Photo courtesy: Steven Chang/B.C. Lions
It’s time to rank the CFL’s top pending offensive linemen ahead of free agency.
If you are looking for elite Canadian talent to shore up your front, this probably isn’t the class you were hoping for. However, there are some quality American tackles available in a league where those are hard to come by.
The league’s free agency communications window, often referred to as the legal tampering window, will be open from Feb. 1-8. During this time, all pending free agents will be allowed to negotiate with teams across the CFL without restrictions.
Some players will agree to terms on contracts with new teams during this time, though they can’t be signed until free agency officially gets underway on Feb. 10.
3DownNation has already ranked this year’s pending free-agent quarterbacks, running backs, fullbacks, and receivers. Check back tomorrow for our defensive line rankings.
These rankings were made based on feedback from 3DownNation contributors as well as CFL personnel people, who were granted anonymity.
Please note that “N” denotes National players (ie. Canadians), “A” denotes American players, and “G” denotes Global players.
Offensive line
1) Jarell Broxton, B.C. Lions (A)
Elite left tackles are rarer than hen’s teeth these days, but Broxton is one hell of a chicken molar. The 32-year-old surrendered just 15 pressures last season despite playing 16 games, resulting in a league-best pressure rate of 2.4 percent. The six-foot-five, 325-pound blindside protector rightfully earned All-CFL honours and should be looking to push Jermarcus Hardrick for the title of highest-paid American offensive lineman.
2) Coulter Woodmansey, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (N)
The Toronto, Ont., native was the highest-graded centre in the CFL last season, according to ProFootballFocus, though issues with his snapping accuracy led to him being shifted out of that role in the postseason. The 28-year-old is more natural at guard and should be coveted across the league due to his age and physical road-grading ability. The Guelph product already has 75 career starts to his name and is just now entering the prime of his career.
Photo courtesy: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography
3) Quinton Barrow, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (A)
Barrow attracted NFL interest this offseason after establishing himself as one of the CFL’s top young tackles, but did not land a contract. That could be someone else’s gain, as the East Division all-star at right tackle is still just 25 years old with plenty of upside. Standing at six-foot-six and 331 pounds, he notched the second-best PFF run blocking grade of any tackle last season — trailing only Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman, Jermarcus Hardrick.
4) Dejon Allen, B.C. Lions (A)
One of the top acquisitions of the 2025 offseason, Allen’s first season with the Lions was derailed by injury, and his level of interest will be dictated by how his torn bicep is faring. That doesn’t change the fact that the 31-year-old’s resume is sterling when healthy, boasting three East Division all-star selections, two All-CFL nods, and a Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman win. Starting tackles with that list of accolades just don’t come available often.
5) Joshua Coker, Calgary Stampeders (A)
A 28-year-old tackle with three years of starting experience would rank higher on this list under normal circumstances, but Coker suffered a substantial knee injury late last season, which could delay his start to 2026. The former Division III All-American is worth absorbing some risk for, as his 4.4 percent pressure rate makes him one of the most effective pass protectors in the league.
6) Dariusz Bladek, Ottawa Redblacks (N)
Capable starting Canadians are at a premium along the offensive line, and Bladek is a veteran contributor with the experience that many covet. The six-foot-four, 303-pound guard has appeared in 100 CFL games and made 76 starts since he was drafted 11th overall in 2017. The 31-year-old posted a pressure rate of 3.2 percent in 10 starts for Ottawa last season.
7) Sean McEwen, Saskatchewan Roughriders (N)
McEwen was a prized acquisition for the Riders in free agency last offseason, but was never able to play a snap for the team after suffering a torn ACL in training camp. The 32-year-old centre will have to rebound after a year of rehab, which is considerably more challenging late in your career. The University of Calgary alum has four divisional all-star selections and three All-CFL honours on his resume, the last of which came in 2023.
8) Jordan Murray, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (A)
Murray is a tough tackle prospect to evaluate, as his performance as a rookie in 2021 landed him an opportunity with the Indianapolis Colts, but he has struggled to stay on the field since returning. The six-foot-eight, 300-pounder spent much of 2025 as a healthy scratch before taking back the left tackle job late in the year. The 28-year-old is now entering the prime of an offensive lineman’s career and possesses unique length, which still makes him a desirable reclamation project.
Photo: Reuben Polansky/3DownNation. All rights reserved.
9) Trevon Tate, Saskatchewan Roughriders (A)
While he may not be your first option, Tate has carved out an impressive career as the ultimate band-aid, able to fill in at either tackle or guard spot. The 29-year-old has made 37 career starts for five different teams, and his turn at left guard in Saskatchewan helped to secure a championship ring last year. In four regular-season starts, the Channelview, Tex., native allowed just a 3.1 percent pressure rate.
10) Darius Ciraco, Free Agent (N)
Things have not gone Ciraco’s way since he was named the All-CFL centre in 2023. He suffered a season-ending injury in 2024 and spent much of 2025 relegated to the bench despite playing for arguably the league’s worst line, then was released on Monday. Though he turns 30 next month, there is still time for the former first-round pick to resurrect his career if given the right opportunity.
11) Brendan Bordner, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (A)
Bordner established himself as a rising star at left tackle as a rookie in 2024, but found himself benched by the end of the 2025 campaign in favour of Murray. The six-foot-five, 305-pound bookend had some challenges in pass protection late in the year, but still has room to grow at 26 years old. While he has made 29 CFL starts, he has only been playing offensive line since 2020 and is early on the development curve.
12) Gregor MacKellar, Edmonton Elks (N)
There is no denying the fact that MacKellar struggled last season in Edmonton, but so did that entire unit. The former first-round CFL Draft pick isn’t likely to be the anointed starter at his next destination, but still has upside at 27 years old with 35 starts under his belt. The Timberlea, N.S., native wouldn’t be the first Canadian blocker to figure it out late in the career.
Photo: Aru Das/3DownNation. All rights reserved.
13) Jacob Ruby, Ottawa Redblacks (N)
At this stage in his career, Ruby is probably not who you want as your Day 1 starter, but his ability to fill in anywhere along the line is very valuable. The 33-year-old has made starts at centre, guard, and tackle in the past few years for Ottawa, providing an effective stopgap in the event of injury. With such a scarcity of quality Canadian o-linemen available, the 2022 East Division all-star could still garner interest.
14) Jamar McGloster, Montreal Alouettes (A)
The 30-year-old is an experienced starting tackle in a league with too few of them, though he did get sat down in favour of rookie Canadian Tiger Shanks late last year. McGloster has made 28 starts in his CFL career and contributed to Montreal’s Grey Cup run in 2023, though he is best used as an insurance policy.
15) Eric Lofton, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (A)
After starting 18 games for the Bombers in 2024, Lofton was limited to just one appearance last year and spent much of the year on the six-game injured list. Even if he had been healthy, it was clear that he had been dropped down the depth chart. The 32-year-old could still provide value as an experienced depth pickup.
Best of the rest: Andrew Peirson, B.C. (N) | Braydon Noll, Saskatchewan (N) | Philippe Gagnon, Saskatchewan (N) | Noah Zerr, Saskatchewan (N) | Shane Richards, Toronto (N) | Ryan Sceviour, Toronto (N) | Dylan Giffen, Toronto (N) | Eric Starczala, Ottawa (N) | Ilm Manning, Free Agent (A) | Kyle Saxelid, Calgary (N) | David Knevel, Ottawa (N) | Landon Rice, Montreal (N) | David Foucault, B.C. (N)