Overall it looks like the Cats really shored up their IOL and Specials in a big way at the absolute worst and potentially drafted 4-5 future starters at best.
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Cat draft picks look good . HAMILTON TIGER-CATS
1st Round: Jonathan Denis, OL, Louisiana Tech (5th)
2nd Round: Malick Meiga, REC, Coastal Carolina (14th)
3rd Round: Devynn Cromwell, LB, Michigan State (25th)
4th Round: Brayden Szeman, OL, Calgary (34th)
5th Round: Loïk Gagné, LB, Concordia (43rd)
6th Round: Marc Djonay Rondeau, LB, Ottawa (52nd)
7th Round: Aamarii Notice, DL, Coastal Carolina (61st)
8th Round: Kyler Laing, DL, Mercyhurst College (70th)
In my opinion , the only guy we didn’t take was the Als # 1 pick, the TE from Arkansas We covered every base with some solid young guys 
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Yeah I was kinda disappointed they passed on Hamiltonian Darius Bell 3 times.
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That’s a wrap on the #CFL Canadian Draft 🏈 #CFLDraft | @PlayToonieBet pic.twitter.com/G7Q4p1py60
— Hamilton Tiger-Cats (@Ticats) April 29, 2026
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Ticats drafted 2 more Aussie Punters in the Global Draft:
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3DN had the first rounder as a “best of the rest” though his punting average in his final year was highest among the 3 Aussie Punters we now currently have, while they had this to say about the second rounder:
Spec- 8) PT Mitch McCarthy, Indiana University (Australia)
Indiana’s national championship-winning offence left McCarthy with little to do last season, and his statistical production was underwhelming as a result. However, CFL teams got live exposure to the six-foot-five, 233-pounder at the specialist showcase in San Diego, where he out-booted the field with an average of 52.6 yards per punt and 4.65 seconds of hang time. That sensational performance and his excellent ball placement will stick with evaluators and have even improved the Melbourne native’s stock south of the border, resulting in a mini-camp tryout with the New England Patriots. —Josh French
CFL.ca had McCarthy going 1st and Haberer going 4th in their mock draft today:
1. OTTAWA REDBLACKS
SELECTION: MITCH MCCARTHY | PUNTER | INDIANA | AUSTRALIA
The REDBLACKS already hold five Globals on their roster with three being on the defensive line, including prize addition Habakkuk Baldonado. Ottawa appears to be setting up an open competition for the starting punter and, based on recent comments, going to the ever-popular Global punter is on the table.
Mitch McCarthy has a big leg and lit it up at this year’s Kicking Showcase in San Diego. He’ll have every opportunity to earn the starting job in competition with 2025 Global Draft selection James Burnip and American Noah Gettman.
4. WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS
SELECTION: NICK HABERER | PUNTER | VANDERBILT | AUSTRALIA
Winnipeg looks to create a bit of competition by potentially adding the big legged Aussie to the mix. While only punting 26 times last season, Nick Haberer’s average per punt (46.7) would have had him at near the top of the SEC.
Dane Brugler, the NFL draft Guru at the Athletic had Haberer and McCarthy as the 12th and 14th best punters in this 2026 draft class.
But as always I’m interested to see what @BetweenTheGoalposts has to say about these two before making up my mind. At the very least both should probably be in camp to compete with Fraser Masin for the punting job as neither have signed NFL UDFA deals, though McCarthy will be attending Patriots rookie mini camp.
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Huge Mitch McCarthy fan. I thought he had the best performance out of anyone during the CFL Showcase. His film can be found here;
My notes from this showcase include “Good lord what a leg” and “Probably NFL bound”. He had no problem hitting 50+ and averaged 4.65s of hang, which would be elite at the CFL level. Seems directionally sound as well. Bit of an older prospect at 28 years old, but I actually don’t mind that too much for a punter in this situation.
Haberer wasn’t actually on my radar so I don’t know much about him. I found a couple highlight videos and the guy has a leg. Seemed to force a lot of fair catches, though obviously that won’t help him in the CFL.
If I had to rank these guys it would be 1. McCarthy 2. Masin 3. Haberer.
I am looking forward to this punting competition!
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Looking at the gross average of their most recent years in college it seemed to be Haberer>Masin>>McCarthy. Assuming this had to do with Indiana’s offense being so good that he was asked to pin teams deep rather than just boot it as far as he could?
https://x.com/i/status/2049579724310003928
I told people to be on the lookout for Benton when he wasn’t even getting mini camp invites. Glad to see they were able to bring him in. More competition at the DT spot is desperately needed and he brings some interesting athleticism despite being too small for NFL teams’ interiors:
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We need help on the dt side
Agreed, hopefully one of Deen, Brown, Benton, Woullard can step up and earn the starting spot. Kendricks is still young enough I think he could improve too. Fox really shouldn’t be seen as more than rotation IMO.
Welcome Draft Class of 2026 🔨@CFL | @PlayToonieBet pic.twitter.com/6fFIzl4eev
— Hamilton Tiger-Cats (@Ticats) April 29, 2026
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Denis already looks like he will be a Steeltown favourite.
Last year’s second round Global pick signed. Huge blocking TE with limited pass-catching production in college. Not sure how he fits in but certainly worth a look in camp I think.
Loved how pumped up he was with the huge draft party and doing interviews on Ticats audio network and he’s been spamming the IG stories with all the reposts of people congratulating him. Too often these picks don’t really show they care about the CFL and this guy is loving every second of it.
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I was there for the last Forge game and there’s just huge holes behind the one goal where at least a dozen balls must’ve gone during warm ups.
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I was wondering when they would start the building of it
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