The 2023 CFL Draft will occur at 8 pm EST on Tuesday, May 2nd. Before the CFL Draft occurs that night, the CFL Global Draft takes place at 11 am EST. Many CFL teams will use their CFL Global draft picks to select players that can contribute to special teams, but this year’s Global draft pool contains several talented players that play on the offensive and defensive lines.
The Global players on the Tiger-Cats roster are punter Blake Hayes and defensive tackle Chris Mulumba. Hayes appeared in one game during the 2022 season and had six punts for 46.3 yards per punt. Mulumba has been on the Tiger-Cats roster since 2021 and has two tackles, one in 2021 and another in 2022.
Hamilton needs depth on their defensive line, and there are a few players that the Tiger-Cats could select that could be significant contributors to their defensive line. However, with only two picks in the Global Draft, the 4th pick in the 1st round and the 13th overall pick in the 2nd round, Hamilton will likely only have a chance to choose one player that fits a specific need and will use the 2nd pick to select the best available player.
Junior Aho
Junior Aho is a 6’4″, 272-pound defensive lineman from Nice, France. Aho played college football at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, from 2020 until 2022. During his senior year, he significantly contributed to the Mustangs in his seasons at SMU, including 23 tackles, two sacks, one forced fumble, and three pass deflections. In addition, the defensive lineman has a 40-yard dash time of 4.59 seconds; with that speed, he could be a consistent pass rusher.
Blessman Ta’ala
Blessman Ta’ala is a 6’1″, 305-pound defensive lineman from Aua, American Samoa. Ta’ala played college football at the University of Hawaii. Ta’ala played regularly during all four seasons in Hawaii, from 2018 until 2021. During his senior year, he started four games and played in 13, producing 30 tackles and six tackles for loss. His performance at Hawaii demonstrates his ability to be a powerful run-stopper on the defensive line.
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