The Saskatchewan Roughriders are set to select ninth overall in the upcoming Canadian Football League (CFL) draft, scheduled for Tuesday. As the defending Grey Cup champions, the team will look to bolster its roster with Canadian talent after finishing first in the West Division last season.
Draft Order and Format
The Ottawa Redblacks hold the first overall pick, followed by the Toronto Argonauts at No. 2 and the Edmonton Elks at No. 3. The Roughriders will pick ninth in the first round and have seven more selections across the eight-round draft, which begins at 5 p.m. ET. Following the Canadian draft, a two-round Global draft will take place on Wednesday.
Top Prospects in the 2026 CFL Draft
The CFL Scouting Bureau's spring rankings highlight several standout players. University of Miami defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor, from Ottawa, tops the list for the third consecutive ranking period. Mesidor recorded 60 total tackles, 10.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles in 15 games last season, helping Miami reach the national championship. However, he is considered a strong NFL prospect and may not be selected early in the CFL draft.
Other top prospects include Boston College offensive lineman Logan Taylor, Louisville defensive linemen Rene Konga and Wesley Bailey, Mississippi State offensive lineman Albert Reese IV, Arkansas tight end Rohan Jones, Boston College offensive lineman Kevin Cline, Rutgers linebacker Dariel Djabome, Rutgers defensive back Jett Elad, and Michigan State defensive back Malcolm Bell.
The first U Sports player in the rankings is Queen's offensive lineman Niklas Henning, ranked 14th overall. Among the top 20 prospects, there are seven offensive linemen, four defensive linemen, three wide receivers, two linebackers, two defensive backs, one tight end, and one fullback.
Players Facing Draft Deferrals
New Mexico Highlands University offensive lineman Mahdi Hazime, Bluefield State University defensive lineman Cameron Michaud, and Fordham University Global prospect Jack Low have violated the league's drug policy. As a result, their draft years have been deferred by one year.
Roughriders' Draft Targets
Given that several top CFL prospects may attract NFL interest, it is uncertain which players the Roughriders will target with their first-round pick. However, the team has clear positional needs, particularly at Canadian receiver. After releasing receiver Ajou Ajou earlier this month for violating the team's code of conduct, the Roughriders have only five Canadian receivers under contract.
Potential receiver targets in the top 20 include Hawaii's Nick Cencacle (Montreal), Coastal Carolina's Malick Meiga (Montreal), and North Dakota's Nate DeMontagnac (Mississauga). The Roughriders will also need to address other positions, such as offensive line and defensive back, to maintain their championship-caliber roster.
