Samwise CFL Newsletter
Tuesday, April 28, 2026
2026 CFL Canadian Draft Opens Tonight at 7 p.m. ET, Covering 74 Players Across Eight Rounds
The 2026 CFL Canadian Draft gets underway tonight at 7:00 p.m. ET, with TSN and TSN+ airing the first two rounds live before coverage moves to TSN+ for rounds three through eight. Seventy-four players will be selected from Canadian university, NCAA, and NAIA prospects. The Ottawa Redblacks hold the first overall pick, with Purdue offensive lineman Giordano Vaccaro widely considered the consensus selection. One pre-draft scenario from CFL.ca suggests Ottawa could trade down while still addressing its offensive line needs, with Boston College’s Kevin Cline generating buzz as a potential top-five pick. The CFL Global Draft follows Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. ET.
Sources: CFL.ca, CFL.ca (Bold Predictions)
NFL Signings Reshape 2026 CFL Draft Field as Top Canadian Prospects Head South
The departure of several highly ranked Canadian prospects to the NFL has significantly reshuffled the 2026 CFL Draft field ahead of Tuesday night’s event. Ottawa native Akheem Mesidor, ranked first in the spring CFL Scouting Bureau, was taken 22nd overall by the Los Angeles Chargers in the 2026 NFL Draft. Edmonton-born Nuer Gatkuoth, ranked 12th, accepted a Denver Broncos rookie mini-camp invite on Monday. Logan Taylor also signed with the Chargers. TSN analysts discussed Monday how these departures create new opportunities for teams holding mid-round picks, potentially boosting the draft stock of offensive and defensive linemen who might otherwise have waited until day two.
Sources: TSN, 3DownNation
Canadian Defensive Lineman Nuer Gatkuoth Accepts Denver Broncos NFL Rookie Mini-Camp Invite
Edmonton-born defensive lineman Nuer Gatkuoth has accepted a rookie mini-camp invite from the Denver Broncos, removing himself from consideration in Tuesday’s CFL Canadian Draft, according to sources reported by 3DownNation. The 23-year-old Wake Forest product was ranked 12th in the 2026 CFL Scouting Bureau and was projected as a first-round pick. Gatkuoth posted 8.5 tackles for loss and six sacks over 12 games for the Demon Deacons in 2025. He follows top-ranked CFL prospect Akheem Mesidor, selected 22nd overall by the Los Angeles Chargers, and Logan Taylor, also signed by the Chargers, in heading to the NFL rather than the CFL.
Sources: 3DownNation
B.C. Lions Release Quarterback Gevani McCoy Among Five Cuts Ahead of Training Camp
The B.C. Lions released five American players on Monday, including quarterback Gevani McCoy, running back Antonio Wimbush, linebacker Marvin Grant, and defensive backs Marquis Bridges and Jamal Parker Jr. McCoy, a 23-year-old native of Baldwin Hills, California, had signed with the Lions in February after concluding a college career at Idaho, where he threw for 5,843 yards and 43 touchdowns in 26 games and won the FCS National Freshman of the Year Award in 2022. The Lions enter draft night with Nathan Rourke, Chase Brice, and Thomas Rittenhouse at quarterback. All CFL training camps are scheduled to open on May 10.
Sources: 3DownNation
Tiger-Cats Sign American Quarterback Jacobian Morgan and Offensive Lineman Nolan Gorczyca
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced Monday the signings of American quarterback Jacobian Morgan and American offensive lineman Nolan Gorczyca to training camp rosters ahead of the May 10 camp opening. The signings continue a busy spring for Hamilton, who finished first in the East Division at 11-7 in 2025 before losing the Eastern Final to the Montreal Alouettes. The Tiger-Cats have added multiple American players to their camp roster this spring, including linebacker Ray Wilborn, defensive back Michael Jacquet, and tight end Thaddeus Moss. Morgan provides competition at the quarterback position, while Gorczyca adds depth to the offensive line as Hamilton targets a return to the Grey Cup.
Sources: CFL.ca
CFL.ca Reviews the Most Interesting Off-Season Add for Each East Division Club
CFL.ca analyst Pat Steinberg examined the most notable off-season addition for each East Division team on Monday, spotlighting upgrades heading into the 2026 campaign. For the Montreal Alouettes, who went 10-8 in 2025 before losing the Grey Cup to Saskatchewan, the standout move was signing quarterback Dustin Crum as a backup to franchise pivot Davis Alexander. Ottawa, coming off a 4-14 season, appears focused on roster reconstruction ahead of tonight’s draft. The Tiger-Cats added several American players this week, including Thaddeus Moss at tight end and linebacker Ray Wilborn. The piece is part of a series of divisional analyses from CFL.ca that also covered the West Division earlier this month.
Sources: CFL.ca
CFL Set to Launch First Official Season-Long Fantasy Football Game for 2026 Season
The Canadian Football League is preparing to launch its first official season-long fantasy football game ahead of 2026, offering a 13-round draft format and weekly roster management. Leagues will feature four or six participants with a designated commissioner. Each roster includes a QB superflex spot, running back, three receivers, a national flex position, kicker, defence/special teams, five bench spots, and two injured reserve slots. Trades and a waiver wire round out the game’s features. The CFL’s national flex position is a distinctive Canadian twist, requiring at least one non-import player to be started each week. The fantasy draft will take place ahead of the regular season’s June 4 kickoff.
Sources: 3DownNation
Twelve of 72 Players from the 2025 CFL Draft Class Started Regular-Season Games as Rookies
A 3DownNation analysis published Monday found that 12 of the 72 players selected in the 2025 CFL Draft started at least one regular-season game as a rookie, combining for 71 starts across all positions. First overall pick Damien Alford and Tiger Shanks each started six games, while third-overall pick Keelan White, of the University of Montana, started 10 games for the Ottawa Redblacks and caught 46 passes for 482 yards and two touchdowns. Centre Christopher Fortin, drafted eighth by the Calgary Stampeders, started all 16 regular-season games and helped Dedrick Mills win the rushing title. Hamilton linebacker Devin Veresuk started 15 games.
Sources: 3DownNation
Eastern Conference
2025 Final — Eastern Division
1. Hamilton Tiger-Cats — 22 pts (11-7-0)
2. Montreal Alouettes — 20 pts (10-8-0)
3. Toronto Argonauts — 10 pts (5-13-0)
4. Ottawa Redblacks — 8 pts (4-14-0)
2026 regular season opens June 4
Western Conference
2025 Final — Western Division
1. Saskatchewan Roughriders 🏆 — 24 pts (12-6-0)
2. B.C. Lions — 22 pts (11-7-0)
3. Calgary Stampeders — 22 pts (11-7-0)
4. Winnipeg Blue Bombers — 20 pts (10-8-0)
5. Edmonton Elks — 14 pts (7-11-0)
🏆 112th Grey Cup Champions
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.