Edit: 3DownNation
There are just seven days remaining until the 2026 CFL Draft, with hundreds of players waiting to see their pro football dreams realized on Tuesday, April 28, at 7:00 p.m. EDT.
As always, 3DownNation will be your go-to source for extensive coverage of all eight rounds. Analysts J.C. Abbott and Ben Grant will be live on YouTube and Facebook for the entirety of the selection process, while John Hodge will keep you up-to-the-minute by breaking down every pick as it happens on the LIVE blog.
In the lead-up to the festivities, our team has collaborated on prospect rankings at every position, which will culminate in the unveiling of our annual Top 25. These evaluations are our own, taking into account film study, physical measurables, Combine performance, and anonymous feedback from CFL scouts and coaches. Players are ranked based on the strength of their on-field projection, with off-the-field factors such as health or legal concerns included as context in the write-up.
We have already ranked the quarterbacks, running backs, fullbacks, tight ends, and receivers. Make sure to check back tomorrow when we break down the defensive linemen.
Today, we continue by examining the offensive linemen. After a number of lean years, this could finally be the crop of Canadian blockers that replenishes the league’s trench talent, with a bevy of top-tier players available and plenty of depth outside the top rounds.
Offensive line
Photo courtesy: Boston College Football
1) Logan Taylor, Boston College (Lunenburg, N.S.)
Taylor is expected to be selected on Day 3 of the upcoming NFL Draft, joining Tyrone Williams as just the second player from the province of Nova Scotia to ever hear their name called. That should result in him falling into the later rounds of the CFL Draft, though teams north of the border would love to get their hands on the versatile blocker. The six-foot-seven, 314-pounder is viewed by most NFL evaluators as a guard, though he has extensive starting experience at every position except centre and is more than athletic enough to play tackle in Canada. The three-time All-ACC selection plays higher than ideal and lacks elite play strength, but makes up for it by driving his knees through the whistle and finishing blocks with a special type of zest.
2) Albert Reese IV, Mississippi State University (Edmonton, Alta.)
A mountainous right tackle with an SEC pedigree, Reese stands at nearly six-foot-seven and 330 pounds with almost 35-inch arms. You couldn’t ask for a better frame for the position, which is why the Edmontonian is expected to sign as an NFL undrafted free agent, lowering his CFL stock. He has been exposed at times for being too heavy-footed and doesn’t always take advantage of his length in the way that you would hope, punching too narrowly and providing a soft shoulder to opponents. However, his losses have come against some of the planet’s most elite pass rushers and need to be graded on a curve by CFL standards. At his best, he can overwhelm his matchups with pure mass and extend the arc with a pterodactyl wingspan — traits so rare in Canada that they will be worth a potential multi-year wait.
3) Kevin Cline, Boston College (Boca Raton, Fla.)
A recent addition to this year’s draft class, Cline’s feet-dragging in submitting his CFL paperwork could give teams pause regarding his commitment level, but he’s a consensus first-round prospect when judged on talent alone. Though he didn’t become a full-time starter until his senior year with the Eagles, in part due to earlier injuries, the six-foot-six, 316-pounder was arguably better than Taylor this past season, and it was his emergence at right tackle that allowed the more highly-touted Canadian to move inside to guard. He’s a load when leaning on opponents in the run game, was the engine-driver on combo blocks, and has been effective when climbing to the second level. He got a solid punch and anchor in pass protection, but his lack of foot quickness does show up and has left him with considerably less NFL attention than his teammate. At worst, Cline can be a high-level CFL guard, and whether or not he signs as a UDFA could dramatically alter the selection order on April 28.
4) Giordano Vaccaro, Purdue University (Winnipeg, Man.)
The top offensive lineman available who is guaranteed to be in the CFL next year, NFL teams won’t be looking at Vaccaro because he saw extremely limited play time after transferring to Purdue last season. Scouts in Canada aren’t scared by that, knowing the 2024 J.P. Metras Trophy winner to be an elite player from his time at the University of Manitoba. The two-time All-Canadian guard is explosive off the snap and violent on contact, running through blocks like he has some place to be. Some evaluators feel he’ll be limited to the centre position at the next level due to his six-foot-two, 307-pound frame and shorter arms, but with so few elite offensive linemen in the league, it is hard to be picky about which spot you’d like them to play.
Photo courtesy: James Paddle-Grant/Queen’s Athletics
5) Niklas Henning, Queen’s University (Milton, Ont.)
A certified super-freak by offensive line standards, Henning is on the short list of players who have been named an All-Canadian at two different positions. The converted tight end is understandably raw, given that he has only played tackle for two seasons, but he has the pure athletic skills to compensate for his technical mistakes and the sky-high potential to become a ratio-breaking tackle with the right coaching. The German-born big man still moves like a receiver in space and has even attracted NFL attention after running a 4.9-second forty-yard dash at six-foot-six and 298 pounds. He’s since added another 10 pounds, making him a strong candidate for a rookie mini-camp offer and the odds-on favourite to become the first U Sports player drafted this year.
6) Spencer Walsh, Wilfrid Laurier University (Brantford, Ont.)
You would have heard Walsh’s name a lot more frequently this draft cycle had he not suffered a torn ACL late last season, likely ruling him out until at least September. The Jaws theme song seems to play when the second-team OUA all-star is asked to pull, as he is a fluid athlete in space who will finish you with violent intent. The six-foot-three, 290-pound tackle will have to add some weight and kick inside to guard at the next level, but he has patient, low hands in pass protection to stonewall defenders. If healthy, he may have snuck into the top two rounds, but will now be a high-value futures pick for a team willing to wait through the rehab.
7) Jonathan Denis, Louisiana Tech University (Montreal, Que.)
Raised primarily in Florida, Denis was a consensus four-star recruit coming out of high school who committed to Oregon and later transferred to Miami. Back-to-back ACL tears derailed his career at those powerhouse programs, but he succeeded in resurrecting his career at the Division II level with Central Missouri in 2024. His performance after transferring back to the FBS last season was strong, as the squat six-foot-two, 313-pound guard set a firm pocket and was an effective wall-off blocker in the run game. Though lateral quickness and balance are concerns, he’s a high-floor prospect not dissimilar from last year’s top lineman, Christopher Fortin. However, his history of knee problems and the fact that he has never played a fully healthy season, even in his best years, could make some teams skittish.
8) Darius Bell, East Carolina University (Hamilton, Ont.)
Bell is prized for both his strong character references and considerable versatility, making starts at every position except right tackle during his collegiate career at Maine and East Carolina. The six-foot-four, 303-pound blocker is best described as a jack of all trades and a master of none, as he continued to surrender a high number of pressures even after moving to centre last season. He doesn’t play with great pad level and tends to allow defenders into his chest, consistently getting knocked back on first contact, especially when facing nose tackles. Concerns regarding his anchor and play strength should be mitigated to some degree against CFL defences, and he does show solid lateral movement on Zone blocks, which will serve him well in the right system.
Photo: Paul Swanson/CFL.ca
9) Jez Janvier, University of Southern Mississippi (Montreal, Que.)
Watching Janvier is an experience filled with electric highs and baffling lows. The six-foot-five, 314-pounder has an athletic build, ideal length with 34-inch arms, and plenty of explosive power, making it easy to see why Eastern Michigan briefly flipped him to defensive tackle in 2023. He made five starts at guard the following season, imposing his will as a puller and flashing the ability to manhandle opponents when he gets his massive mitts on them. However, for every highlight, there are two plays in which he whiffs entirely or ends up on the ground, which is why he only saw action on 11 total offensive snaps after transferring to Southern Miss. The top-end traits are worth a roll of the dice, but just how high will be dictated by how much each team trusts its coaching staff’s ability to develop offensive linemen.
10) Brayden Szeman, University of Calgary (Vernon, B.C.)
A natural centre with some edge, Szeman is a good enough athlete that he was even able to play tackle effectively at six-foot-one and 302 pounds with sub-32-inch arms. Safe to say that won’t be happening at the CFL level, but the Dinos standout has sensational first-step quickness and consistent inside hands that could earn him a starting role as a snapper down the line. Don’t be surprised if this mid-round pick gets looked back on fondly.
11) Ethan Graham, University of Regina (Regina, Sask.)
A 2025 Canada West at left tackle, Graham doesn’t quite have the feet to start there in the CFL, but is one of the last prospects available with both the frame and measurables to pinch hit without giving your quarterback a panic attack. The six-foot-five, 316-pounder could stand to get a little bit meaner between the whistles and drop his pad level, but is solid and dependable with good technique and enough mass to regularly move the pile.
12) Alassane Diouf, Université de Montréal (Sherbrooke, Que.)
A three-time All-Canadian at guard and one of the driving forces behind the Carabins’ Vanier Cup-winning offence, Diouf was unable to take part in Combine testing due to injury but should be ready come training camp. At under six-foot-two and 302 pounds with short arms, he may be asked to move to centre as a pro, but he possesses all the natural stopping power and rugged physicality you could want in an interior prospect. Having him uncovered more often may be advantageous, as the reigning RSEQ Lineman of the Year does a fantastic job looking for work and makes sure opponents feel him when delivering the knockout blow.
13) Frank Vreugdenhil, McMaster University (Belleville, Ont.)
An under-the-radar athlete, Vreugdenhil is one of the heaviest players available in this class at six-foot-three and 321 pounds, but is among the fastest in a straight line and was one of just four offensive linemen to broad jump over nine feet — with Taylor, Henning, and Janvier being some of the others. The former OUA bronze medallist in the shot put had never played football before walking on at the University of Toronto, and didn’t see game action until he was with the Hamilton Hurricanes in the CJFL. With just two years of high-level starting experience under his belt, both of which came at right tackle and not at his natural position of guard, there is still a ton of developmental upside remaining for a player who already possesses pounding feet and a cement anchor.
Photo courtesy: Kyle Rodriguez/Guelph Athletics
14) Mitchel Schechinger, University of Guelph (Sarnia, Ont.)
A three-time OUA all-star and one-time second-team All-Canadian at guard, Schechinger was a two-sport star for the Gryphons, winning consecutive U Sports wrestling bronze medals in the 125-kilogram division. You can certainly see how that has translated into his performance on the football field, as he shows nimble feet and plenty of upper-body torque to put opponents on the ground. He hasn’t been quite as effective at generating vertical displacement due to his lack of bulk, but that should be slightly less of a concern now that he’s checking in at six-foot-two and 301 pounds, making him a viable centre candidate.
15) Keegan O’Neil, Western University (Belle River, Ont.)
A two-time OUA all-star at guard for one of the country’s most consistent rushing attacks, O’Neil is keeping the Mustangs’ road grading tradition alive. The six-foot-three, 313-pounder is plenty strong, as evidenced by his Combine-leading 30 bench press reps, and shows a willingness to finish blocks, though he doesn’t pop as hard as you’d expect on initial contact and needs a second for the pistons to start pumping.
16) Carter Stuart, University of Alberta (Calgary, Alta.)
Stuart deserves a round of applause for his body transformation, as he dropped over 25 pounds of bad weight between the 2025 East-West Bowl and the 2026 CFL Combine. That makes the now six-foot-five, 304-pound left tackle’s tape more difficult to evaluate, as you are witnessing the struggles of a much heavier player. His vastly improved testing numbers, particularly in the change-of-direction drills, suggest he is more valuable with his new physique, though he can no longer get by purely mauling opponents with size.
17) Jack Warrack, University of Saskatchewan (Strathmore, Alta.)
The Canada West Rookie of the Year in 2022, Warrack defied convention when offensive line guru Scott Flory trusted him to start at left tackle in his first season. The six-foot-five, 294-pounder hasn’t seen the growth that many expected since then, and his Combine measurables are borderline disqualifying, particularly the 12 reps he put up on the bench press. Still, the two-time Vanier Cup participant has excellent length, and his tape isn’t nearly as bad as the numbers would suggest, showing a heavy-footed but dependable blocker whose stiffness might challenge a move to guard.
18) Chris Pashula, University of Calgary (Calgary, Alta.)
Pashula posted some truly eye-popping numbers to earn promotion from the Invitational Combine, including a broad jump over nine feet and a lightning-quick 4.72-second short shuttle. Those are two of the drills with the strongest correlation to offensive line success, which begs the question as to why Pashula wasn’t more dominant with the Dinos. The six-foot-three, 314-pounder has started at both tackle and guard dating back to his rookie season and hasn’t consistently demonstrated the explosive first step those numbers suggest, but it could be unlocked with better support around him.
19) Victor Olaniran, University of Manitoba (Winnipeg, Man.)
The underwear Olympics are frequently unkind to big men, but even by that standard, Olaniran is a horrific Combine tester. That’s tough to comprehend if you watched him play right tackle for the Bisons, where the six-foot-two, 304-pounder was a rugged tone-setter and effective puller able to square up defenders on the move. That skillset earned him a call-up from the Invitational Combine, but even if you’re willing to throw out all the measurables, the Winnipeg native’s frame does not give him tackle value in the CFL, and the fact that he battled a career-threatening injury early on at Manitoba could be a red flag.
Photo courtesy: MTA Athletics
20) Chidera Oragui, St. Francis Xavier University (Halifax, N.S.)
Oragui has a stocky six-foot-three, 312-pound frame, broad shoulders and excellent arm length, which has intrigued CFL teams. He generates good push in the run game thanks to his girth and powerful hips, but has never been regarded as a premier tackle in the comparatively weak AUS. His lack of agility and quickness is a serious concern, and the strength of the competition he faced won’t afford him the benefit of the doubt.
21) Matthew Ljuden, University of Alberta (Grand Prairie, Alta.)
A former second-team All-Canadian like Ljuden normally wouldn’t be ranked this low, but all bets are off when you’re five-foot-11 and 304 pounds with sub-32-inch arms. Even as a true-blue centre prospect, that is a tough sell for CFL teams, though his athletic testing numbers are exceptional, and he has shown more than enough strength to hold up against bigger defensive tackles in university.
22) Nick Gidaro, University of Waterloo (Vaughan, Ont.)
For all their considerable struggles in recent years, the Warriors do have a history of producing solid offensive linemen, and Gidaro was the team’s best last season. The right tackle had fans entering the Invitational Combine thanks to his athleticism and checked most of the requisite testing boxes, though he’ll need to add weight and strength to his six-foot-three, 293-pound frame in order to play guard effectively in the CFL.
23) Riley Scheffer, University of British Columbia (Saanichton, B.C.)
Scheffer had the unique distinction of being the player at the CFL Combine with the strongest grip, but teams will be more concerned about whether he can actually get his hands on opponents, given his 31-inch arms. Though he’s moved around effectively for the T-Birds, that pretty much limits the six-foot-four, 284-pounder to the centre position, and he’s light even for that spot without a frame that lends itself to additional bulk or many compensating athletic traits.
24) Franklin Ibelo, University of Calgary (Calgary, Alta.)
There are developmental projects, and then there is Franklin Ibelo. The six-foot-six, 340-pound behemoth has been largely ineffective as a defensive tackle for the Dinos due to his unrefined technique and stiffness, but runs a very impressive 5.2-second forty-yard dash for his size. With his nearly 35-inch arms offering yet another measurable you can’t teach, there are some who feel he could be nurtured into an offensive tackle. He’s actually played that spot before, but you wouldn’t have known it from his reps at the CFL Combine, which left me believing this possibility is a true long shot.
25) Sahill Bhullar, Towson University (Thornhill, Ont.)
Bhullar may no longer be pursuing pro football, given that he failed to show up to the Invitational Combine, but six-foot-six, 295-pound tackles with Division I experience don’t grow on trees. The Waterloo transfer played extremely limited minutes in his time at Towson, but didn’t look out of place when he did and may still merit a developmental flyer.
