Elks take Joel Dublanko with No. 1 pick in CFL draft

The Edmonton Elks selected Cincinnati linebacker Joel Dublanko with the first overall pick in the 2024 CFL Draft.

Dublanko, who's American, is eligible for the CFL draft since his father was born in Edmonton. He was ranked as the No. 6 prospect in the final edition of the CFL Scouting Bureau's rankings.

"We are excited to have a player of Joel's caliber in our building. High football IQ, leadership, a winner, and a high character individual is what we're getting," assistant general manager Geroy Simon said, per team reporter Hernan Salas.

The 26-year-old spent time with the New Orleans Saints and Seattle Seahawks before playing with the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL in 2023.

Dublanko tallied over 200 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, and 7.5 sacks during his collegiate career at Cincinnati from 2017-2021.

Standing at 6-foot-3, 231 pounds, Dublanko caught the attention of teams across the league following an outstanding performance at the CFL combine. He ran a 4.59 40-yard dash and posted a 6.84 three-cone drill time despite being limited by a groin injury.

The Elks own six of the first 31 picks in the draft after finishing last season with a 4-14 record. Edmonton hasn't qualified for the playoffs since 2019 and has tallied just 11 wins over the past three campaigns.