Saskatchewan Roughriders sign first-round CFL draft pick Malcolm Bell

Photo courtesy: Matthew Mitchell/MSU Athletics Communication

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed Canadian defensive back Malcolm Bell, the team announced on Wednesday.

The six-foot-one, 191-pound cover man was the team’s first-round pick in the recent 2026 CFL Draft, selecting him ninth overall.

Bell made 11 starts at Michigan State University in 2025, making 33 defensive tackles, five tackles for loss, four pass knockdowns, and one sack.

The Montreal native spent the previous four seasons at the University of Connecticut, where he made 94 defensive tackles, 13 pass knockdowns, four tackles for loss, and one forced fumble in 34 games.

At Michigan State’s pro day in March, Bell ran an official 40-yard dash in the 4.50-second range, although multiple scouts clocked him at 4.48 seconds, sources told 3DownNation. He also clocked a 4.36-second short shuttle and 7.13-second three-cone drill.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders recently selected Michigan State defensive back Malcolm Bell with their first-round pick in the 2026 CFL Draft, adding a key piece to pair with Tevaughn Campbell. The team’s other major offseason additions include defensive lineman James Vaughters and returner James Letcher Jr.

All CFL training camps are scheduled to open on May 10. Saskatchewan will play its first preseason game against the Calgary Stampeders on Monday, May 18 and its first regular-season game against the B.C. Lions on Saturday, June 13.

In 2025, Saskatchewan finished first in the West Division standings with a 12-6 record. The team went on to defeat the Montreal Alouettes in the 112th Grey Cup in Winnipeg, marking the club’s first championship in 12 years.