Las Vegas Raiders Set to Keep Canadian Niklas Henning in Their System
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The Las Vegas Raiders have waived Canadian offensive lineman Niklas Henning from their active roster with the intention of signing him to the practice squad. This will be possible provided the player successfully clears waivers, during which any other NFL club may claim him.
Information about the Raiders' plans came from sources close to the situation.
Positive Reviews and Belief in His Potential
Following training camp and preseason games, Henning received positive evaluations from the Raiders' coaching staff. The organization sees him as a developmental prospect and views him as a long-term project.
Over three preseason games, the Canadian logged 59 snaps, with a particularly heavy offensive workload in the second game. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed just one quarterback pressure throughout that stretch. Henning plays offensive lineman, stands 198 cm tall, and weighs 140 kg, making him an imposing right tackle.
Second Overall CFL Draft Pick and Toronto's Exclusive Rights
Henning was selected second overall in the 2026 CFL Draft, held on April 28. The Toronto Argonauts hold his CFL rights indefinitely.
From Tight End to Right Tackle
Henning's college career is an unusual story of positional transition. In the 2023 season, he played for Queen's University as a tight end and posted solid numbers:
- 7 receptions
- 104 yards
- 1 touchdown
At the end of that season, he was named second-team All-Canadian. In 2024, Henning took part in the U Sports East-West Bowl showcase, playing tight end at 116 kg, drawing the attention of CFL scouts.
Scouts Saw a Lineman in Him
According to 3DownNation reporter J.C. Abbott, CFL scouts concluded that Henning's size, arm length, and blocking skills were far better suited to playing on the offensive line than at tight end. After discussions with the Queen's University coaching staff, the player decided to move to right tackle.
That decision paid off in the very next season. In 2025, Henning helped Queen's University win the 117th Yates Cup and earned individual recognition, being named first-team all-star in the OUA conference and second-team All-Canadian.
Henning is represented by agents Craig Sheffer and Fred Weinrauch, his long-time partners.
Impressive Athletics at the 2026 CFL Combine
At the CFL Combine, Henning posted remarkable athletic numbers for his size:
- 40 yards — 4.90 seconds
- Short shuttle — 4.82 seconds
- Three-cone drill — 7.77 seconds
- Vertical jump — 31.5 inches
- Broad jump — 9 feet 6 inches
- Bench press (225 lbs) — 27 reps
German Roots and a Canadian Upbringing
Henning was born near Munich, Germany, and his family moved to Canada when he was two years old. He grew up in Milton, Ontario, and attended Craig Kielburger Secondary School.
If Henning successfully clears waivers, the Raiders plan to bring him back to the practice squad. The club was pleased with his work during training camp and the preseason and views the Canadian as a long-term developmental project.
Vegas and the Bet on Sports Over Casinos
High-profile signings and developmental prospects like Henning are drawing ever more attention to the Raiders, and with it, growing economic benefits for Las Vegas. For a city long associated exclusively with land-based casinos, this matters especially now, as the iGaming industry intensifies pressure on the traditional gambling business. People are visiting brick-and-mortar venues less and less, preferring to play online. As industry experts consulted during the preparation of this article note, online platforms offer not only thousands of games accessible from home, but also no deposit casino bonuses, convenient mobile apps, and other advantages that land-based establishments simply cannot match.
Against this backdrop, it is no surprise that Vegas is looking to reinvent its entertainment industry, placing its bets on professional sports. The arrival of the Raiders, and now stories like Henning's journey from a Canadian university to the NFL, only reinforce that direction.