Elks make linebacker Dublanko No. 1 pick

Argos take Laval wide receiver Mital with fifth selection

The Edmonton Elks selected linebacker Joel Dublanko first in the CFL draft Tuesday night.

Edmonton had the top pick after finishing last in the West Division with a 4-14 record.

The six-foot-three, 240-pound Dublanko was regarded as the most pro-ready draft prospect. After his college career at Cincinnati, he spent time in the NFL with the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks before playing in 2023 with the USFL’s Philadelphia Stars.

An American, he was eligible for the CFL draft because he has a Canadian parent.

The Ottawa Redblacks followed by taking receiver Nick Mardner second. The six-foot-six, 206pound native of Oakville, Ont., played in the NCAA with Hawaii, Clemson and Auburn. Over his collegiate career, Mardner had 81 receptions for 1,488 yards (18.4-yard average) and 11 TDs. Mardner was invited to the New York Giants rookie mini-camp.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders, preparing for their first season under rookie head coach Corey Mace, looked to shore up their offensive line at No. 3, taking Toronto native Kyle Hergel of Boston College. The six-foot-two, 300-pound guard has signed a free-agent deal with the NFL’s New Orleans Saints.

The Calgary Stampeders took McGill defensive back Benjamin Labrosse at No. 4. The six-foot, 190pound Labrosse was a first-team all-Canadian at cornerback in 2022 but was also invited to the Giants’ rookie mini-camp.

The Toronto Argonauts, who dealt Canadian receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr. to Edmonton during the off-season, landed Laval’s Kevin Mital with the fifth pick. The 2022 Hec Crighton Trophy winner impressed at the CFL combine, posting a 4.58-second 40-yard dash as well as 20 reps in the 225-pound bench press.

B.C. then selected Windsor offensive lineman George Una, a sixfoot-three, 300-pound Toronto native. Hamilton took Laval offensive lineman Nathaniel Dumoulin-Duguay, a two-time all-Canadian, at No. 7. The six-foot-two, 293-pound Rimouski, Que., is a two-time allCanadian.

Calgary acquired the No. 8 spot from Winnipeg and used it to select Christy Nkanu, an offensive lineman from Washington State.

The Grey Cup-champion Montreal Alouettes concluded the opening round by taking Memphis linebacker Geoffrey Cantin-Arku. The six-foot-four, 235-pound Levis, Que., who began his college career at Syracuse, was invited to the Miami Dolphins’ rookie mini-camp.