The Winnipeg Blue Bombers filled a couple of immediate needs, grabbed a prospect rising up the draft lists and in one night’s work during the CFL Canadian Draft got bigger and nastier at the line of scrimmage.
And nobody likes big and nasty more than GM Kyle Walters, head coach Mike O’Shea and the club’s faithful who regularly pack Princess Auto Stadium.
The Blue Bombers made nine picks in Tuesday’s draft led by Wake Forest defensive end Nuer Gatkuoth fourth overall — he’ll be attending rookie mini-camp with the Denver Broncos in the next couple of weeks — and made one trade with the Ottawa Redblacks during the proceedings to move up three spots in the second round to 10th overall, sending the 13th selection and a second-rounder next year to select tight end Dante Daniels of North Carolina State.
Nuer Gatkuoth
The club then selected Boston College offensive lineman Kevin Cline 20th overall. He signed as an undrafted free agent with the Miami Dolphins on Sunday but was considered one of the best offensive linemen in this year’s draft class.
Winnipeg then grabbed two linebackers in Charles-Elliot Bouliane of the Université de Montreal and York University’s Brody Clark, a defensive back in Ethan Stuart of McMaster University, a pair of receivers in Ben Britton of Calgary and Joshua Jack of St. Mary’s and kicker Brady Lidster of the University of Windsor.
Meanwhile, Winnipeg’s Gio Vaccaro, a product of the University of Manitoba who played last year at Purdue University, went first overall to the Ottawa Redblacks
Ottawa’s newest O-lineman Giordano Vaccaro reacts to being selected first overall! 🙌 #CFLDraft pic.twitter.com/CRxEseMCnb
— TSN (@TSN_Sports) April 28, 2026
GM Kyle Walters is to meet with the media Wednesday to provide more detail about the club’s 2026 draft. In the meantime, here’s a more detailed look at the newest Blue Bombers:
THE NEW BLUE CREW
NUER GATKUOTH
Selected: Round 1, 4th overall
Position: Defensive end
School: Wake Forest/Colorado State
Ht: 6-4; Wt: 227
Born: May 3, 2002, in Edmonton, Alta.
Notable: A 2025 finalist for the Jon Cornish Trophy for the top Canadian player in NCAA football… Split his collegiate career between Wake Forest (2025) and Colorado State (2022-24) and with the Demon Deacons last season registered 39 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, six quarterback sacks and one forced fumble in 12 games. He was also credited with 21 quarterback hurries… Played in 17 games over his two years with the Rams with 68 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one interception and two forced fumbles… Attending rookie mini-camp with the Denver Broncos.
Why he’s a good fit for the Blue Bombers: The Blue Bombers have three Canadian defensive tackles already in house in Cam Lawson, Tanner Schmekel and Collin Kornelson and Gatkuoth, as an end, will give defensive coordinator Jordan Younger all sorts of rotational possibilities along the defensive front. Starting ends Willie Jefferson (35) and new end/tackle Jake Ceresna (31) will be excellent mentors and Gatkuoth could give both a breather at end and eventually morph into a starter.
DANTE DANIELS
Selected: Round 2, 10th overall
Position: Tight end
School: North Carolina State
Ht: 6-5; Wt: 272
Notable: Started his collegiate career at Butler Community College before moving to NC State… Had 21 receptions for 253 yards and three touchdowns in 36 games between both schools while serving as a blocker and a receiving target.
Why he’s a good fit for the Blue Bombers: He’s a big body who brings a physical presence to the receiving corps and could give a different look in the club’s jumbo package as a pass-catching threat — a spot previously held by Tui Eli, who is the front-runner to replace Chris Kolankowski at centre.
KEVIN CLINE
Selected: Round 2, 20th overall
Position: offensive line
School: Boston College
Ht: 6-7; Wt: 320
Born: May 29, 2001, in Boca Raton, Fla.
Notable: Played six seasons with the Eagles (2020-25) and started 11 games at right tackle in 2025 as a graduate senior. Born in Florida, he has national status as his mother is Canadian… His father Mike played for the Ottawa Rough Riders from 1986-88… Cline signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent on Sunday.
Why he’s a good fit for the Blue Bombers: The club likely won’t see him this year as he’s headed to training camp with the Fish but his size and skill makes him worth the slight risk at this stage in the draft. If he comes to Winnipeg next year, the team’s Canadian content upfront improves instantly.
CHARLES-ELLIOT BOULIANE
Selected: Round 3, 24th overall
Position: linebacker
School: Université de Montreal
Ht: 5-11; Wt: 229
Born: February 19, 2002, in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Que.
Notable: Played four years with the Carabins (2022-25) and was a two-time Vanier Cup winner (2023, 2025)… Was a RSEQ (Quebec conference) and U Sports First-Team Special Teams All-Canadian in 2023 and an RSEQ All-Star in 2025.
Why he’s a good fit for the Blue Bombers: Shayne Gauthier was not resigned and Bouliane adds depth to a Canadian linebacking corps that also includes Tanner Cadwallader, Connor Shay and Jaylen Smith.
ETHAN STUART
Selected: Round 4, 33rd overall
Position: defensive back
School: McMaster
Ht: 6-0; Wt: 223
Born: January 17, 2002, in Oakville, Ont.
Notable: Spent the last four years (2022-25) with the Marauders, registering 80 tackles, two sacks, three tackles for a loss, 0ne interception, one fumble recovery and eight pass breakups in 35 games.
Why he’s a good fit for the Blue Bombers: More Canadian depth for the secondary to go along with Redha Kramdi at dime as well as veterans Nick Hallett, Jake Kelly and second-year man Ethan Ball.
BRODY CLARK
Selected: Round 5, 42nd overall
Position: linebacker
School: York University
Ht: 6-0; Wt: 217
Born: September 11, 2001, in Delta, B.C.
Notable: Was limited to just two games in 2025 due to an injury but was an OUA Second Team All-Star in 2024 after leading the conference in total tackles… Before York he spent three seasons with the Langley Rams of the British Columbia Football Conference.
Why he’s a good fit for the Blue Bombers: Ditto to Bouliane, above. Solid U-Sports credentials and could push for work on special teams.
BEN BRITTON
Selected: Round 6, 51st overall
Position: receiver
School: University of Calgary
Ht: 6-3; Wt: 205
Born: August 10, 2003, in Calgary, Alta.
Notable: Was a Canada West All-Star in 2024 but chose not to play last season…. He finished the 2024 season with 42 receptions for 661 yards and three touchdowns, ranking second in the conference and leading the Dinos.
Why he’s a good fit for the Blue Bombers: An intriguing pick because of his numbers in ’24 and despite not playing last season. Was recently worked out by the club and adds depth to a receiving room that has plans on starting three Canadians in 2026.
JOSHUA JACK
Selected: Round 7, 60th overall
Position: receiver
School: St. Mary’s University
Ht: 6-0; Wt: 195
Born: December 20, 2000, in Brampton, Ont.
Notable: Spent the last three years (2023-25) with the Huskies and in 2025 led the team with 28 receptions for 433 yards and two touchdowns in eight games.
Why he’s a good fit for the Blue Bombers: More receiver depth. Jack had his moments at the recent CFL Combine in Edmonton and showed some explosiveness during his days at St. Mary’s.
BRADY LIDSTER
Selected: Round 8, 69th overall
Position: kicker
School: University of Windsor
Ht: 6-0; Wt: 185
Born: December 15, 2004, in St. Thomas, Ont.
Notable: Appeared in 38 games over his career with the Lancers (2022-25) and handled both the placekicking and punting chores… He was named a U-Sports First-Team All-Canadian in 2025.
Why he’s a good fit for the Blue Bombers: No one is unseating Sergio Castillo, but Lidster’s credentials pop as the top kicking prospect in the draft. He’ll get to learn from one of the best in camp.
