TORONTO — With CFL Draft season in full swing, it’s that time of year when we see where the next CFL stars will land.
But before we find out who goes first overall in 2026, it’s worth taking a look back at where the top Canadians in the league were selected on their draft night.
Only a handful of the biggest names in the league, like Tyson Philpot and Samuel Emilus, were selected in the first round. Some, like Nathan Rourke, A.J. Allen or Brady Oliveira, fell to the second or fourth round, proving there are always diamonds in the rough waiting to be found. It’s a great reminder that draft positioning doesn’t always predict success.
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| NAME | CURRENT TEAM | POSITION | DRAFTED |
| Tyson Philpot | Montreal Alouettes | Receiver | 1st round, 9th overall (2022) |
| Samuel Emilus | Saskatchewan Roughriders | Receiver | 1st round, 7th overall (2022) |
| A.J. Allen | Ottawa REDBLACKS | Linebacker | 4th round, 35th overall (2020) |
| Brady Oliveira | Winnipeg Blue Bombers | Running Back | 2nd round, 14th overall (2019) |
| Stavros Katsantonis | Hamilton Tiger-Cats | Defensive Back | 4th round, 36th overall (2020) |
| Adrian Greene | Calgary Stampeders | Defensive Back | 4th round, 32nd overall (2022) |
| Kevin Mital | Toronto Argonauts | Receiver | 1st round, 5th overall (2024) |
| Nathan Rourke | BC Lions | Quarterback | 2nd round, 15th overall (2020) |
| Tyrell Ford | Edmonton Elks | Defensive Back | 2nd round, 13th overall (2022) |
