With the 2026 CFL Combine presented by Anytime Fitness Canada all done and dusted, we turn our attention to the upcoming draft, on April 28.<\/p>\n
Well, not just yet, we don\u2019t.<\/p>\n
First, I\u2019d like to look back at recent draft years \u2014 back to say, 2020 \u2014 and offer up three good selections by each CFL team in that time.<\/p>\n
And what I\u2019ve decided to do is restrict the list to players who were drafted by and still remain on that same team\u2019s roster.<\/p>\n
Who needs to be reminded of their favourite team\u2019s great draft pick who is now in somebody else\u2019s colours?<\/p>\n
Although\u2026that might make a pretty interesting list as well.<\/p>\n
RELATED MONTREAL ALOUETTES<\/p>\n TYSON PHILPOT \u00a0<\/p>\n What a terrific run of drafting and retaining the Alouettes have accomplished in recent years.<\/p>\n Theirs is a litany of first round picks that have hit, including receiver Tyson Philpot<\/a> (over 2,500 yards in four seasons), ninth overall in 2022. That same year, the Als selected linebacker Tyrell Richards<\/a> with the first overall pick, and he has been one of the very best special teams tacklers in the CFL since.<\/p>\n In 2024, the Alouettes picked Geoffrey Cantin-Arku in the first round, and after two impressive seasons they decided they could part with middle linebacker Darnell Sankey, meaning Cantin-Arku rises to number one on the depth chart.<\/p>\n OTTAWA REDBLACKS<\/p>\n ALONZO ADDAE FIRST CAREER INTERCEPTION FOR LUCAS CORMIER! #CFLGameDay<\/a> \u2014 CFL (@CFL) September 6, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Back in 2021, the REDBLACKS plucked defensive back Alonzo Addae<\/a> in the second round and he rose to be their starting safety in 2024 prior to having 2025 wiped out by an elbow injury in game one of the season.<\/p>\n Offensive lineman Zack Pelehos<\/a> was a first round pick in 2022 and after a couple of \u2018rotational-basis\u2019 seasons he emerged as the Ottawa starting right tackle in 2024.<\/p>\n Linebacker Lucas Cormier was selected in the second round of the 2023 draft. After slugging it out on special teams for two seasons, he got a chance to start some in 2025 and did not disappoint, with 32 tackles and a pick in 10 games.<\/p>\n TORONTO ARGONAUTS<\/p>\n PETER NICASTRO \u00a0<\/p>\n Offensive lineman Peter Nicastro<\/a> was named the Argos\u2019 Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in 2025, four years after being drafted in the first round.<\/p>\n A year prior to that 2021 draft, Toronto snagged linebacker Jack Cassar<\/a> in the second round, and he\u2019s helped power the kick coverage teams with 71 special teams tackles in 68 games.<\/p>\n In 2024, receiver Kevin Mital<\/a> was a first round pick and his value has been obvious since, including 102 receptions on 124 targets in 2025.<\/p>\n HAMILTON TIGER-CATS<\/p>\n STAVROS KATSANTONIS \u00a0<\/p>\n Fourth round picks have been kind of magical for the Ticats in the last few seasons.<\/p>\n In 2020, they selected safety Stavros Katsantonis<\/a> 36th, overall. And then receiver Kiondr\u00e9 Smith 37th, overall, in 2022. Katsantonis was named the All-CFL safety last season, and Smith topped the 1,100 yard mark in 2025.<\/p>\n Ahead of Katsantonis in 2020, the Ticats selected receiver Tyler Ternowski<\/a> in the third round and while his offensive numbers have been limited in the five seasons since, his special teams presence (34 tackles) has been important.<\/p>\n WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS<\/p>\n JAYLEN SMITH INTERCEPTED!<\/p>\n Redha Kramdi goes UP and takes it away! #CFLGameDay<\/a> \u2014 CFL (@CFL) September 6, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n A year ago, the Blue Bombers made linebacker Jaylen Smith<\/a> a second round pick and he paid dividends right away, finishing tied for fourth in the CFL with 22 special teams tackles.<\/p>\n Speaking of specials, linebacker Tanner Cadwallader was plucked in the seventh round of the 2020 draft, and he has tallied 68 STT in his five seasons in Winnipeg.<\/p>\n Redha Kramdi<\/a>, now a fixture at SAM for the Winnipeg defence, was selected in the second round of the 2021 draft.<\/p>\n I know that\u2019s three right there. But let me just push the boundaries a tad and add: Running back Brady Oliveira<\/a>, second round, 2019.<\/p>\n SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS<\/p>\n KIAN SCHAFFER-BAKER \u00a0<\/p>\n Receivers, receivers, receivers.<\/p>\n Knowing what we know now, seems kinda weird that Kian Schaffer-Baker<\/a> fell all the way to the fourth round back in 2020.<\/p>\n 2025 Grey Cup Most Outstanding Canadian Samuel Emilus was picked in the first round of the 2022 draft, and Dhel Duncan-Busby was selected in the third round in 2024.<\/p>\n CALGARY STAMPEDERS<\/p>\n BRYCE BELL \u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00bb CFL reveals 2026 CFL Draft and 2026 Global Draft order<\/a>
\u00bb Mock Draft 1.0: Who will Ottawa take first overall<\/a>
\u00bb Key 2026 off-season dates you need to know<\/a>
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TYRELL RICHARDS
GEOFFREY CANTIN-ARKU<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
ZACK PELEHOS
LUCAS CORMIER<\/p>\n
\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f: Lions vs. @REDBLACKS<\/a> LIVE NOW
\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6: TSN
\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8: CBSSN
\ud83c\udf0e: CFL+ pic.twitter.com\/leQW01SUnL<\/a><\/p>\n
JACK CASSAR
KEVIN MITAL<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
KIONDR\u00c9 SMITH
TYLER TERNOWSKI<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
TANNER CADWALLADER
REDHA KRAMDI<\/p>\n
\ud83d\uddd3\ufe0f: Roughriders vs @Wpg_BlueBombers<\/a> LIVE NOW
\ud83c\udde8\ud83c\udde6: TSN
\ud83c\udf0e: CFL+ pic.twitter.com\/9e5ETdp41A<\/a><\/p>\n
SAMUEL EMILUS
DHEL DUNCAN-BUSBY<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
CHRIS FORTIN
CLARK BARNES<\/p>\n<\/p>\n