Samwise CFL Newsletter
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Ottawa Redblacks Select Giordano Vaccaro First Overall in 2026 CFL Canadian Draft
The Ottawa Redblacks selected offensive lineman Giordano Vaccaro first overall in the 2026 CFL Canadian Draft on Tuesday, April 28. Vaccaro, a Winnipeg native, played at the University of Manitoba before transferring to Purdue, earning two first-team U Sports All-Canadian honours and winning the J.P. Metras Trophy in 2024. He is the first Manitoban selected with the top pick since Brandon's Chris Bauman in 2007, and the first former Bisons player to go first overall. Ottawa, rebuilding its offensive line, landed the consensus top-rated Canadian prospect at a position of need ahead of their May 10 training camp opener.
Sources: TSN, 3DownNation, Global News
CFL Announces Victoria Day Season Start and Eight-Team Grey Cup Playoffs for 2027
The CFL announced sweeping structural changes on Tuesday, April 28, set to take effect in 2027, including moving the regular season start to Victoria Day weekend and expanding the Grey Cup playoffs from six to eight teams. Under the new format, agreed upon with the CFLPA, teams finishing first and second in each division will meet in Division Showdown games, with winners earning a bye to the Grey Cup semi-finals and losers dropping to elimination games. Teams ranked fifth through eighth will compete in play-in games. The regular season will bookend from Victoria Day to Thanksgiving, with the Grey Cup concluding before deep fall.
Sources: TSN, Global News, 3DownNation
Offensive Line Depth Defines 2026 CFL Draft's First Round
Offensive linemen dominated the opening round of the 2026 CFL Canadian Draft, with three selected among the first five picks. Ottawa took Giordano Vaccaro from Purdue first overall, the Toronto Argonauts selected Niklas Henning of Queen's University second, and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats took Louisiana Tech's Jonathan Denis fifth. Linebacker Dariel Djabome from Rutgers went third overall to Edmonton, while the Calgary Stampeders selected defensive back Eric Rascoe from Angelo State sixth. Eight of the nine first-round selections came from U.S. colleges, continuing the trend of NCAA-developed talent entering the Canadian game's top tier. The full draft ran to 74 picks over eight rounds.
Sources: CFL.ca, 3DownNation
CFL Global Draft Begins with 91 International Prospects Eligible for Selection
The CFL Global Draft began Wednesday, April 29 at 1:00 p.m. ET, with 91 international prospects from outside Canada and the United States eligible for selection across two rounds. The Global program enters its seventh season in 2026, providing a pathway to professional football for players from Europe, Africa, and other regions. Two top international prospects were absent from the pool: German tight end Marlin Klein was taken in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans, while British tight end Seydou Traore was selected in the fifth round by the Miami Dolphins, removing both from CFL eligibility.
Sources: 3DownNation, TSN
Football North and Gridiron Academy Produce Standout Class in 2026 CFL Draft
Two Canadian football development programs, Football North and Ottawa's Gridiron Academy, had strong showings in the 2026 CFL Canadian Draft. Gridiron Academy, founded in 2007 and specializing in developing undersized or overlooked Canadian talent, had three prospects among the draft's top four rated players: Miami edge rusher Akheem Mesidor and Louisville defensive linemen Rene Konga and Wesley Bailey. Football North, co-founded in 2017 by former CFL quarterback Larry Jusdanis, has built a record of producing top-10 picks, including 2022 first overall Tyrell Richards and 2024 second overall Nick Mardner. Both programs continue closing the development gap for Canadian players pursuing professional careers.
Sources: TSN
Commissioner Johnston Defends Eight-Team Playoff Format Ahead of 2027 Rollout
CFL Commissioner Stewart Johnston defended the league's new eight-team playoff format on Tuesday, April 28, stating that fans will come around to the expanded postseason once they experience it. The updated format, beginning in 2027, will see 88.9 percent of CFL franchises qualify for the Grey Cup playoffs each year, up from 66.7 percent under the current six-team structure. Johnston acknowledged that some traditionalists have questioned whether the format devalues the regular season, but argued the additional playoff games create greater late-season stakes as teams jostle for seeding. The new format was agreed upon jointly with the CFLPA. Training camps open May 10.
Sources: 3DownNation
3DownNation Grades All 74 Picks in the 2026 CFL Canadian Draft
3DownNation published a comprehensive grade on every selection in the 2026 CFL Canadian Draft following Tuesday's proceedings, evaluating all 74 picks across eight rounds. The Argonauts held the most draft picks of any team with 11 selections, followed by Edmonton and Winnipeg with nine each. Analysis highlighted the Toronto Argonauts' second-round selection of defensive back Ethan John from the University of Windsor as a productive development pick, and noted that several teams addressed key positional needs at offensive and defensive line. The draft class featured heavy NCAA representation in round one and a deeper pool of U Sports talent in later rounds.
Sources: 3DownNation
Eastern Conference
Eastern Division — Pre-Season (Season begins June 4)
1. Alouettes — 0 pts (0-0-0)
2. Argonauts — 0 pts (0-0-0)
3. Tiger-Cats — 0 pts (0-0-0)
4. Redblacks — 0 pts (0-0-0)
Western Conference
Western Division — Pre-Season (Training camps open May 10)
1. Blue Bombers — 0 pts (0-0-0)
2. Roughriders — 0 pts (0-0-0)
3. Stampeders — 0 pts (0-0-0)
4. Elks — 0 pts (0-0-0)
5. Lions — 0 pts (0-0-0)
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
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