The only way the Roughriders trade the top pick in this year’s CFL draft, expected to be Saskatchewan lineman Ben Heenan, is if another team is willing to surrender a Canadian starter and additional picks, according to GM Brendan Taman. (Dave Chidley/Canadian Press)

(PhatzRadio / CBC Sports) — The Saskatchewan Roughriders still own the first pick of the 2012 Canadian Canadian college draft.

A club spokesman confirmed that Thursday after the Edmonton Eskimos announced earlier that Saskatchewan Huskies offensive lineman Ben Heenan would be in the Alberta city for a visit.

The Roughriders and Eskimos hold the first and second picks, respectively, in the May 3 draft with Heenan projected to be taken first overall.

Heenan’s arrival in Edmonton prompted speculation that the Eskimos had reached a deal with the Riders for the No. 1 pick and therefore could bring Heenan to town knowing they’d be drafting him next week.

On Thursday, officials with both the Roughriders and Eskimos said no deal has been made between the two clubs for the No. 1 pick and that Heenan’s visit to Alberta was just a chance for him to tour Edmonton’s facility.

The Riders’ official added the Saskatchewan club has made “no deal” with any CFL club for the No. 1 pick.

Adding a quality player who is from Saskatchewan — the six-foot-four, 310-pound Heenan is a native of Grand Coulee — appears to be a win-win situation for the Roughriders, who missed the CFL playoffs last season. However, the club added veteran offensive linemen Brendon LaBatte and Dominic Picard in free agency this off-season and is working on a contract extension with Chris Best, another veteran.

Edmonton general manager Eric Tillman has been open about his admiration of Heenan and several league sources have said Tillman has been working hard to make a deal with Saskatchewan for the top pick of the draft in order to have a shot at Heenan.

Saskatchewan GM Brendan Taman has said he would like to hold on to the No. 1 selection and would only consider giving it up if another team was willing to surrender a Canadian starter and additional picks to the Riders.

2012 CFL draft rankings

Here are the official top 15 rankings for the upcoming draft on May 3 compiled by the Canadian Football League Scouting Bureau.

B.C. Lions
Rank Player Position College
1. Ben Heenan Offensive Lineman Saskatchewan
2. Tyrone Crawford Defensive End Boise State
3. Austin Pasztor Offensive Lineman Virginia
4. Shamawd Chambers Wide Receiver Wilfrid Laurier
5. Kirby Fabien Offensive Lineman Calgary
6. Frederic Plesius Linebacker Laval
7. Ameet Pall Defensive End Wofford College (South Carolina)
8. Bryce McCall Defensive Back Saskatchewan
9. Simon Charbonneau-Campeau Wide Receiver Sherbrooke
10. Jason Medeiros Offensive Lineman McMaster
11. Ismael Bamba Wide Receiver Sherbrooke
12. Christo Bilukidi Georgia State Washington
13. Arnaud Gascon-Nadon Defensive End Laval
14. Johnny Aprile Wide Receiver Queen’s
15. Matt Norman Offensive Lineman Western Ontario

Offensive lineman Xavier Fulton runs a drill at an NFL Scouting Combine. (Darron Cummings/Associated Press)

Roughriders acquire offensive lineman Xavier Fulton

(PhatzRadio / CBC Sports) — The Saskatchewan Roughriders acquired import offensive lineman Xavier Fulton from the Edmonton Eskimos on Monday for a 2013 conditional sixth-round draft pick.

The six-foot-four, 300-pound Fulton was a fifth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2009 NFL draft. The 25-year-old Chicago native has also spent time with the Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins practice rosters.

Fulton was with the UFL’s Virginia Destroyers last year. Originally a defensive end at Illinois, Fulton signed up for the Golden Gloves boxing event in Chicago and won his weight class April 13. Fulton is 3-0 as a boxer.