round by taking a local LB in Perry Stevenson. Stevenson’s speed makes him a bit of an all-around player, but he is at his best when sent in on a blitz or targeting the run game. Winnipeg would also grab a LB in Magnus Pearce out of Haynes. Pearce has speed like Stevenson but has shown better anticipation and skill down the middle, making him a solid middle linebacker candidate of the future. 

Ahead of pick 27, the Boston Independents would trade back in order to pick up an extra pick. London would be the team trading up. The Tigers would get pick 27 in exchange for picks 34 and 38. 

With the new pick, the Tigers would double up on O-line, taking Chris Masham out of Toronto. Another big body, although not as strong, but has better fundamentals in blocking techniques. Louisville would keep it close to home yet again taking DL Carl Hogg at 28. Hogg is a mean guy on the field who plays hard and often beyond the whistle, which can cause some penalty trouble. However, there is no denying the kid can play. Edmonton would take their first non-Western Canadian prospect with pick 29. They would take RB Rudy Saunders, the power back out of Rockefeller. His bigger body helps him lean into his ability to pound the rock, however, there are some concerns about his consistency when picking up yards, especially in a 3-down league.

Providence would add some depth on the D-line by taking Maine State’s Shane Mokri, a hard-hitting lineman, who can get after the backfield. Buffalo would continue to replenish their prospect pool by taking OL Josiah Fairey. Fairey is a more athletic O-lineman, making him good at keeping up defenders in pass protection. Minnesota would take a local product in TE Xavier Francis Langford. A tall receiving tight end that can add a more dynamic element to the Serpents’ offence. Indiana would look to add some future RB depth in taking New England’s Daniel Collins. Collins is a pretty balanced player, has some power and some speed, but nothing special.

Boston would finally make their first selection of the draft at pick 34, marking the 2nd latest any team has made their first selection ever (LI was 35th in 1965). They would end up with DB Arthur Longsjo Jr. who is a great one-on-one defender that has the ability to lock down a receiver. To close out the 2nd round, the Vancouver Wolves would grab a WR in Dennis Davtyan, a short receiver with great hands, and Minnesota would select DL Morgan Kneller, a power rushing lineman who can work well in the middle of the D-line.

2nd Round Picks
19 - CGY | OL Melvin Murray | Montreal Provincial - Quebec City, QC - Stickman
20 - LDN | OL Derek Butcher | Vermont Republic - Montpelier, VT - Darknes
21 - REG | OL Charles Hyland | Nova Scotia - Halifax, NS - Kingsfan11
22 - HFX | S Derrick Focht | St-Laurent - Saguenay, QC - Darknes
23 - BUF (from MTL) | S Levi Brickshaw | St. Paul* - St. Paul, MN - ZO82 
24 - TOR | OL Don Shred | Central Pennsylvania* - Hometown, PA - idm
25 - EDM | LB Perry Stevenson | Alberta Provincial** - Lethbridge, AB - DireBear
26 - WPG | LB Magnus Pearce | Haynes - Greenwich, CT - ZO82
27 - LDN (from BOS) | OL Chris Masham | Toronto - Oshawa, ON - Dan O’Mac 
28 - LOU | DL Carl Hogg | Louisville State* - Louisville, KY - Dan O’Mac
29 - EDM (from OTT) | RB Rudy Saunders | Rockefeller* - Milwaukee, WI - ZO82
30 - PRO | DL Shane Mokri | Maine State - Bangor, ME - Edgeworth
31 - BUF | OL Josiah Fairey | Ben Franklin* - Hershey, PA - ZO82
32 - MIN | TE Xavier Francis Langford | Minneapolis* - Duluth, MN - TheEnigmaticOne
33 - IND | RB Daniel Collins | New England - Nahant, MA - idm
34 - BOS (from PIT via LDN) | DB Arthur Longsjo Jr. | New England - Fitchburg, MA - Dan O’Mac
35 - VAN | WR Dennis Davtyan | Rhode Island State - Worcester, MA - ThisIsFine
36 - MIN (from LI) | DL Morgan Kneller | Toronto - Toronto, ON - ZO82

3rd Round

Calgary would open the 3rd round by taking a big swing at WR Jimmy Potter, a former track star that only played college ball in the last two years after injuries harmed his track career. However, he did play WR in high school. His speed is certainly still there which makes him a very interesting piece in the Predators’ offence. Boston would also land a WR with the second pick they got in the trade with the Tigers, taking Craig Nunnery. QB Whit Johnson, who was projected to go late 1st/early 2nd, fell all the way to 39, where the Wheat Kings would take a chance on him. Calgary would grab DL Robert Westminster with the final 1971 pick they got in the Halifax trade, while Toronto would use their re-acquired 3rd round pick on S Donny McCreary. 

Ottawa would snag WR Simon Riley with the other pick they got in the Edmonton trade. Shortly after, the Blacksmiths would make a trade-up to pick 45, sending picks 52 and 77 to Halifax. They would select LB Tony Randolph with the pick. 

The first international player of the draft would head to Minnesota in the form of LB Earl Featherstonhaugh. Then, Halifax would grab OL Heracles Odysseus with the first pick they got in the trade with Pittsburgh. 

3rd Round Picks
37 - CGY | WR Jimmy Potter | Daniel Boone* - Lexington, KY - Stickman
38 - BOS (from LDN) | WR Craig Nunnery | Majeure Montreal - Montreal, QC - Kingsfan11
39 - REG | QB Whit Johnson | Western New York - Oneonta, NY - RaysUp
40 - CGY (from HFX) | DL Robert Westminster | Pacific Provincial** - Abbotsford, BC - Wallflower
41 - MTL | OL Phil Ampertis | UHamilton - Detroit, MI - NoE38
42 - TOR (from TOR via BUF) | S Donny McCreary | Indiana Tech* - Evansville, IN - Dan O’Mac
43 - OTT (from EDM) | WR Simon Riley | Concord-Manchester - Manchester, NH - Darknes
44 - WPG | DL Justin Bardouche | Michigan - Hancock, MI - Dan O’Mac
45 - PIT (from BOS via HFX) | LB Tony Randolph | Baltimore State* - Baltimore, MD - DireBear
46 - LOU | S Brett Tavers | New England - Boston, MA - Stickman
47 - OTT | DB Maxwell Holmes | London - London, ON - ZO82
48 - MTL (from PRO) | DL Stan Walz | St-Laurent - Rimouski, QC - JamHeronArk
49 - BUF | DB Phillip Joachim | Major Wisconsin* - Waukesha, WI - ZO82
50 - MIN | LB Earl Featherstonhaugh | St. George - Reading, UK - idm
51 - IND | OL Troy Pound | Ben Franklin* - King of Prussia, PA -  JamHeronArk
52 - HFX (from PIT) | OL Heracles Odysseus | Western New York - Olean, NY - Jayhawk
53 - VAN | LB Lochlan Bourne | Royal Regina** - Regina, SK - ZO82
54 - LI | RB Aeneas Phillips | Pacific Provincial** - Vancouver, BC - ThisIsFine

4th Round

Buffalo would make 3 selections in the 4th, taking LB Basti Gräbner, DL Charles Salzwedel, and QB Joe Weber, to add defensive depth and a young QB to be a future backup. The final trade of the draft would occur between Ottawa and London. The Royals would move up to pick 63 in exchange for picks 65 and 90. The Royals would use the pick on RB Aurelius Miner hoping to develop some depth behind RB Corbyn Knight. London would pick DB Ray Hallatt with the 65th pick. 

4th Round Picks
55 - BUF (from CGY via TOR) | LB Basti Gräbner | Major Wisconsin* - Madison, WI - ZO82
56 - LI (from LDN) | WR Louie Pan | New England - Boston, MA - idm
57 - REG | S Sheldon Jackson | London - St. Thomas, ON - NoE38
58 - HFX | WR Billy Yards | Allegheny* - Sharon, PA - Jayhawk
59 - BUF (from MTL) | DL Charles Salzwedel | Haynes - Hartford, CT - Kingsfan11
60 - LDN (from TOR) | OL Harvey Strong | U of America* - Chevy Chase, MD - Dan O’Mac
61 - EDM | LB Frank Ellington | UEdmonton** - Edmonton, AB - Wallflower
62 - WPG | OL Emanuel Tobias | Riel** - Brandon, MB - idm
63 - OTT (from BOS via LDN) | RB Aurelius Miner | Western New York - Jamestown, NY - TheEnigmaticOne
64 - LOU | S Malcolm Emerton | Newark* (DIV 2) - Newark, NJ - ZO82
65 - LDN (from OTT) | DB Ray Hallatt | Major Wisconsin* - Fond Du Lac, WI - TigersFan93
66 - PRO | DB Matt Maddux | Saskatchewan Provincial** - Saskatoon, SK - idm
67 - BUF | QB Joe Weber | Nova Scotia - Wolfville, NS - Kingsfan11
68 - PRO (from MIN) | LB Cole Kent | UKC* - Emporia, KS - ZO82
69 - IND | TE Cole Slawter | Michigan* - Holland, MI - Scratch
70 - MTL (from PIT) | LB Maxime St. Beaudoin | UPNB - Moncton, NB - Darknes
71 - VAN | S P.J. Wheeler | Major Nebraska* - Bonesteel, SD - Dan O’Mac
72 - LI | DL Weston East | Louisville State* - Loogootee, IN - Dan O’Mac

5th Round

The final 3 QBs would go in the 5th round. Harold Bryant would head to Toronto, Division 2 QB, Nathan Stauheim, would head to Minnesota, and QB Josh Jailor would head to Indiana. The draft would close with the London Tigers selecting WR Doug Nies out of Binghamton. 

5th Round Picks
73 - CGY | S Sherby Dew | Haynes - Poughkeepsie, NY - idm
74 - LDN | WR James Love | Riel** - Virden, MB - Wallflower
75 - REG | WR John Gifford | Louisville State* - Louisville, KY - Kingsfan11
76 - LOU (from HFX) | LB Oliver Brant | Daniel Boone* - Lexington, KY - ZO82
77 - HFX (from MTL via PIT) | LB Alastair Glass | Cambridge of Boston - York, UK - idm
78 - TOR | QB Harold Bryant | Upstate - Albany, NY - Wallflower
79 - EDM | RB Carson Meyers | Saskatchewan Provincial** - Conquest, SK - Wallflower
80 - WPG | TE Mason Chamberlain | Rideau - Kingston, ON - Darknes
81 - BOS | OL Bradley Seed | Allegheny* - Pittsburgh, PA - idm
82 - LOU | DB Jack Holly | North Indiana* - Fort Wayne, IN - DireBear
83 - OTT | DL Skip Chambray | Majeure Montreal - Sorel-Tracy, QC - JamHeronArk
84 - PRO | OL Danny Nyce | Central BC** - Kelowna, BC - Stickman
85 - TOR (from BUF) | S Grant Horos | Allegheny* - Houston, PA - Jayhawk
86 - MIN | QB Nathan Stauheim | Saginaw State* (DIV 2) - Frankenmuth, MI - TigersFan93
87 - IND | QB Josh Jailor | Louisville State* - Elizabethtown, KY - idm
88 - PIT | RB Herb Stoner | Vermont Republic - Brattleboro, VT - idm
89 - VAN | WR Charles West | Northern Wisconsin* (DIV 2) - Chicago, IL - ZO82
90 - LDN (from LI via OTT) | WR Doug Nies | Binghamton* (DIV 2) - Elmira, NY - JamHeronArk

Undrafted
TE Jimmy Ray Dudley | Major Ohio - Sydney, OH - Dan O’Mac
LB Bart Henderson | West Mass State - Springfield, MA - idm
DL Greg Cox | Major Cincinnati* - Williamson, WV - RaysUp
WR Sam Gorychka | Winnebago* (DIV 2) - Pulaski, WI - Dan O’Mac
OL Justin Tuckest | The Colonial College - Wayne, PA - idm
OL Lewis Lance | North Indiana* - Noblesville, IN - Jayhawk

1971 Pre-Draft

In the lead-up to the NAAF’s 1971 draft, the Calgary Predators had figured out who they wanted to take in the draft. However, the player they liked was not one of the top 2 QBs, so they made it known that they were interested in trading the pick if the right deal was offered. With the #1 pick on the table, several teams contacted Calgary about a potential deal as many were interested in getting one of the two potential franchise QBs available. 

Edmonton, Halifax, London, Louisville, Regina, and Toronto all showed interest in the #1 pick. Edmonton’s interest in the pick was relatively short-lived as Calgary was worried the Rangers may be looking at a different player (the player they liked), as well as the team being their main rival. The remaining teams remained in talks, however, London would eventually pull out, as GM Joseph Johnson did not feel it was worth the price to move one spot when they were guaranteed to get at least one of the QBs. 

The Steelheads appeared to be the next to fall out of the conversation as they ended up making a smaller deal with the Predators. They would pick up the 55th overall selection from Calgary in exchange for former 42nd overall pick, OL Phil Gross. 

However, everyone’s attention flipped back to Toronto again when they made a second move, trading in the 55th pick they got from Calgary along with DL Chauncy Overstreet (with $4,500 in retained salary) for the 42nd overall pick from Buffalo. Buffalo was willing to move back in order to pick up some cheap depth in the form of Overstreet. 

Attention on the #1 pick would soon be snatched away by the Halifax Mariners. Several rumours swirled about the team shopping around former #1 overall pick, DL Wayne Baxton. Baxton was in the final year of his contract and was less likely to re-sign in Halifax if they continued on their rebuilding route following this season. In actuality, GM Anthony Vigneault had been shopping Baxton for a couple of weeks at this point and the conversations were just heating up. Of course, the negotiations were always tough for Halifax as Baxton, with his No-Trade Clause, would have to agree to the team he is being sent to. Boston, Louisville, and Minnesota were the teams that got closest to a deal as all 3 were tempting places for Baxton to agree to go to. Baxton’s interest in all three teams worked to GM Vigneault’s advantage, as he could squeeze more value out of a final trade. As the process went on Baxton did start to settle on a spot, but that information was kept from the teams by Vigneault which led to him getting the best deal. In the end, Baxton desired to return home to Boston, so Vigneault would turn his attention to Boston and they would get a deal done. Boston would acquire DL Wayne Baxton (with $7,000 in retained salary), DB Janek Rodoslav, and DL Lukka Kudro in exchange for Boston’s 1st Round Pick in both 1971 (9th overall) and 1972, DL Adam Thweatt, LB Nick Proehl, and Boston’s 3rd Round Pick in 1971 (45th Overall), and Boston’s 4th Round Pick in 1973. 

Boston’s time is running low with QB Nathaniel Braddock, and the addition of Baxton should be a massive boost on the front 7. Baxton is an 8-time All-Star and will be a consistent problem for QBs when playing Boston. The depth additions of Rodoslav and Kudro should also keep Boston’s depth in order if injuries occur. Rodoslav especially, who will be the DB3 option behind DB Mordecai King and DB Tim McGovern. On the other side, the Mariners now have 4 1st round picks in the next 2 seasons, along with a couple more late-round options. They also get a still-growing DL Adam Thweatt, who can step in day 1 on the D-line, and LB Nick Proehl, a former U of Nova Scotia player that the Mariners liked out of college. 

The massive deal would completely shake up the conversation around the 1st overall selection. Toronto was the most aggressive early in the process with the two moves they had made to get more draft capital, which made them the front-runner as the draft neared. However, with the Baxton trade, Halifax would leapfrog the rest of the field and be in a prime position to make the trade. The Mariners would get a deal done with Calgary, acquiring the 1st overall pick in exchange for picks 4 and 9 in the first round, as well as pick 40 in the 3rd round and a 5th Round Pick in 1973's draft. 

1971 Draft Preview

1971 College Hybrid Football Results

Canada East Hybrid Conference
WEST
(1) Toronto Dukes
(5) UHamilton Howlers
London Foresters
St. George Maples
Dominion Knights
Sudbury Provincial Miners
Kitchener-Waterloo Provincial Beavers

EAST
(6) Majeure Montreal Insulaires
(10) Nova Scotia Armada
St-Laurent Cavaliers de Riviere
Montreal Provincial Panthers
Rideau Rams
UPNB Pirates
Mont-Bellevue Geais Bleus

CEHC Playoffs
(1) TORU - 24-14 - (5) UHAM
(6) MMTL - 17-22 - (10) UNS

CEHC Championship
(1) TORU - 34-14 - (10) UNS

For the 3rd season in a row, the Toronto Dukes owned the CEHC. Led by a stellar group of seniors, the Dukes rolled through the CEHC en route to winning their 3rd consecutive CEHC title. UHamilton had a respectable team being the second-highest ranked in the group, while London shocked a lot of people by finishing 3rd in the West Division. Out in the east, Majeure Montreal still kept their string of strong seasons going, taking the top spot in the division again. Nova Scotia would continue its rise to prominence with its second straight-ranked finish. 

In the playoffs, Toronto dominated by outscoring both of their opponents 58-28. Nova Scotia was able to come up with the upset in the East Division playoff but was no match for the Dukes in the championship.

America East Hybrid Conference
(2) Western New York Whitetails
(3) Haynes Colonials
(4) New England Cardinals
(7) Maine State Acadians
(8) Rhode Island State Bulldogs
(9) Cambridge of Boston Cubs
Upstate Bluebirds
Vermont Republic Mountaineers
West Mass State Rangers
Concord-Manchester Fighting Pike
Erie Sailors
WNY-Rochester Eagles

AEHC Playoffs
(2) WNY - 20-13 - (7) MSU
(3) HAY - 18-15 - (4) UNE

AEHC Championship
(2) WNY - 17-16 - (3) HAY

In the AEHC, Western New York would finish atop the conference for the 3rd time in 4 years. Haynes would follow close behind with a strong defensive team. New England would fall to 3rd in the conference for the first time since joining the AEHC. Maine State would jump RISU into third, also giving RISU their furthest drop since joining the conference. 

In the postseason, WNY would take care of Maine State, despite facing some strong defensive play. While Haynes would handle New England for the 2nd year in a row to make their 2nd straight AEHC Championship. However, Western New York was able to narrowly beat the Colonials after QB Whit Johnson made a clutch throw to TE Kairos Knight to secure a 3rd AEHC title.

Hybrid Football Championship
(1) TORU - 33-28 - (2) WNY

The Championship bout between a pair of QBs that almost share the same last name, as Toronto’s Henry Johnsson would defeat Western New York’s Whit Johnson to take home Toronto’s 2nd straight Hybrid Football Title. 

The Prospects

The 1971 draft class is headlined by a pair of QBs. Rockefeller University’s Todd Sparrow, and Toronto University’s Henry Johnsson. Everyone knew that Johnsson would be a top pick in this year’s draft. His time at Toronto was great, as he was able to capture 2 Hybrid Championships and make 3 appearances in the big game. Johnsson has a cannon of an arm that should be right up there with some of the best in the NAAF. Not only is his arm great, but he hits his target down the field more than most. Johnsson could easily be compared to QB Riley Kiernan as quite a deep threat QB, however, he does have some shortcomings. He does have a tendency to force throws rather than just check it down to a safe route, even if he is under pressure. In college, Johnsson could get away with it, often making some great throws, but at the pro level that could bring a lot of risk if he is not careful. Johnsson was likely to be the consensus QB1 in the draft, however, Todd Sparrow’s decision to enter the NAAF changed that. Sparrow has been another QB on the rise in the Conference of the Midwest. Much like last season’s 2nd overall pick, QB Red King, Sparrow is ditching what would be his usual league, the GLFL, in favour of the NAAF. In fact, the loss of Sparrow stings that much more to the GLFL, as many news outlets around the league had pegged Sparrow as a franchise QB right out of high school. In terms of his play style, it is not that different from Johnsson’s. He’s got a solid arm, with good accuracy. However, his arm isn’t quite as big as Johnsson’s. He also tends to force throws, since he hates taking sacks, but he at least is open to hitting his check down instead of forcing it downfield. Overall, Johnsson is the more physically gifted, as he can get out of the pocket with his legs and he’s got a cannon for a right arm, but Sparrow is the smarter of the two, showing off his football IQ in reading defences better than any college QB in recent years. The only question left is going to be, who goes first, as both will be viable options for many teams in the league.  

Outside of the top 2 QBs, there are a few other names floating around. Western New York’s Whit Johnson, might be the best option after the top 2. Johnson is much more raw than the other two, but he’s got a solid foundation with a quick release from his throwing mechanics. However, he does often overthink his play, overcompensating for mistakes or hesitating when making a decision. After that, there’s a bit of a drop until we get to a pair of strong-arm QBs in Harold Bryant out of Upstate and Joe Weber out of Nova Scotia. Weber has an overall good base with accuracy and an arm but tends to hold the ball too long, and struggles to make the right decision outside of structure. Bryant on the other hand, has as good an arm as Henry Johnsson, if not better, however, he is often overthrowing his targets, especially in mid-range passes, making him quite a raw prospect. 

The last two are QB Josh Jailor out of Louisville State and QB Nathan Stauheim out of Saginaw State of DIV 2. Jailor is a wildcard. He’s a big guy that scrambles a lot. Might be a good fit as a running option in the offence, but he’s not so good at it that it makes up for his shortcomings in the passing game. Stauheim on the other hand, probably has a decent floor as a game-manager/pocket passer, as he is very smart about the plays he makes, however, he doesn’t take many risks and can hold the ball too long for his own good and takes sacks. He also wasn’t all that amazing in DIV 2, but solid enough to turn some heads.

Now beyond the QB position, there is plenty of talent at other positions. Toronto’s back-to-back championship-winning squad sports many key pieces. Primarily, S Vernon Redgate has a lot of similarities to Garet deVale in that he is very aggressive and can make some great plays that can change a game. LB Marcus McGhee is a sturdy player down the middle of the defence with a knack for open-field tackles. There are a couple more down the list in DL Morgan Kneller and OL Chris Masham. UHamilton still brought their A game in developing D-linemen with DL Butcher Callahan leading the charge as another potential top-tier rusher.

There will certainly be a plethora of weapons for teams to add to the offence. RB Bo Frazier is the top prize in this category. The young RB has dominated at Allegheny for the past 3 years. He is an absolute freight train on offence, almost always breaking a tackle on every run. If he does get free, he’s got enough speed to make you pay. Frazier’s ability to pick up big chunks of yardage makes him a great fit for 3 down ball, and could very likely be the first RB to be taken in the first round since RB Reggie Whitehead in 1966. WR Lew Wallendowski is one of those guys that always can win a one-on-one situation. He’s got great hands and can find a way to make it happen. He has to be good at winning tight battles, as he is not the best route runner and will likely always have a guy all over him, but there is no denying he has the best hands in the class. TE Kairos Knight made the tight end position valuable at Western New York. Knight could probably play WR with his athleticism and speed, but he’s also big and strong which makes him a great blocker when he needs to be. Knight was utilized so well in WNY that he was the top receiving target during the season, taking advantage of teams not being prepared for the TE. WR Alberto Villanueva could be a dark horse as the top weapon in the draft. He was never really given the opportunity to be the #1 guy in college until his senior year, but once the opportunity came, Villaneuva became a star, being able to flash his deep-threat ability. Of course, his 3 other years of experience being more of a slot/short route option means he is just as good there, making him a potential Swiss army knife in the passing game. Finally, there is RB Rocco Peaks, who has made waves out of Western Canada. Peaks have a knack for escaping from tough situations. He’s a slippery guy that has managed to escape the grasp of 5 tacklers on more than one occasion. Peaks is high on the list and should be high for many Western Canadian teams who have been keeping an eye on him for several years. 
 
The Gains Report - Top 50 Prospects
1 - QB Todd Sparrow - Rockefeller* - idm
2 - QB Henry Johnsson - Toronto - ThisIsFine
3 - S Vernon Redgate - Toronto - ZO82
4 - RB Bo Frazier - Allegheny* - RaysUp
5 - DL Butcher Callahan - UHamilton - Darknes
6 - WR Lew Wallendowski - New England - JamHeronArk
7 - OL Donovan Hodgekins - Louisville State* - Stickman
8 - TE Kairos Knight - Western New York - vladee
9 - LB Marcus McGhee - Toronto - Kingsfan11
10 - WR Alberto Villanueva - Ben Franklin* - Jayhawk
11 - DL Mathieu Tremblay - Majeure Montreal - Kingsfan11
12 - OL Peter Palmerson - UHamilton - Jayhawk
13 - DL Mason Russland - Western New York - TheEnigmaticOne
14 - OL Melvin Murray - Montreal Provincial - Stickman
15 - RB Rocco Peaks - Albert Provincial** - Scratch
16 - QB Whit Johnson - Western New York - RaysUp
17 - DB Levi Woodrow - Haynes - QCS
18 - OL Jeff Fedler - Western New York - idm 
19 - DB Apollo Duckworth - Cambridge of Boston - Dan O’Mac
20 - OL Charles Hyland - Nova Scotia - Kingsfan11
21 - WR Stanley McClendon - UEdmonton** - TigersFan93
22 - LB Perry Stevenston - Alberta Provincial** - DireBear
23 - OL Derek Butcher - Vermont Republic - Darknes
24 - DL Shane Mokri - Maine State - Edgeworth
25 - S Levi Brickshaw - St. Paul* - ZO82
26 - S Derrick Focht - St-Laurent - Darknes
27 - OL Don Shred - Central Pennsylvania* - idm
28 - RB Rudy Saunders - Rockefeller* - ZO82
29 - OL Josiah Fairey - Ben Franklin* - ZO82
30 - DL Carl Hogg - Louisville State* - Dan O’Mac
31 - S Donny McCreary - Indiana Tech* - Dan O’Mac
32 - LB Magnus Pearce - Haynes - ZO82
33 - RB Aeneas Phillips - Pacific Provincial** - ThisIsFine
34 - TE Xavier Francis Langford - Minneapolis* - TheEnigmaticOne
35 - LB Lochlan Bourne - Royal Regina** - ZO82
36 - OL Chris Masham - Toronto - Dan O’Mac
37 - WR Dennis Davtyan - Rhode Island State - ThisIsFine
38 - DL Morgan Kneller - Toronto - ZO82
39 - DB Arthur Longsjo Jr. - New England - Dan O’Mac
40 - DB Phillip Joachim - Major Wisconsin* - ZO82
41 - WR Jimmy Potter - Daniel Boone - Stickman
42 - DL Robert Westminster - Pacific Provincial** - Wallflower
43 - WR Craig Nunnery - Majeure Montreal - Kingsfan11
44 - RB Daniel Collins - New England - idm
45 - LB Tony Rudolph - Baltimore State* - DireBear
46 - S Brett Tavers - New England - Stickman
47 - LB Earl Featherstonhaugh - St. George - idm 
48 - OL Phil Ampertis - UHamilton - NoE38
49 - DB Maxwell Holmes - London - ZO82
50 - DB Matt Maddux - Saskatchewan Provincial** - idm
==QBs =================================
57 - QB Joe Weber - Nova Scotia - Kingsfan11
67 - QB Harold Bryant - Upstate - Wallflower
82 - QB Josh Jailor - Louisville State* - idm
88 - QB Nathan Stauheim - Saginaw State (DIV 2) - TigersFan93

Draft Order and Picks

1 - Calgary Predators - Picks (5): 1, 19, 37, 55, 73
2 - London Tigers - Picks (6): 2, 20, 34, 38, 60, 74
3 - Regina Wheat Kings - Picks (5): 3, 21, 39, 57, 75
4 - Halifax Mariners - Picks (4): 4, 22, 40, 58
5 - Montreal Rouge - Picks (6): 5, 23, 41, 48, 59, 70
6 - Toronto Steelheads - Picks (4): 6, 24, 78, 85
7 - Edmonton Rangers - Picks (5): 7, 25, 43, 61, 79
8 - Winnipeg Falcons - Picks (5): 8, 26, 44, 62, 80
9 - Boston Independents - Picks (5): 9, 27, 45, 63, 81
10 - Louisville Thunder - Picks (6): 10, 28, 46, 64, 76, 82
11 - Ottawa Royals - Picks (6): 11, 29, 47, 65, 83, 90
12 - Providence Gold Stars - Picks (5): 12, 30, 66, 68, 84
13 - Buffalo Blue Wings - Picks (5): 13, 31, 42, 49, 67
14 - Minnesota Serpents - Picks (5): 14, 32, 36, 50, 86
15 - Indiana Victors - Picks (5): 15, 33, 51, 69, 87
16 - Pittsburgh Blacksmiths - Picks (3): 16, 52, 77
17 - Vancouver Wolves - Picks (5): 17, 35, 53, 71, 89
18 - Long Island Raiders - Picks (3): 18, 54, 72

1971 Free Agency Part 1

All eyes were on the running back market with two of the league’s best RBs over the past decade available, Max Tracy and Jimmy Golden. Tracy garnered the most attention as he was only 29, as compared to the 33-year-old Golden, and certainly had more fuel left in the tank. Tracy was looking for a contender to land with, so the list of teams that were in on acquiring the superstar was limited to the Indiana Victors and the Pittsburgh Blacksmiths. Max Tracy would have several discussions with both teams over a new contract, but in the end, he would take a 3-year deal with the Blacksmiths, giving him $34,500 a season. Tracy chose Pittsburgh as there were a few familiar faces on the roster like former Steelhead teammates, TE Jesse Butler and QB Leif Christiansen, as well as a former college teammate in QB Louis Vaughn. Tracy and Vaughn played together at U of New England during Vaughn’s sophomore year and the two had a lot of respect for each other, both itching to get that ever-elusive McCallister Cup. With the signing, Pittsburgh was getting into some cap trouble, so they would make a quick trade with Montreal, sending RB Raymond Green over to Montreal along with a 4th Round Pick (70th) to get some cap relief and a 5th Round Pick (77th) back. 

After whiffing on Tracy, Indiana would turn to Golden to fix their RB problem. They would ink Jimmy Golden to a 1-year deal that pays him $28,000 a season. Golden has seen quite a decline over the last couple of seasons, which led to his benching in Buffalo last season, so many are not exactly sure if Golden is really going to be the big fix Indiana needs in the backfield. However, it is a big name and will certainly still get eyes on the team.

With the two big-name RBs off the board, the other options would find new landing places. The young RB and former Victor, Shannon West, would head north of the border to Toronto. RB George Seahorse would look for a starting role, with a new 2-year deal in Halifax. Seeing most of the market fizzling, RB Hugo Hughes would ultimately return to Minnesota on a cheaper deal. Other former starters would find some backup roles with RB Tresean Jones replacing George Seahorse in Providence and RB Carter Roy heading to Boston. 

Every offseason the hottest topic is usually the QB market. This season there were several teams looking for new signal callers. Toronto seemed to be the most desperate of the bunch as they felt there was a very slim chance they could get a QB in the draft. They would sign former 10th overall pick, QB David Simmons to a 2-year deal. Simmons started his career in Louisville and struggled during the team’s winless season in 1969, coming in for the injured QB Buck Murphy. He then landed in Long Island last season and had to show up for the McCallister Cup after QB Ivan Sanchez went down. Simmons played well enough to help the Raiders secure the victory, certainly getting some eyes on him as a potential starter since he is still only 26. Overall, Toronto will be gambling a bit on the young QB, who has yet to prove if he can be the franchise guy.

The London Tigers would land QB Tyrion Gainsborough to fill the shoes left by all 3 QBs from last season. Gainsborough has a very strong resume, leading the Royals to a 10-2 season in 1968, the lone season where he was the starting option. While many felt the undrafted QB coasted off of a strong defence, there are many signs showing that Gainsborough can be a very sturdy option for a team looking for some solid and stable QB play. The Calgary Predators were also on the prowl for QBs, especially ones that loved to run the ball. They ended up nabbing former Tigers’ QB Emmitt Jackson. While Jackson had some injury troubles last season, he should be a good fit in the Predators’ Wild West Offence, which seems to excel when the team has a QB that can move the ball with his feet. Jackson will likely be competing with QB Jesse Essex for the starting job next season. 

Finally, the Regina Wheat Kings were open to many options at QB. They would land a couple of options in QB Stanley Evans, who is originally from Saskatchewan, and QB Matt Fletcher. Evans arrives from Vancouver where, just like David Simmons, he had to come in for the Wolves’ starting QB in the big game. Fletcher, on the other hand, has never really been given a chance after the Raiders took him 7th overall in the 1963 draft. He has only 1 start under his belt from his time in Toronto, and he hopes Regina can finally be an opportunity to get on the field. Both QBs should be improvements over QB Rusty Lamb, but the team expects all 3 to be in the running for the job.

Veteran stars were the other hot topic during the free agency period. Mostly about where they would land. S Garet deVale would begin his championship-chasing quest by signing a 1-year deal with the defending champs in Long Island and DL Lucas Kipling would return to his college town in Louisville. OL Taylor Forbes would also join deVale in a move to Long Island. A few other veteran corners would make the shocking move out west. DB Oliver Langstrom would take a 1-year deal with the Calgary Predators, DB Lawrence Ralph was heading to Winnipeg, and DB Lauri Hayha was taking an opportunity with the Wheat Kings. 

Other notable moves saw the Gold Stars look to finally make major improvements on the O-line. They would sign 6-time All-Star, OL Emil Jennings, away from the Tigers. Jennings should provide All-Star-level protection for the Gold Stars with their young QB, Red King. The Tigers did lose out on their top O-lineman, but they would manage to land OL Shane Willis, a former 2nd-round pick to a 4-year deal to fill Jennings’ shoes while being 5 years younger. 

There was not really a top WR that was available this season, but a couple of solid pieces still changed teams. Toronto would add a pair of former Boston Independents in WR Felix Fontaine and WR Jimmy Franks to add some significant help to the passing game. The Tigers would make a sneaky signing in grabbing WR Alex Browne Sr. from the Rangers, a WR that was underutilized in the run-heavy offence. Boston would fill the hole left by Fontaine with WR Edward Webb, a player that has just not been able to prove himself since being drafted to Minnesota during the expansion draft in 1969. Indiana would get their WR Silas Peyton replacement in WR Leonard Green, while WR Justin Dubuque would fill the hole left by Green in Louisville. 

Top 25 Free Agents
1 - RB Max Tracy - TOR -> PIT - 3Y, $34,500 - NTC
2 - S Garet deVale - MTL -> LI - 1Y, $30,000 - NTC
3 - RB Jimmy Golden - BUF -> IND - 1Y, $28,000 - NTC
4 - OL Emil Jennings - LDN -> PRO - 2Y, $26,000 - NTC
5 - DB Oliver Langstrom - TOR -> CGY - 1Y, $28,000 - NTC
6 - DL Lucas Kipling - MTL -> LOU - 1Y, $29,000
7 - OL Shane Willis - MTL -> LDN - 4Y, $25,500
8 - QB David Simmons - LI -> TOR - 2Y, $23,000
9 - DB Lawrence Ralph - BOS -> WPG - 1Y, $25,000 - NTC
10 - QB Tyrion Gainsborough - OTT -> LDN - 2Y, $24,000
11 - QB Landon Ross - PRO -> PRO - 1Y, $19,500
12 - DB Corey Ross - MIN -> PRO - 2Y, $22,000
13 - S Mathieu Cazenave - BUF -> MTL - 3Y, $26,000
14 - OL Taylor Forbes - LOU -> LI - 1Y, $22,000
15 - OL Clifford Pratt - HFX -> MIN - 2Y, $21,000
16 - WR Alex Browne Sr. - EDM -> LDN - 2Y, $22,500
17 - RB Shannon West - IND -> TOR - 2Y, $18,000
18 - WR Edward Webb - PRO -> BOS - 2Y, $18,500
19 - QB Emmitt Jackson - LDN -> CGY - 2Y, $20,000
20 - RB Hugo Hughes - MIN -> MIN - 1Y, $20,000
21 - S Wesley Jones - BUF -> BUF - 1Y, $24,000 - NTC
22 - RB George Seahorse - PRO -> HFX - 2Y, $18,000
23 - DB Cameron Taylor - IND -> IND - 1Y, $14,000
24 - S Jay Shepherd - HFX
25 - LB Brian O’Flaherty - LOU
26* - WR Felix Fontaine - BOS -> TOR - 2Y, $25,000
Fontaine should have been in the top 25, but I guess I missed him. 

1971 Re-Sign Stage

BIG NAME QBs LOCK UP BIG CONTRACTS
Rumours were swirling around QB Nathaniel Braddock on whether he would remain in Boston after the team's 4th playoff miss in 5 seasons. However, the veteran QB would give it one more shot with the Independents, inking a 2-year deal worth $92,000 over two seasons. The pressure will be on the Independents to make the most of the next two seasons. 

Elsewhere, the Royals would commit $202,000 to QB Drake Young in a 5-year deal that sets up the UHamilton alumni as the team’s franchise cornerstone. The Royals have been fortunate enough to not have to pay very high for QBs in recent years following the retirement of QB Jean Matieau, but the bill came due at some point and the team is happy to keep building around Young. 

Following their 3rd championship, the Raiders finally committed to QB Ivan Sanchez, signing the young QB to a 3-year deal worth $105,000. The Mariners and Rangers are both bringing back their veteran QBs on 1-year deals with Lyle Painter signing on for $30,000 and Blair Collins at $35,500. 

Finally, the Wolves would ink up QB Kevin Westwood to a big deal that keeps him with the team over the next 4-years at $45,000 a season ($180,000 in total). 

TRACY HEADED TO MARKET DESPITE CHANGE AT GM
The hiring of GM Reginald McMahon may have saved the Steelheads as a team. It was expected that the team could lose a lot of the young talent that they had on the roster with several key pieces due for an extension. However, with McMahon now at the helm, players appear to be ready to get back on the horse in Toronto. WR Sterling Underhill inked a 2-year extension, worth $60,000 in total. OL Alan Farquharson also returned for a pair of seasons, as did LB Lincoln Webster. The biggest name to return was former 1st overall pick, LB Judge Barrett, who inked a 3-year deal worth $112,500. However, they were still unable to get Max Tracy to change his mind about his decision to go elsewhere. Tracy did have a little interest initially in a return, he ultimately was already settled on moving on, so he continued with his original plan. 

Overall, there are going to be many RBs available this offseason. Fellow MVP winner, RB Jimmy Golden will also be moving on from Buffalo after they extended RB Jasper Dickerson. RB Hugo Hughes did not come to an agreement with Minnesota. Indiana is wiping their backfield clean by letting go of both RB Tresean Jones and RB Shannon West. RB George Seahorse and RB Théodore Lemieux will also be available for teams to target. 

VETS LOOKING TO WIN
RB Max Tracy wasn’t the only veteran looking to take a stab at a McCallister Cup. With the struggles in Montreal continuing into a new regime, 1967 MVP, S Garet deVale and DL Lucas Kipling are hitting free agency and looking for an opportunity to win. Those two should make a strong impact for any team looking to go all-in. They will also be joined by OL Emil Jennings out of London and DB Oliver Langstrom from Toronto, as well as DB Cameron Taylor and OL Taylor Forbes. 

CLEAN SLATE AT QB FOR THE TIGERS
After electing to hold onto their current QB room of Emmitt Jackson, Magnus Torrensen, and Gilles Doucet last season and passing on a QB in the draft, the Tigers have elected to start fresh by releasing all 3 QBs this season. Torrensen struggled in his 5 starts at the beginning of the season, Jackson struggled to stay healthy all year, and Doucet played pretty well all things considered, but was never looked at as a franchise option long-term. Many expect the Tigers will look at QB with the 2nd overall pick in the 1971 draft, but they may also be targeting some of the top QB options in free agency to gain some stability in the short term.

Top 25 Free Agents
1 - RB Max Tracy - TOR
2 - S Garet deVale - MTL
3 - RB Jimmy Golden - BUF
4 - OL Emil Jennings - LDN
5 - DB Oliver Langstrom - TOR
6 - DL Lucas Kipling - MTL
7 - OL Shane Willis - MTL
8 - QB David Simmons - LI
9 - DB Lawrence Ralph - BOS
10 - QB Tyrion Gainsborough - OTT
11 - QB Landon Ross - PRO
12 - DB Corey Ross - MIN
13 - S Mathieu Cazenave - BUF
14 - OL Taylor Forbes - LOU
15 - OL Clifford Pratt - HFX
16 - WR Alex Browne Sr. - EDM
17 - RB Shannon West - IND
18 - WR Edward Webb - PRO
19 - QB Emmitt Jackson - LDN
20 - RB Hugo Hughes - MIN
21 - S Wesley Jones - BUF
22 - RB George Seahorse - PRO
23 - DB Cameron Taylor - IND
24 - S Jay Shepherd - HFX

25 - LB Brian O’Flaherty - LOU