Offensive lineman Giordano Vaccaro appears to have cemented his stock as a first-round pick in the 2026 CFL Draft.
The native of Winnipeg, Man. measured six-foot-two and 307 pounds at his pro day on Wednesday. He recorded 28 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press, which would have tied for the lead among offensive linemen at the 2025 CFL Combine and ranked seventh among offensive linemen at the 2026 NFL Combine.
Vaccaro also recorded a 5.38-second forty-yard dash, 4.83-second shuttle, 7.94-second three-cone drill, 29-inch vertical jump, and eight-foot, eight-inch broad jump. Only one offensive lineman at the 2025 CFL Combine had a better vertical jump, while three had better broad jumps. Vaccaro’s forty-yard dash and shuttle would have ranked near the middle of the pack.
According to sources, the event was attended by scouts from seven CFL teams: the B.C. Lions, Calgary Stampeders, Edmonton Elks, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Toronto Argonauts, and Ottawa Redblacks. The Saskatchewan Roughriders and Montreal Alouettes were the only two absent CFL teams.
The 22-year-old transferred to Purdue University for the 2025 season where he mostly filled a depth role along the offensive line. He saw the field primarily on special teams before getting an opportunity to play right guard in the team’s season finale against Indiana University, who went on to win the National Championship Game.
The blocker started his collegiate career at the University of Manitoba where he started at left tackle in 2022. In 2023, he moved to left guard where he was named a Canada West all-star and a first-team U Sports All-Canadian. He earned both accolades again in 2024, when he also won the J. P. Metras Trophy as the top lineman in all of U Sports football.
Vaccaro is ranked No. 19 on the scouting bureau rankings for the 2026 CFL Draft and projects as a first-round pick.
The 2026 CFL Draft is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28 at 7:00 p.m. EST.
