Canadian defensive lineman Robbie Smith will remain one of the highest-paid players in the CFL. his extension with the Edmonton Elksdespite a bad year, according to sources.
In 2025, an injury limited the 28-year-old to playing in just 10 regular-season games, making 16 tackles on defense. Based on how much he will be paid over the next two seasons, it appears the Moose still have full confidence in Smith.
The Wilfrid Laurier University product received a $50,000 signing bonus that will keep him with the team through 2027.
With that bonus, the value of the new contract through 2026 will be $235,000 in hard money, including $135,000 in salary, $25,000 in non-football team services and $15,000 in housing. He can also earn an additional $13,500 in possible incentives, including $2,500 if he gets eight sacks and another $2,500 if he gets 10 sacks.
Smith is scheduled to make $240,000 in hard money in 2027 with a salary increase to $145,000 and an offseason roster bonus of $45,000. He also has the same $13,500 in potential incentives. If he reaches all of his benefits over the next two years, Smith will earn $502,000 from the Elks.
Smith was the ninth overall pick in the 2019 CFL Draft and played five seasons with the Toronto Argonauts, recording 127 defensive tackles, 30 special teams tackles, 20 sacks, three forced fumbles and one interception over 80 regular season games. He helped the team win the Gray Cup in 2022 and 2024.
Native of Brampton, Ontario. signed a contract with Edmonton in February last year that made him highest paid defenseman in the CFL.
Smith's contract extension was agreed upon with longtime CFL agent Fred Weinrauch.
The Edmonton Elks 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 top five with a 1-4 record and threw for 984 yards with five touchdowns and three interceptions.
The Moose ranked ninth in net offense, ninth in net defense and fifth with a plus-four turnover margin. The club's leading rusher was Justin Rankin with 1,013 yards, the leading receiver was Kion Julien-Grant with 820 yards, and the leading tackler was Joel Dublanco with 80 tackles. Edmonton ranked seventh in attendance with an average attendance of 19,050, down 7.1 per cent from the previous year.
