Where 9 of the top Canadians in the CFL were drafted

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.

With that in mind, here’s where nine of the league’s best, one per team, were drafted.

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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)