2026 CFL Draft position rankings: defensive linemen

Edit: 3DownNation

There are just six 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, receivers, and offensive linemen. Make sure to check back tomorrow when we break down the linebackers.

Today, we continue by examining the defensive linemen. This class has historic talent at the very top, though the CFL may never see those players. The depth isn’t nearly as impressive, which could place a premium on contributors.

Defensive line

1) Akheem Mesidor, University of Miami (Ottawa, Ont.)

There is no use wasting too much time here, as Mesidor’s odds of ever playing in the CFL are only slightly higher than yours or mine. The six-foot-three, 260-pound pass rusher is projected to become just the sixth Canadian ever selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, and it’s not hard to see why. The All-American honouree has been a productive force since he first stepped on the field at West Virginia and looked like a man amongst boys during the Hurricanes’ run to the College Football Playoff National Championship, in part because he’s 25 years old. Even in the unlikely event that this year’s definitive top prospect completely flames out south of the border, he’ll have accrued generational wealth before the CFL even gets to make their sales pitch.

2) Rene Konga, University of Louisville (Ottawa, Ont.)

Just a few months ago, CFL scouts were still hopeful that the NFL might overlook Konga and let him go undrafted. That no longer seems like a realistic possibility after the second-team All-ACC defensive tackle posted a ridiculous 4.79-second forty-yard dash at his pro day at six-foot-four and 298 pounds. After securing a handful of Top 30 visits, the Ottawa native could be selected as early as Day 2 of the NFL Draft and won’t last long if he reaches Day 3, sending his CFL stock plummeting. He’ll need to get stronger and more technically refined at the next level, but you can’t teach his level of explosive twitch as an interior penetrator.

3) Wesley Bailey, University of Louisville (Ottawa, Ont.)

Bailey hasn’t secured the same level of draft hype as his teammate with the Cardinals, but his own sensational testing numbers should ensure an undrafted free agent contract at the bare minimum. The six-foot-five, 260-pound edge rusher has a quick get-off and excellent bend to turn the corner, effectively swiping hands on speed rushes. He does show flashes of converting speed-to-power and has plenty of length thanks to his 34-inch arms, but doesn’t utilize it as consistently as he should. The bigger concern is his lack of physicality in the run game, though CFL teams won’t lose a wink of sleep over that if they have the chance to bring the ratio-breaking pass rusher north.

4) Nuer Gatkuoth, Wake Forest University (Edmonton, Alta.)

There is a substantial gap between the first three players on this list and Gatkuoth in terms of raw talent and athletic ability, which should make him available for CFL teams much sooner. The six-foot-three, 239-pound stand-up edge rusher looks longer than he is due to a skinny build and lacks an elite first step, though he has shown enough bend and motor to generate consistent pressure dating back to his freshman season at Colorado State. The Edmontonian has also proven to be surprisingly effective on the rare occasions he’s been asked to drop in coverage, providing some intriguing scheme possibilities, though his limited play strength and weaknesses in the run game will be concerns. Limited to just three seasons in college due to an eligibility issue, his development may not have peaked yet.

5) Tarick Polius, University of Regina (Newmarket, Ont.)

There is a high probability that Polius goes completely undrafted, as he is charged with committing an offence for a criminal organization, trafficking fentanyl and possessing the proceeds of crime. However, that legal situation could be resolved as early as September, and lesser players have been given second chances after more heinous acts. Prior to his arrest in February 2025, the Canada West all-star was viewed as a potential future NFL prospect thanks to his droolworthy six-foot-seven, 310-pound frame, impressive length, intriguing athletic ability, and raw power. There was interest from NCAA Division I programs to bring him in as a transfer for his final year of eligibility, and the former CJFL star may still have the option to pursue that path if he’s cleared in court, raising the question of whether now is even the correct time for a CFL team to absorb the P.R. risk associated with securing his rights.

6) Tristan Marois, University of Colorado (Saint-Bruno, Que.)

Marois rarely got the chance to show off his defensive skill set in Boulder, being primarily relegated to special teams duties. In some ways, that’s a feather in his cap from a CFL standpoint, as there aren’t many six-foot-five, 249-pounders with his proven track record of success in the game’s third phase. You have to go back to 2022, when he played for Robert Morris, to watch significant pass rush reps, but that tape is promising, and his performance at the CFL Combine reassured scouts that he has more to offer. His combination of size, pedigree, and athletic measurables should see him selected earlier than his college production would suggest.

7) Charlie Parks, University of Saskatchewan (Regina, Sask.)

The reigning Canada West Lineman of the Year, Parks’ production surged last season after healing from a back injury that limited him in 2024.  The six-foot-four, 232-pound defensive end is a classic high-motor U Sports pass rusher who lacks ideal mass and length, but checks enough of the athletic boxes and keeps working relentlessly around the arc. The first-team All-Canadian will have to beat the odds to become a CFL starter, but will offer quality depth in the rotation and be able to contribute on special teams.

8) Steven Kpehe, Queen’s University (London, Ont.)

Defensively, Kpehe has never been a dominant force, is technically unrefined, and suffers from considerable stiffness, which is why he had to take the road less travelled through the Invitational Combine. However, once you get past the top tier of players at this position and enter the realm of depth additions, his pure athletic measurables look pretty enticing. The six-foot-one, 245-pound defensive end should be able to translate his 4.7-second forty-yard dash into a role chasing down returners on kickoff, which could afford him the grace period to develop his explosive burst and length into a more reliable pass rush toolbox.

9) Aamarii Notice, Coastal Carolina University (Toronto, Ont.)

Notice was a consensus Top 20 prospect for much of this year, as scouts loved the look of the six-foot-three, 286-pound nose tackle and admired his polished technique at Idaho. Unfortunately, though he remained a solid interior gap plugger after transferring up to the FBS, the jump in competition put his physical limitations on display, and his pro day testing numbers are essentially disqualifying. He’ll likely still get selected late because few have better initial hands, longer arms, or superior play strength, but his ceiling for development is capped and will scare away some teams entirely.

10) Natale Frangione, Georgetown University (Ottawa, Ont.)

Another defensive tackle who would be higher if judged purely on the merits of his tape, Frangione was a sparkplug on the interior for the Hoyas with daggers for hands and a motor that won’t quit. That may not be enough to overcome the fact that the UBC transfer is only five-foot-10 and 267 pounds with 29-inch arms — a non-starter for the majority of teams. He has been cross-training as a fullback to offer additional value, but did not get the benefit of performing at the CFL Combine due to a pulled hamstring, adding considerable extra ambiguity to his evaluation. The third-team All-Patriot League selection could be the next Ettore Lattanzio, but very few others have ever beaten the odds at that size.

11) Brody Burke, Carleton University (Ottawa, Ont.)

At six-foot-four and 256 pounds, Burke doesn’t have the bend or fluidity to threaten off the edge, but he did his best work at three-tech with the Ravens. His 34-inch arms give him natural levers, and his first step is explosive enough to penetrate early, though he won’t win many foot races in pursuit. Hamstring and shoulder injuries limited him last season, but there are traits worthy of development here if he can add some weight and become a full-time interior player.

12) Ebenezer Dibula, Kennesaw State University (Ottawa, Ont.)

Dibula struggled to see the field for the Owls last season, and his tape from Bethune-Cookman shows a raw and inconsistent player who rarely attacks with a plan and quickly runs out of steam. With that said, there aren’t many six-foot-one, 278-pounders who can run a 4.9-second forty-yard dash, and you can see him chase down plays across the field that he has no business pursuing. The right coaching could shape his linear speed and strength into more than a one-trick bull rusher.

13) Nathan Carabatsakis, Robert Morris University (Winnipeg, Man.)

Carabatsakis has shown the ability to play inside or outside at six-foot-three and 252 pounds, though his below-average play strength and tendency to miss tackles have made him a liability in the run game at times. He showed enough bend and functional hand usage to be an effective effort rusher against weaker competition, a result that he replicated at the CFL Combine, but the lack of high-end physical traits limits his projection.

14) Carter Hooper, University of South Dakota (Burlington, Ont.)

A six-foot-five, 257-pound defensive end who split his career between UConn and an FCS powerhouse really shouldn’t be this low down the list, but Hooper’s game just doesn’t inspire much passion. He has been a dependable edge-setting defensive end in the run game, but doesn’t have the power to consistently shed blocks or the athletic juice to threaten as a pass rusher. He has a stable floor and could be better suited to playing inside in the CFL, but the ceiling is low.

15) Marcus Tenney, Wilfrid Laurier University (Minesing, Ont.)

A second-team OUA all-star, Tenney is undersized for a defensive tackle at six-foot-one and 278 pounds with stubby 31-inch arms. That is a concern for controlling blockers at the CFL level, but he flashed some good hand usage to penetrate in university and has exceptional strength at the point of attack. After testing very well at the Invitational Combine, he could sneak up boards if a team is willing to overlook the length deficiency.

16) Kyler Laing, Mercyhurst University (Tallahassee, Fla.)

An undersized edge rusher at six-foot-one and 225 pounds, Laing was reasonably productive for the Lakers last year and had a solid season with Buffalo early in his career as well. The problems for him mirror those that caused his brother, Trey, to drop to the seventh round last year, as he has an extensive injury history, poor length, and limited first-step quickness. His technique and willingness to keep going around the ring saw him punch above his weight class in college, but the pro game is a different beast.

17) Robert Keyes-Wilson, University of Guelph (Mississauga, Ont.)

Keyes-Wilson showed some good lateral quickness and motor with the Gryphons, finding success as an interior rusher at six-foot-three and 271 pounds despite suspect length and play strength. The 2024 second-team OUA all-star was unable to take part in the Invitational Combine due to a Lisfranc sprain and won’t be ready anytime soon, which probably prevents a team from taking a shot on him late.

18) Nathan Jule, University of Saskatchewan (Saskatoon, Sask.)

A wild-card prospect, Jule has probably been removed from several boards after missing the past two seasons with injuries. However, the six-foot-one, 245-pound lineman would like to return to the field and was a Canada West all-star in 2023, leading the Huskies with four sacks. He was slightly heavier then, playing primarily along the interior, but has some versatility and could even be viewed as a positional convert to fullback.

19) Cameron Michaud, Bluefield State University (Calgary, Ont.)

A former CJFL All-Canadian, Michaud’s career has included stops with the Calgary Colts, University of Guelph, Okanagan Sun, Saginaw Valley State, and Bluefield State. He’s got an intriguing frame at six-foot-five and 264 pounds, but didn’t test as well as hoped at the Invitational Combine and hasn’t dominated against Division II competition. Add in an arrest last year for retail fraud, and teams may not see the value in investing in a project.

20) Anthony Montas Leipert, University of Regina (Regina, Sask.)

Built like a fire hydrant, Montas Leipert is a dependable and unflashy player for the Rams. His surprisingly strong athletic testing numbers might get him more of a look if he weren’t five-foot-10 and 255 pounds with sub-29-inch arms, but his ceiling is probably as a U Sports player unless he hits a growth spurt.