For the third consecutive season TSN has put together its all-Canadian NFL depth chart, featuring Canadians at all 22 positions on offence and defence.
It’s something we first did back in 2024 when this first became possible thanks to the growth in numbers of Canadians in the league and the diversity of positions they play.
And while we release our all-Canadian roster during training camp before the final cuts have been made, there are very few players on this year’s team in danger of not beginning the season on a 53-man roster.
Our Team Canada is highlighted by star power at running back and both high-end talent and experience along the defensive line.
Team Canada relies on San Francisco 49er Kurtis Rourke at quarterback, who had a medical redshirt year in 2025 as a rookie while recovering from an ACL injury suffered during his final year of college at Indiana.
Rourke, the only Canadian quarterback in the NFL, is battling for the No. 3 job in San Francisco behind Brock Purdy and Mack Jones.
When Rourke hands the ball off, he has two great options in running backs Chase Brown and Chuba Hubbard, both in their prime years and each as feature backs for the Bengals and Panthers, respectively.
Both are also decent targets out of the backfield – Brown with 69 catches for 437 yards a year ago and Hubbard with 30 for 223 – which should take some pressure of Team Canada’s receivers, a group that still has things to prove in the NFL.
Josh Palmer was expected to be an impact player with the Buffalo Bills last season but injuries limited both his availability and performance, leaving him with career lows in receptions and yards.
Tennessee’s Elic Ayomanor had a respectable rookie season with 41 catches for 515 yards but his 46.1 per cent catch rate will need to improve.
At tight end, Theo Johnson had a breakout season with the Giants in 2025 and became the all-around player he was projected to be, nearly doubling his production from his rookie year and finding the end zone five times.
Our Team Canada offensive line is decent but lacks a natural centre. Alaric Jackson of the Rams and Matthew Bergeron of the Falcons secure the left side at tackle and guard as two firmly entrenched and highly paid veterans.
In fact, with his recently signed four-year $96 million contract makes Bergeron the highest-paid Canadian football player of all time on an annual basis.
Arizona’s Isaiah Adams is still on his first contract but has proven he belongs in the NFL, while Theo Benedet went from UBC in 2024 to starting eight games for the Chicago Bears last season. Logan Taylor was a draft pick of the Chargers this past April who will be getting his feet wet in the NFL this season.
Defensively, the strength of this unit is on the edges, led by recent first-round pick Akeem Mesidor from the University of Miami. The rookie Charger will lead the way with his burst off the edge and relentless pursuit past the line of scrimmage.
Opposite him will be another wrecking ball in Tavius Robinson, the fourth-year Baltimore Raven who gives Team Canada pressure off both sides.
The middle of Team Canada’s defensive line is blessed with experience in seven- year veteran Neville Galimore of the Bears and nine-year veteran Nathan Shepherd of the New Orleans Saints.
At linebacker, Michael Hoecht of the Buffalo Bills on the outside will provide athleticism and versatility to the second level of the Team Canada defence. Joining him is Jesse Luketa, who saw significant playing time for the Cardinals in 2024 before sitting out last season with an injury. And Devin Veresuk, a rookie linebacker who spent his first pro season with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, is still trying to prove he can stick in the NFL with the Colts.
The back end of the defence features a corner tandem of Green Bay’s Benjamin St-Juste and Deane Leonard of the Chargers, with Leonard having spent most of his four years in the NFL as a depth player and special teamer.
There is a similar dynamic at safety, where Jevon Holland remains a starter with the Giants while Sydney Brown is in a depth role with the Falcons.
Our roster pulls players from different areas of Canada. Ontario leads the way with 13 players, Alberta has four, Quebec and British Columbia have two each, and Nova Scotia has one.
OFFENCE
QB – Kurtis Rourke, San Francisco 49ers
How he got to the NFL: Attended Holy Trinity HS in Oakville, Ont. Played five seasons at University of Ohio and one at Indiana. MAC Conference Player of the Year in 2022, second-team Big-10 in 2024. He was a seventh-round selection of the San Francisco 49ers in 2025.
2026 Projection: After a medical redshirt rookie season while recovering from a torn ACL, Rourke is battling for the No. 3 job behind Brock Purdy and Mack Jones.
RB – Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers
How he got to the NFL: Attended Bev Facey High School in Sherwood Park, Alta. Played three seasons at Oklahoma State University. Big-12 Offensive Player of the Year, NCAA rushing leader, consensus all-American and first-team All-Big 12 in 2019. Second-team All-Big 12 in 2020. Was a fourth-round selection of the Carolina Panthers in 2021.
2026 Projection: After splitting time with Rico Dowdle down the stretch last season, Hubbard projects as the No. 1 back in a backfield he will share with former second round pick Jonathan Brooks.
RB – Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals
How he got to the NFL: Attended both London South Collegiate Institute and Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School in Bradenton Fla. Attended both Western Michigan and the University of Illinois. Third-Team all-Big Ten in 2021. Second-team all-Big Ten in 2022. He was a fifth-round selection of the Cincinnati Bengals in 2023.
2026 Projection: After his first 1,000-yard rushing season along with career highs in receptions and receiving yards, Brown enters the season as Cincinnati’s starting running back.
WR – Elic Ayomanor, Tennessee Titans
How he got to the NFL: Attended the Peddie School in New Jersey for one year and two at Deerfield Academy in Deerfield, Mass. Played three seasons at Stanford. Set a school record with 294 yards receiving in a game Oct. 13, 2023. A fourth-round selection of the Tennessee Titans in 2025.
2026 Projection: Competing for time in the No. 3 receiver role with Tennessee.
WR – Josh Palmer, Buffalo Bills
How he got to the NFL: Attended St. Thomas Aquinas in Fort Lauderdale Fla. Played at the University of Tennessee, where he started three seasons. Was a third-round selection of the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021.
2026 Projection: Competing for time in the No. 2 receiver role with Buffalo.
TE – Theo Johnson, New York Giants
How he got to the NFL: Played at Holy Names High School in Windsor, Ont. Played four seasons at Penn State, finishing with career highs for receiving and touchdowns in his senior season. A fourth-round draft pick of the New York Giants in 2024.
2026 projection: After taking over the first-string tight end role last season, Johnson is in a battle for playing time against Isaiah Likely, who the Giants added via free agency this off-season.
OL – Theo Benedet, Chicago Bears
How he got to the NFL: Attended Handsworth High School in Vancouver before playing at UBC. Two-time winner of the J.P. Metras Trophy as outstanding lineman in Canadian university football, 2022 and 2023. Signed with Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2024.
2026 projection: After starting eight games at left tackle in 2025, Benedet is in the mix as a swing tackle and depth offensive lineman.
OL – Logan Taylor, Los Angles Chargers
How he got to the NFL: Played at Episcopal High School in Virginia before moving-on to the University of Virginia and Boston College. Second-team all-ACC during his senior season. Was a sixth-round pick of Los Angeles Chargers in 2026.
2026 projection: Looking to secure his role as a backup offensive linemen with the Chargers during his rookie season.
OL – Isaiah Adams, Arizona Cardinals
How he got to the NFL: Attended Father McLellan Catholic in Ajax, Ont. Started his university career at Wilfred Laurier before finishing at the University of Illinois. Third-team all-Big Ten in 2022. Was a third-round selection of Arizona Cardinals in 2024.
2026 projection: In position to win the starting right guard position, which he held through part of last season.
OL – Matthew Bergeron, Atlanta Falcons
How he got to the NFL: Went from Cegep de Thetford in Victoriaville, Que., for four seasons at Syracuse University. Named second-team all-ACC in 2022. A second-round selection by the Atlanta Falcons in 2023.
2026 Outlook: Having just signed a four-year $96 million contract extension in July, his starting guard role with the Falcons is safe.
OL – Aleric Jackson, Los Angeles Rams
Road to the NFL: Attended Renaissance High School in Detroit and the University of Iowa. First-team all-Big Ten during his senior season. Signed with the Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2021.
2026 Outlook: Signed through 2027 as the Rams starting left tackle.
DEFENCE
CB – Deane Leonard, Los Angles Chargers
Road to the NFL: Attended Calgary’s Notre Dame High School and University of Calgary and winning a Vanier Cup before transferring to the University of Mississippi. Was a seventh round pick by Los Angeles Chargers in 2022.
2026 Outlook: Projects as a special teams player and depth cornerback for the Rams.
CB – Benjamin St-Juste, Green Bay Packers
Road to the NFL: Attended Cegep du Vieux Montreal, before the Universities of Michigan and Minnesota. Was a third-round selection of the Washington Commanders in 2021.
2026 Outlook: Battling for a starting corner role with the Green Bay Packers.
S – Sydney Brown, Atlanta Falcons
Road to the NFL: Attended London South Collegiate and St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Bradenton, Fla. First-team All Big-10 in 2022. Played four seasons at the University of Illinois. Was a third-round selection of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023.
2026 Outlook: Core special teamer and depth role at safety for the Falcons.
S – Jevon Holland, New York Giants
Road to the NFL: Attended Bishop O’Dowd High School in Oakland and the University of Oregon. Was a second-round selection by Miami Dolphins in 2021.
2026 Outlook: Holland will start at safety but will need to improve his play from a year ago if he hopes to be in New York to the end of his current deal in 2027.
LB – Jesse Luketa, New England Patriots
Road to the NFL: Played at Mercyhurst Prep in Eria, PA., and then four seasons at Penn State University. Named third-team all Big-Ten Conference in 2021. Was a seventh-round selection of the Arizona Cardinals in 2022.
2026 Outlook: Battling for a roster spot as a special teams player and depth linebacker.
LB – Amen Ogbongbemiga, Detroit Lions
Road to the NFL: Played at Notre Dame High School in Calgary before advancing to the Oklahoma State University where he was a teammate of Chuba Hubbard. Signed as an undrafted free agent by Los Angeles Rams in 2021.
2026 Outlook: Battling to secure his spot as a special teams player and depth linebacker with the Detroit Lions.
LB – Michael Hoecht, Buffalo Bills
Road to the NFL: Attended Oakwood High School in Ohio. Attended Brown University. Second-team all-Ivy League in 2019. Signed as an undrafted free agent by the Los Angeles Rams in 2020.
2026 Outlook: Hoecht will see meaningful time in the outside linebacker rotation with the Buffalo Bills.
Edge – Tavius Robinson, Baltimore Ravens
Road to the NFL: Attended high school at Guelph Collegiate and then the University of Guelph, where he was named second-team all-OUA in his second season, before transferring for two seasons at the University of Mississippi. Was a fourth-round selection of Baltimore Ravens in 2023.
2026 Outlook: Robinson is in competition for starting role or heavy rotational load at outside linebacker for the Ravens.
Edge – Akheem Mesidor, Los Angeles Chargers
Road to the NFL: Attended Clearwater Academy in Florida before attending the Universities of West Virginia and Miami. First-team all ACC and second-team all-American in 2025. Was a first-round selection of the Los Angeles Chargers in 2026.
2026 Outlook: Mesidor will have a significant presence on the Chargers front as a rookie, either as a heavy rotational player and/or a starter.
DT – Neville Gallimore, Chicago Bears
Road to the NFL: Attended Canada Prep Academy in St. Catharines, Ont. Attended the University of Oklahoma. Was a third-round selection of the Dallas Cowboys in 2020.
2026 Outlook: In the primary rotation at defensive tackle with Chicago Bears after signing a two-year free agent contract this off-season.
DT – Nathan Shepherd, New Orleans Saints
Road to the NFL: Attended J. Clarke Richardson Collegiate in Ajax, Ont. and then Simon Fraser University in Vancouver before Fort Hays State in Kansas. Named conference defensive player of the year in 2017. Was a third-round selection by the New York Jets.
2026 Outlook: Part of the primary defensive tackle rotation with New Orleans.
