2025 CFL Global Draft: Running Backs & Offensive Lineman Scouting Criteria
The CFL Global Draft will take place on April 29, 2025. We continue our preview with how Running Backs and Offensive Lineman are viewed in CFL evaluations.
Running Back Traits Emphasis
Run Skills: Decel to Acceleration, tight burst through trash, body lean to take defenders on a ride and contact balance.
Vision: Patience and eyes to process run creases, tempo to move defenders and set up run blocks and peripheral scope to trigger in protection.
Speed: Functional play speed to extend out what’s blocked, acceleration to burst away and top-end juice to take away defender angles.
Quickness: Start and stop agility, coordination of upper and lower half to avoid defenders and side-to-side shake to separate on routes.
Pass Blocking: Processing to identify and adjust to pressures, willingness to run into a fire, initial contact pop, balance and strength to sustain.
Pass Receiving: Capable hands with dexterity outside their frame, loose enough body to run at least low and intermediate routes and ability to finish at the catch point through contact.
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Offensive Line Traits Emphasis
Size: CFL standards in length and height aren’t as rigid as the NFL. Consider frames that could add weight without sacrificing movement.
Quickness: CFL defenders have to align a minimum 1-yard off the ball, so an OL’s movement into contact and to the 2nd level requires a different quickness. The CFL is a passing league, so urgency into a Pass Set is at a premium.
Pass Protection: Assess how well they coordinate their upper and lower body to set, adjust and engage with defenders quickly and efficiently.
Hand usage: Timing, hand placement and strength to snatch and sustain.
Recovery: Agility and poise to recover after being beat initially. Maintains balance through contact. Can shift weight mid-rep and regain positioning.
Anchor: Ability to absorb power and protect the width or depth of the pocket.
Recognition: The CFL is a 3-down league instead of 4, and the multitude of exotic pressures is amplified in such a pass heavy league. Eyes and reactive processing is huge—can they pick up twists, stunts, and delayed blitzes?
Patience: Uses a controlled, confident approach to not overset, lunge, or get over their skis.
Strength: Exhibits functional strength to move defenders in the run game, absorb contact in pass pro and finish with strain and drive.
Body Control & Recovery: Watch how well they maintain balance through contact. Can they shift weight mid-rep, regain positioning after getting off-plane, and stay engaged with defenders? Important when recovering from initial mistakes or counter moves.
Mental Processing: Ability to learn quickly, process in-game adjustments, and retain concepts with minimal reps. Understands scheme, defensive structure, and know how to adjust protections or react post-snap. Look for overall awareness, alertness, and ability to think under pressure.
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Offensive line is tricky, but someone will take one.
The offensive line may be the hardest place for a Global to crack the active roster, given the CFL ratio limiting them to mostly Tackle spots.
However, several teams, particularly Ottawa, have shown their desire to carry a big-bodied Global on the practice roster to aid their daily operations and never play them. This has led to several players we viewed as not CFL caliber getting opportunities.
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