Winnipeg Blue Bombers sign first-round CFL draft pick Nuer Gatkuoth

Photo: Wake Forest Athletics

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have signed Canadian defensive lineman Nuer Gatkuoth, the team announced on Tuesday.

The native of Edmonton, Alta. was the fourth overall pick in the 2026 CFL Draft. He recently attended rookie minicamp with the Denver Broncos, though he went unsigned following its conclusion.

The six-foot-three, 239-pound defender made 39 total tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, six sacks, and one forced fumble over 12 games at Wake Forest University in 2025. Pro Football Focus credited him with 21 quarterback hurries on the year.

The 23-year-old previously played at Colorado State University, where he made 68 total tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, three pass knockdowns, two forced fumbles, and one interception over 17 games.

Gatkuoth ran a 4.92-second forty-yard dash at his pro day, though he was timed as fast as 4.80 by at least one scout. He also recorded a 4.62-second shuttle, 7.26-second three-cone drill, 17 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press, a 31-inch vertical jump, and a nine-foot, ten-inch broad jump.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers recently selected Wake Forest defensive lineman Nuer Gatkuoth with their first-round pick in the 2026 CFL Draft, adding to the club’s pass rush. The team’s other major offseason additions include receiver Tim White, offensive lineman Jarell Broxton, and defensive lineman Jake Ceresna.

All CFL training camps are scheduled to open on May 10. Winnipeg will play its first preseason game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday, May 23 and its regular-season game against the Calgary Stampeders on Friday, June 5.

In 2025, Winnipeg finished fourth in the West Division standings with a 10-8 record, qualifying for the playoffs as the crossover team before losing the East Semi-Final to the Montreal Alouettes.