The start of the 2025 CFL Global Draft was the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to learn how general manager Ted Goveia plans to attack the CFL draft this year. Attack is the keyword, and during a draft in which teams try to find a diamond amongst many stones, Goveia made that the Tiger-Cats would receive at least one diamond. The Tiger-Cats secured that diamond in the form of Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive lineman Kyle Samson while executing a draft day trade with the Blue Bombers. If this indicates how the Tiger-Cats plan to approach the remaining portion of this year’s draft, then Hamilton could have a chance to maximize its opportunities during the rest of the draft.
Tiger-Cats Kickoff 2025 Draft Day with a Trade
To start the CFL Global draft, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats began the day by announcing that they made a trade with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to obtain National defensive lineman Kyle Samson.
It was well known that the Tiger-Cats needed to target defensive line prospects in this draft to help upgrade their defensive front seven. Ultimately, the price for Samson was relatively low, with the Tiger-Cats sending National running back Matthew Peterson to the Blue Bombers. In 2024, the Tiger-Cats drafted Peterson in the 4th draft round. Still, Peterson decided to return to the University of Alberta to play an additional year of U Sports football.
In addition to receiving Samson, who played his first career game during the 111th Grey Cup, they also received the 8th pick in the 2025 CFL Global Draft from the Bombers while sending them their 2nd pick in the 2024 CFL Global Draft. Both teams also exchanged CFL draft picks for later in the day. Hamilton received pick 36 in the 4th round of the draft from the Blue Bombers, and Winnipeg received pick 39 in the 5th round from the Tiger-Cats.
1st Round, Pick 8: Punter Josh Green – Oregon State
The Tiger-Cats used their first pick in the CFL Global Draft to pick up Australian punter Josh Green. The 6’1″, 216-pound punter from Adelaide, Australia, played college football at Oregon State University from 2020 until 2020. While playing for the Beavers, Green played in 28 games and punted the ball 66 times, resulting in an average punt of 40.2 yards per punt, placing 27 of his punts inside the Beavers opponent’s 20-yard line, and only having seven kicks that went for touchbacks.
2nd Round, Pick 11: Tight End Maximillian Mang – Syracuse
In the 2nd round of the CFL Global Draft, the Tiger-Cats found another player who could grow into a role where he can contribute to the Tiger-Cats roster, especially on the offensive side of the ball.  Tight end Maximillian Mang joins the Tiger-Cats after playing college football at Syracuse University from 2020 until 2024. The 6’7″, 267-pound tight end from Nuthetal, Germany, played in 59 games for Syracuse primarily as a blocker, but he did catch nine passes for 60 yards and scored one touchdown.
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