Joel Dublanko, the top-ranked prospect in the 2023 CFL Draft, was selected first overall by the Edmonton Elks on Tuesday night. The six-foot-three, 240-pound linebacker played collegiately at Cincinnati and spent time in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks before playing in the USFL with the Philadelphia Stars in 2023. Dublanko, who is eligible for the CFL draft because his father is from Edmonton, was widely regarded as the most pro-ready prospect in the draft.
In all, 74 players were taken over eight rounds in the draft. The Ottawa Redblacks selected receiver Nick Mardner with the second overall pick, while the Saskatchewan Roughriders took offensive lineman Kyle Hergel at No. 3. The Calgary Stampeders selected defensive back Benjamin Labrosse at No. 4, and the Toronto Argonauts took receiver Kevin Mital with the fifth pick.
The B.C. Lions selected offensive lineman George Una at No. 6, and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats took offensive lineman Nathaniel Dumoulin Duguay at No. 7. Calgary acquired the eighth pick from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and selected offensive lineman Christy Nkanu, while the Montreal Alouettes concluded the opening round by taking linebacker Geoffrey Cantin-Arku at No. 9.
Winnipeg’s first pick came in the second round, No. 13 overall, with UConn receiver Kevens Clercius. The Blue Bombers then took Delaware State running back Michael Chris-Ike at No. 14, and three picks later, they selected Buffalo offensive lineman Gabe Wallace.
Hamilton selected Wilfrid Laurier defensive end Luke Brubacher at No. 16, and B.C. took UBC tackle Theo Benedet at No. 15. Three of the four Canadians taken in last weekend’s NFL draft were selected in the CFL Draft, with Winnipeg taking UBC tackle Giovanni Manu in the fifth round, Calgary picking Arizona tight end Tanner McLachlan in the sixth, and B.C. selecting Penn State tight end Theo Johnson in the eighth. Toronto also made a futures pick, taking Howard tackle Anim Dankwah in the sixth round.
