The 3DownNation all-decade CFL team: defensive line

What’s a great defence without an elite front-four?

Below are the best six defensive linemen of the past decade; the four starters were runaway winners, but the voting for the two backup spots was extremely tight.

The player who finished atop the reader ballot has his name marked with an asterisk (*).

Defensive tackle

Photo Scott Grant / CFLPhotoArchive.com

1) Almondo Sewell*

Edmonton Eskimos (2011-present)

139 games, 282 tackles, 60 sacks, two forced fumbles

Grey Cup champion (2015)
CFL all-star (2013-2017, 2019)
West Division all-star (2012-2017, 2019)

Photo Scott Grant / CFLPhotoArchive.com

2) Ted Laurent

Edmonton Eskimos (2011-2013)
Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2014-present)

142 games, 186 tackles, 48 sacks, seven forced fumbles

CFL all-star (2014-2015)
West Division all-star (2012)
East Division all-star (2014-2016, 2018)

Photo Scott Grant / CFLPhotoArchive.com

3) Micah Johnson

Calgary Stampeders (2013-2018)
Saskatchewan Roughriders (2019-present)

96 games, 184 tackles, 45 sacks, six forced fumbles, two interceptions

Grey Cup champion (2014, 2018)
CFL all-star (2016-2018)
West Division all-star (2016-2018)

Honourable mentions

1) Cleyon Laing
2) Zack Evans
3) Tearrius George
4) Bryant Turner

Defensive end

Photo Scott Grant / CFLPhotoArchive.com

1) Charleston Hughes*

Calgary Stampeders (2010-2017)
Saskatchewan Roughriders (2018-2019)

157 games, 383 tackles, 119 sacks, 28 forced fumbles, three interceptions

Grey Cup champion (2014)
West Division Most Outstanding Player (2013)
CFL all-star (2012, 2013, 2016-2019)
West Division all-star (2010, 2012, 2013, 2015-2019)

Photo Scott Grant / CFLPhotoArchive.com

2) John Bowman

Montreal Alouettes (2010-present)

169 games, 354 tackles, 105 sacks, 23 forced fumbles, one interception

Grey Cup champion (2010)
CFL all-star (2010, 2015)
East Division all-star (2010, 2012-2015, 2017-2019)

Photo Scott Grant / CFLPhotoArchive.com

3) Odell Willis

Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2010-2011)
Saskatchewan Roughriders (2012)
Edmonton Eskimos (2013-2017)
B.C. Lions (2018-present)

175 games, 238 tackles, 91 sacks, 22 forced fumbles, three interceptions

Grey Cup champion (2015)
CFL all-star (2011, 2014)
East Division all-star (2011)
West Division all-star (2014)

Honourable mentions

1) Willie Jefferson
2) John Chick
3) Shawn Lemon
4) Marcus Howard

Depth chart

The defence and special teams units are complete as seen below. Stay tuned as we start filling in the offensive side of the ball tomorrow.