2026 CFL Draft position rankings: fullbacks & tight ends

Edit: 3DownNation

There are just nine 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 and running backs. Make sure to check back tomorrow when we break down the receivers.

Today, we continue by examining the fullbacks and tight ends. Normally, this group of players is an afterthought, tacked on to the end of the running back list. However, this year’s impressive quality of talent demands its own stand-alone article, with several prospects projected to go in the early rounds.

Fullback/Tight end

1. Rohan Jones, University of Arkansas (Montreal, Que.)

A unicorn prospect unlike any we’ve ever seen at the position, Jones has a chance to redefine how fullbacks are utilized in the CFL. The six-foot-two, 238-pound offensive weapon has been dangerous across all three stops of his collegiate career — Maine, Montana State, and Arkansas — and did everything from catching passes to carrying the ball, blocking, and even returning kicks. He wasn’t an every-down tight end in his final year with the Razorbacks, but received the highest grade of any player at the position from ProFootballFocus and amassed 519 yards on just 19 receptions — a stunning 27.9 yard average. The Montrealer’s physical profile compares favourably to that of three-time All-Pro Kyle Juszczyk, which could see him drafted or signed by one of the handful of NFL teams that still prioritize fullbacks in their offence. However, if his smaller frame causes him to slip through the cracks, he will be a CFL offensive coordinator’s dream with the ability to create mismatches from virtually any alignment.

2. Émeric Boutin, Université Laval (L’Assomption, Que.)

A two-time first-team All-Canadian with the Rouge et Or, Boutin possesses burst off the line that rivals most receivers and an extra gear rarely seen from H-backs in the CFL Draft. The six-foot-two, 230-pound target caught just 38 passes in his U Sports career, but made the most of those opportunities by consistently moving the chains or breaking off big runs. Having learned from the best in former NFLer Antony Auclair, he’s already a solid in-line blocker who will have to continue to grow in that area as a pro, while also taking on more special teams responsibilities. Still, it will be his ability to align in the slot and generate receiving mismatches that will see him selected highly, as his game has echoes of another former Laval star, Patrick Lavoie.

3. Jérôme Rancourt, Western University (Quebec City, Que.)

Rancourt is expected to return to school next year, where he has a chance to be the Mustangs’ starting quarterback. However, he will be worth the wait for any CFL team that drafts him due to his unique combination of size and speed. Standing at six-foot-four and 260 pounds, he ran a 4.8-second forty-yard dash at the CFL Combine — almost as fast as some of this year’s top receivers at 60 pounds heavier. Unlike other positional converts, he has already been performing blocking duties in certain packages at Western and shows the ability to overwhelm opponents with size, even if his technique requires some refinement. More importantly, he is an easy projection as an elite short-yardage quarterback, something that got Quincy Vaughn selected in the second round last year with less impressive measurables.

4. Ryan Speight, Wilfrid Laurier University (Brantford, Ont.)

An under-the-radar prospect due to a torn ACL sustained last year, Speight likely won’t be ready for the start of the season, but should still be drafted for his special-teams prowess. The six-foot-two, 227-pounder has long arms for a fullback, which allowed him to get off blocks and amass 27 total tackles during his time at Laurier. He’s also a plus blocker who gets in front and stays there, sustaining through the whistle. His offensive value is more limited, and he doesn’t blow you away athletically, though that hasn’t stopped him from attempting a few hurdles when the ball is in his hands.

5. Dante Daniels, North Carolina State University (Windsor, Ont.)

Daniels has the potential to be one of the biggest boom-or-bust prospects in this class, as he offers unique measurables without a clear-cut CFL fit. The six-foot-six, 271-pounder has primarily been used as a blocking tight end for the Wolfpack, and though his hands are reliable, he doesn’t have the athletic juice to threaten in the passing game. That limits his value north of the border, and any teams curious about potentially converting his massive frame to offensive line will have serious concerns about the seven bench press reps he posted at the NC State pro day. Size has allowed the Windsor native to lean on opponents in the NCAA and make up for his deficiencies in strength and technique, but it will arguably be a detriment to his CFL chances, especially when you consider his lack of special teams experience.

6. Sebastian Parsalidis, Wilfrid Laurier University (Toronto, Ont.)

If you are looking for a fun way to spend an afternoon, just pop in some of Parsalidis’ film. The 2024 second-team All-Canadian might be the most entertaining player to watch in this entire draft, as he doesn’t just block defenders; he obliterates them. Laurier’s mighty mite fullback pops like a firework on contact and keeps driving through until the whistle, allowing him to embarrass much larger opponents. Unfortunately, his five-foot-nine, 224-pound frame is still a major concern when projecting him to the CFL, as his lack of length will be viewed as detrimental on special teams.

7. Evan Basalyga, University of Waterloo (Thunder Bay, Ont.)

Second time could be the charm for the Basalyga family, as Evan looks to accomplish what his older brother, James, couldn’t three years ago and get drafted by a CFL team. Much like his sibling, the Thunder Bay native has primarily worked from the slot during his U Sports career and led the Warriors in receiving yardage each of the past two seasons. The difference is that he has done it at six-foot-one and 234 pounds, which projects him as an H-back at the next level. While his athletic testing suggests that he can translate as a receiving option, Basalyga’s lack of experience as an in-line blocker and weaker special teams film will be concerns.

8. Liam Silverson, Queen’s University (Kingston, Ont.)

There was considerable intrigue surrounding Silverson entering the Invitational Combine, but an underwhelming performance has cooled off the chatter. Still, size is something you cannot teach, and he possesses an imposing six-foot-seven, 250-pound frame. Add in impressive 34.5-inch arms, and a patient team could still view him as a long-term offensive line convert, though, much like Daniels, his 10 reps on the bench will give some pause.

9. Jaxson Isaac, University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (Regina, Sask.)

At six-foot-five and 236 pounds, Isaac offers a big receiving target and a Division I pedigree from stops at UAPB and Eastern Illinois. His production has been limited in college, however, and his average Combine measurables would suggest that wasn’t a result of underutilization. The Regina native has also struggled as a blocker at times and has limited special teams experience, which won’t help his cause with scouts.

10. Sandro Pierini, Western University (Niagara Falls, Ont.)

A high-character player who was a finalist for the Russ Jackson Award last year, Pierini has pro-calibre size at six-foot-one and 239 pounds with 34-inch arms. He’s strong enough to compete, putting up 23 reps on the bench, but is otherwise limited athletically and rarely imposes himself as a result. Working in his favour is the fact that he has the ability to long snap, though it is only an added value skill and unlikely to be a primary position.