When the CFL legal tampering window was scheduled from February 1st, 2026, at noon, to February 10th, 2026, at noon, there was a lot of momentum in negotiations amongst all nine CFL teams.
When February 10th, 2026, came to fruition, many teams announced their signings to make it official. However, this season, the Edmonton Elks elected not to take the traditional route but instead to hold a live press conference on February 11th, 2026. With that said, the only player Edmonton announced was the newly acquired wide receiver Joe Robustelli after 8 pm EST.
Without further ado, here are your newly acquired Edmonton Elks for the 2026 season:
Joe Robustelli
Joe Robustelli agreed to a 1-year deal, as per sources. He will receive a $15,000 signing bonus and $10,000 in incentives. He will have a total of $116,000 in hard money in his current contract.
At 6’-3” and 220lbs, he brings a lot of size to the Edmonton offence. Joe Robustelli hit a stride in his 2nd year in the CFL with Saskatchewan, in which he contributed to the Roughriders offence at clutch moments. With only 12 games played, he was a role player who kept the offence moving with 544 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns.
Malik Carney
One of the most sought-after players during free agency was none other than Malik Carney.
Not only is he a new member of the Elks, but it is reported that the signing is a 2-year deal. Furthermore, Malik Carney will be the highest-paid American defensive player. And that pot appears to be a big one. Carney will receive a $150,000 signing bonus and $270,000 per season for a total of $690,000.
In his five years in the CFL with both Hamilton and Saskatchewan, Carney has been an instrumental player on the defence. In 72 games played, he has engineered 146 tackles, 25 sacks, and 4 forced fumbles.
More importantly, Malik Carney will only make the defence better going into the 2026 season, as his experience speaks for itself.
Taylor Powell
Edmonton wanted some stability in a QB2 role since releasing Tre Ford on January 30th, 2026. On that note, Taylor Powell departs Hamilton and joins the Elks on a 2-year deal.
Depth at quarterback is hard to come by in pro football. Taylor Powell does have an upside with his cannon of an arm. If he can lower his interception count, it would be beautiful. Growth at the quarterback position does take time.
“Our post-season evaluation underscored the need to secure a quarterback with a long-term outlook,” Hervey said. “The position was a priority for our organization. Adding Taylor Powell to our roster reflects our commitment to that objective and strengthens our belief that we are moving in the right direction at the position.”
Coulter Woodmansey
Edmonton was looking for someone who could help anchor their offensive line in the mid-to-long term during free agency. The Elks did just that in signing former Hamilton Tiger-Cats offensive lineman Coulter Woodmansey.
With the signing of Woodmansey, he becomes the highest-paid non-quarterback Canadian player with yearly earnings of $300,000 per season. Add $100,000 as a signing bonus, as per sources, and Woodmansey has a solid payday of $900,000 of total salary for the term of the contract.
After five seasons in Steel Town, Woodmansey has been productive with 82 games under his belt. He has taken a tough-as-nails approach to the game in battling defensive linemen. While at the University of Guelph, Woodmansey started in 28 out of 32 games. The 6’-4”, 304-pound lineman will be a good problem to have in Edmonton.
Brendan Bordner
It appears that the theme of the 2026 edition of Edmonton’s free agency is via ex-Hamilton players. That trend continued with the Elks signing offensive lineman Brendan Border. The length of the contract is a 2-year deal.
“We are acquiring a player who understands the mental and physical preparation needed to play at a high level,” Hervey said. “Brendan meets the standard we’ve set as an organization: tough, disciplined, and team-first.”
The 26-year-old started 29 games for the Black and Gold in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons. He was the third-highest ranking at left tackle in 2024 via Pro Football Focus (PFF). Edmonton also adds another big body at 6’-5” and 305lbs.
Jordan Murray
Does size matter? I guess it does in Edmonton. Let me guess what you’re thinking? Did Edmonton sign another player from Hamilton?
That is correct.
Edmonton agreed to terms with Jordan Murray on a 2-year deal. Unfortunately for Jordan Murray, he suffered a knee injury for the 2025 season. His playing time was limited to only 3 games, at the end of the regular season calendar. What he will bring is a ton of energy and depth to the Edmonton offensive line.
“We are pleased to welcome Jordan to the Green and Gold,” Hervey said. Jordan’s work ethic, versatility, and commitment to continuous improvement make him an excellent fit for our culture and the direction of our football team. His professional experience will strengthen our offensive line and elevate the overall competitiveness of our roster.”
At 6’-9” and 320lbs, he will be a big help for protection and the running game.
Brendan O’Leary-Orange
After stops in Winnipeg and Hamilton, the Edmonton Elks add Canadian depth to their receiving core with the acquisition of Brendon O’Leary-Orange on a 1-year deal.
The Toronto-native played collegiately at the University of Nevada. During his stint at Nevada, he collected 61 receptions and 941 yards for 8 touchdowns over the course of 35 games. Since being drafted by Winnipeg in 2020 (cancelled due to COVID), he currently has lifetime statistics of 63 receptions, 1,015 receiving yards, and 7 touchdowns.