Top USports defender highlights 2025 draft class for the Edmonton Elks

The Edmonton Elks did not have a first-round pick in the 2025 CFL Draft but felt Queen's DL Darien Newell was the best player on their draft board on Tuesday.

The Edmonton Elks had to wait a while before they were able to make their first selection of the 2025 CFL Draft on Tuesday.

The Elks did not have a first-round pick after former head coach and general manager Chris Jones forfeited the selection during last season’s supplemental draft to take receiver Zach Mathis.

So, current GM Ed Hervey had to wait until the second round to make his first pick at 10th overall.

With the selection, the Elks drafted six-foot-three, 309-pound defensive lineman Darien Newell of the Queen’s Golden Gaels.

Newell recorded 92 tackles, 27.5 tackles for loss, and 18 sacks in 37 career games and was named an All-Canadian three times.

Hervey says he has had eyes on Newell for a long time. The player was projected to be a first-round pick.

“We feel like the last three years he’s been arguably the best player at the USports level,” Hervey said. “For him to fall where he did was great, but there is more to the story of him — dropping that will be coming (likely sometime on Wednesday).

“For us, we felt comfortable with everything and all the information we had going into this. So we feel very confident with Darien and we feel like we are getting an excellent player.”