Edmonton Elks take linebacker Joel Dublanko with top pick of CFL draft

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

Edmonton had the first selection 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, Dublanko was eligible for the CFL draft because of having a Canadian parent.

Not your average Joe(l) ☝️<br><br>Joel Dublanko is officially Green and Gold. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OurTeamOurCity?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#OurTeamOurCity</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoElks?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoElks</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CFLDraft?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CFLDraft</a> <a href="https://t.co/DUSMv5ZylV">pic.twitter.com/DUSMv5ZylV</a>

The Ottawa Redblacks followed by taking receiver Nick Mardner second overall. The six-foot-six, 206-pound Oakville, Ont., native 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. But the six-foot-two, 300-pound guard signed a free-agent deal with the NFL's New Orleans Saints.

At No. 4, the Calgary Stampeders took McGill defensive back Benjamin Labrosse. The six-foot, 190-pound was a first-team