The Edmonton Elks have agreed to terms with Canadian offensive lineman Coulter Woodmansey, per sources. Barring anything unforeseen, he’s expected to sign with the team.
The 28-year-old was 3DownNation’s top ranked national blocker who made it to the communication window. He was selected in the first round, fifth overall in the 2020 CFL Draft by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Woodmansey spent five three-down league seasons in the Hammer. The six-foot-four, 304-pounder dressed in 82 games with the Ticats. The University of Guelph product made 28 starts in 32 appearances with the Gryphons from 2016 through 2019. He was named a first-team Ontario University Athletics conference all-star in his senior season at Guelph along with a second-team All-Canadian selection.
The Toronto native attended the 2019 U Sports East-West Bowl. Woodmansey along with other players in his draft class were unable to participate in the 2020 CFL Combine as it was cancelled due to the pandemic.
Edmonton general manager Ed Hervey knows Woodmansey from time spent together with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2022 and 2023 when he was the team’s assistant GM. Senior assistant general manager and player personnel director, Spencer Zimmerman spent the same two years in the Steel City with Hervey and Woodmansey.
Pending CFL free agents can negotiate with teams across the league during the communication window, which closes on Sunday, February 8. Players can agree to terms on a contract with a particular franchise, however, the deals are not legally binding and can’t be made official until after free agency opens on Tuesday, February 10.
Edmonton finished fifth in the West Division standings in 2025 with a 7-11 record, missing the playoffs for the fifth straight season. Cody Fajardo started the team’s final 13 regular-season games and went 6-7, throwing for 3,408 yards, 14 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. Tre Ford started the first five, going 1-4, and threw for 984 yards, five touchdowns, and three interceptions.
The Elks ranked ninth in net offence, ninth in net defence, and fifth with a turnover differential of plus-four. The team’s leading rusher was Justin Rankin with 1,013 yards, the leading receiver was Kaion Julien-Grant with 820 yards, and the leading tackler was Joel Dublanko with 80 tackles. Edmonton finished seventh in attendance with average crowds of 19,050, which was a 7.1 percent decrease from the previous year.
