As the Tiger-Cats strategize for the 2024 CFL Draft and Global Draft, they are bolstering their defensive line with new signings. According to CFL Transactions, the Tiger-Cats have secured Jason Lewan and Derrick Tangelo, both American defensive players. This aligns with their approach of acquiring youthful talent during free agency, aiming to cultivate potential playmakers for the team.

Their free agency kicked off with the addition of Brandon Barlow, formerly with the Toronto Argonauts, alongside restructuring Casey Sayles’s contract and signing promising defensive prospects like Nick Usher and Adam Plant Jr. For Lewan and Tangelo, joining the Tiger-Cats presents an opportunity to showcase their skills in the CFL following stints in the NFL.

Jason Lewan, a 6’6″, 293-pounder from Yorkville, Illinois, played college football at Illinois State, tallying 100 tackles and five sacks across 47 games before joining the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2023.

Derrick Tangelo, a 6’1″, 296-pounder from Gaithersburg, Maryland, began his college career at Duke University, where he notched 115 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and impressive turnovers across 44 games. He concluded his collegiate journey at Penn State in 2021, contributing significantly to their defense before spending 2022 with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent.