The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are serious about fixing their defensive problems as soon as possible heading into the 2025 CFL season. GM Ted Goveia started that day of the CFL Global Draft and CFL Draft off with a bang by executing a trade with his former team, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. That trade saw the Tiger-Cats and Blue Bombers exchange a pair of draft picks, and the Tiger-Cats received National defensive lineman Kyle Samson. The price for Samson was National running back Matthew Peterson, a 4th-round draft pick for the Tiger-Cats during the 2024 CFL draft.
The early trade set the tone for the Tiger-Cats as they approached the CFL draft, urgently working on adding potential playmakers to a defence that ranked near the bottom in all categories. How much did the Tiger-Cats emphasize the defensive side of the ball in this draft? It was their top priority as they drafted seven defensive players with their eight 2025 draft picks. Each player drafted gives the Tiger-Cats a chance to find a player or players that can help them return to the top of the defensive rankings in 2025.
1st Round, Pick 2: LB Devin Veresuk – University of Windsor
The Tiger-Cats started their 2025 CFL draft with a defensive mindset, selecting University of Windsor linebacker Devin Veresuk. The 6’1″, 240-pound Veresuk played in 22 games for Windsor from 2022 until 2024. While playing for the Lancers, Veresuk recorded 106 solo tackles, 54 assists, 14 tackles for loss, nine quarterback sacks, five pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and intercepted one pass he returned for a defensive touchdown.
2nd Round, Pick 9: DL Isaiah Bagnah – BYU
Hamilton used their second pick in the 2025 draft to select defensive lineman Isaiah Bagnah. Bagnah played FBS college football at Boise State (2019-2022) and BYU (2023-2024). While playing at Boise State, Bagnah played in 25 games for the Broncos, recording 32 solo tackles, 27 assists, and 10 quarterback sacks. In 2023, Bagah transferred to BYU and played in 25 games for the Cougars, and he registered 24 solo tackles, 28 assists, and two quarterback sacks.
3rd Round, Pick 21: OL Arvin Hosseini – UBC
The only non-defensive draft pick the Tiger-Cats selected during the 2025 CFL Draft was to address another area of need along their offensive line. In the draft, Arvin Hosseini considered one of the top offensive line prospects in the 2025 CFL player pool, was not expected to be available this late, but Hosseini’s fall in the draft worked in favor of the Tiger-Cats. The 6’4″, 310-pound established himself to be a top-level National lineman with the work ethic of a professional athlete. Before the draft, Hosseini highlighted his level of detail while studying his playbook, watching the film, and working on perfecting his craft as an offensive lineman.
3rd Round, Pick 28 (Toronto): DB Mack Bannatyne – Alberta
In the 3rd round of the draft, the Tiger-Cats got back to adding defensive prospects to their roster. The next defender selected by the Tiger-Cats was defensive back Mack Bannatyne from the University of Alberta. Bannatyne played two seasons at the University of Alberta from 2023 until 2024. The 6’5″, 195-pound defensive back played in 12 games for the Golden Bears, recording 43 solo tackles, eight assists, eight pass deflections, two interceptions, one interception returned for a touchdown, and two forced fumbles.
4th Round, Pick 36 (Winnipeg): DL Ty Anderson – Alberta
In the 4th draft round, the Tiger-Cats continued adding prospects to their defensive line. The next play to be selected by the Tiger-Cats was defensive lineman Ty Anderson from the University of Alberta. Anderson played in 25 games for the Golden Bears from 2021 until 2024. The 6’2″, 283-pound Anderson recorded 33 solo tackles, 26 assists, 4.5 tackles for loss, three pass deflections, two forced fumbles, two blocked kicks, one fumble recovery, and .5 quarterback sacks.
6th Round, Pick 48: DB Ronan Horrall – UBC
IIn the 6th round, the Tiger-Cats selected another defensive back, Ronan Horrall, to add to their loaded defensive backfield. The 6’1″, 202-pound Horrall played U Sports football at UBC from 2021 until 2024, playing 25 games. While playing for the UBC Thunderbirds, Horrall recorded 15 solo tackles, 17 assists, two interceptions, two pass deflections, one tackle for loss, one quarterback sack, and one forced fumble.
7th Round, Pick 57: DB Jake Nitychoruk – Manitoba
In the 7th round of the 2025 draft, the Tiger-Cats selected another defensive back, Jake Nitychoruk, from the University of Manitoba. The 6’4″, 205-pound Nitychoruk played 27 games for the University of Manitoba Bisons. While playing for Manitoba, Nitychoruk recorded 45 solo tackles, nine assists, seven pass deflections, one tackle for loss, one forced fumble, one recovered fumble, and one blocked kick.
8th Round, Pick 66: DL Nate Martey – Arkansas State
The Tiger-Cat’s final draft pick in the 2025 draft was another defensive lineman from Arkansas State University, Nate Martey. Martey started his college football career at NCAA FCS Princeton University from 2021 and 2022, playing in 14 games for the Tigers, recording 15 solo tackles, 18 assists, and 2.5 quarterback sacks. In 2023, Martey transferred to FBS Group of 5 Arkansas State, where he played in 23 games for the Red Wolves from 2023 until 2024, and he recorded 26 solo tackles, 37 assists, 10.5 tackles for loss, six quarterback sacks, and one pass deflection.
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