Argonauts take OL Richards with No. 1 overall pick of 2019 CFL Draft

The Toronto Argonauts selected former Oklahoma State offensive lineman Shane Richards with the first overall pick of Thursday's 2019 CFL Draft.

Richards immediately inked his CFL contract with Toronto:

The 6-foot-4, 334-pounder ranked second in the April edition of the CFL Scouting Bureau Rankings and has experience playing both guard and tackle.

"Shane Richards has all the ingredients required in order to be the first overall pick," said CFL.ca's draft analyst Marshall Ferguson. "The length and athleticism he provides at his rare size is special but what separates him is major Division I game film blocking some of the NCAA's best pass-rushers."

Richards wowed scouts at his pro day in March but was sent home from the CFL combine later in the month after declining to participate in testing.

The top pick will bring much-needed youth to an offensive line comprising of Sean McEwen, Chris Van Zeyl, Tyler Holmes, and Ryan Bomben.