Hamilton Tiger-Cats sign first-round CFL draft pick Jonathan Denis, seven others

Photo courtesy: Josh McDaniel/Louisiana Tech Athletics

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have signed Canadian offensive lineman Jonathan Denis, the fifth overall pick in the 2026 CFL Draft. As all rookie contract are three years in length, he is now tied to the team through 2028.

The six-foot-two, 313-pound blocker was originally a four-star recruit and the No. 6-ranked guard prospect in the entire U.S. He spent his first four collegiate seasons at Oregon and Miami, though he rarely saw the field after suffering ACL tears in his right and left knees.

After getting a clean bill of health, Denis started at Central Missouri in 2024 and Louisiana Tech in 2025. The 24-year-old has experience starting at centre and guard and is a high-floor. According to draft analyst John Hodge, Denis is a pro-ready prospect who is ready to make an impact in the CFL.

The Montreal native was raised primarily in Miami, though he regularly visited his hometown as a child to spend time with his father, older sister, and extended family.

The Tiger-Cats have also signed 2026 CFL Draft selections Devynn Cromwell, Brayden Szeman, Loik Gagne, Marc Rondeau, Aamarii Notice, and Kyler Laing.

Cromwell, the team’s third-round selection, posted elite testing numbers at Michigan State’s pro day, though he also suffered a meniscus injury that will force him to miss at least the first portion of the 2026 season. Were it not for the injury, he would likely have been drafted higher.

The Toronto native was a dominant halfback at Guelph in 2021, earning a second-team U Sports All-Canadian selection. He then transferred to the NCAA Division I ranks with stops at Texas Tech and Michigan State, making a combined three starts.

Szeman made 32 starts at centre for the University of Calgary. The six-foot-one, 302-pound native of Vernon, B.C. was Hamilton’s fourth-round pick.

Gagne made 18.5 total tackles and one tackle for loss over eight games at Concordia University in 2025. The 23-year-old native of Montreal was the Tiger-Cats’ fifth-round pick.

Rondeau, the team’s sixth-round pick, was born in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast and raised in Quebec City. The six-foot, 195-pound defender made 122.5 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and four forced fumbles over 30 games at the University of Ottawa.

Notice made 18 total tackles, one tackle for loss, and 0.5 sacks over 13 games at Coastal Carolina in 2025. The six-foot-three, 286-pound native of Toronto was Hamilton’s seventh-round pick.

Laing finished his collegiate career at Mercyhurst University, where he made 45 total tackles, eight tackles for loss, four sacks, one interception, and one pass knockdown over 27 games. He was the team’s eight-round pick.

Malick Meiga, Hamilton’s second-round pick, is currently under contract with the Carolina Panthers.

The Tiger-Cats also punter Nick Haberer after he was selected in the 2026 CFL Global Draft. The 25-year-old spent last season at Vanderbilt University, where he averaged 46.9 yards on 26 punts. The native of Sunshine Coast, Australia previously played at Washington State.

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats recently selected Louisiana Tech offensive lineman Jonathan Denis with their first-round pick in the 2026 CFL Draft, adding depth up front. The team’s other major offseason additions include quarterback Tre Ford, receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr., and linebacker Wynton McManis.

All CFL training camps are scheduled to open on May 10. Hamilton will play its first preseason game against the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday, May 23 and its first regular-season game against the Montreal Alouettes on Thursday, June 4.

In 2025, Hamilton finished first in the East Division standings with an 11-7 record, though the team lost the East Final to the Montreal Alouettes.