An active Carolina Panthers defender may have a gig up north if he so chooses.

Linebacker Mapalo "Maz" Mwansa has been selected in the first round of the Canadian Football League's 2026 Global Draft. The 22-year-old was taken with the ninth overall pick by the reigning Grey Cup champion Saskatchewan Roughriders, who now own his rights within the league.

The Panthers signed Mwansa nearly a year ago to the day through the NFL's International Player Pathway program. He is an English native of Zambian descent, having grown up in Peterborough, England.

Prior to joining the Panthers, Mwansa was a member of Nottingham Caesars, a British American football club, and England's national team for the 2024 European championships. The 6-foot-2, 230-pounder—who did not play during the regular season—went on to appear in each of Carolina's three preseason outings in 2025, recording 14 snaps on defense and 17 on special teams.

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This article originally appeared on Panthers Wire: Panthers LB Mapalo Mwansa selected in 1st round of CFL draft