{{Short description|Canadian football draft}} {{Infobox sports draft | name = 2021 CFL draft | logosize = 250px | logoalt = 2021 CFL draft logo | sport = Canadian football | location = Toronto | date = May 4, 2021 | time = 7:00 pm EDT | network = TSN/RDS | overall = 54 | rounds = 6 | league = CFL | territorial = | first = Jake Burt, TE, {{nowrap|Hamilton Tiger-Cats}} | fewest = Montreal Alouettes<br>BC Lions | fewnum = 5 | most = Hamilton Tiger-Cats<br>Toronto Argonauts | mostnum = 7 | u_sports = 31 | ncaa = 23 | redshirts = | prev = 2020 | next = 2022 }}
The '''2021 CFL national draft''' was a selection of national players by Canadian Football League teams that took place at May 4, 2021 at 7:00 pm ET and was broadcast on TSN and RDS.<ref name="Date">{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2021/03/30/cfl-announces-date-2021-cfl-national-draft/ |title=CFL announces date for 2021 CFL National Draft |publisher=Canadian Football League |website=cfl.ca |date=March 30, 2021 |access-date=March 30, 2021}}</ref> 54 players were chosen from among eligible players from Canadian universities across the country, as well as Canadian players playing in the NCAA.<ref name="Eight">{{cite web|url=http://press.cfl.ca/canadian-football-league-exapnds-draft-to-eight-rounds |title=Canadian Football League expands draft to eight rounds |publisher=Canadian Football League |date=May 4, 2016}}</ref> Unlike previous drafts, where the selection order was determined by the previous year's standings, this year's draft order was determined by a random draw.<ref name="2021 Changes">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2020/11/05/2021-cfl-draft-feature-significant-changes/|title=2021 CFL Draft to feature some significant changes|date=November 5, 2020|website=CFL.ca|language=en|access-date=November 5, 2020}}</ref><ref name="2021 order">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2020/11/21/ticats-snag-first-selection-cfl-reveals-2021-order/|title=Ti-Cats snag first selection as CFL reveals 2021 order|date=November 5, 2020|website=CFL.ca|language=en|access-date=November 5, 2020}}</ref>
The draft was broadcast live on TSN for the first two rounds. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some commentators broadcast from remote locations as opposed to in-studio. The TSN production was hosted by Rod Smith and featured the CFL on TSN panel which included Farhan Lalji, Duane Forde, and Davis Sanchez. Randy Ambrosie, the CFL commissioner, was in the TSN studios in Toronto to announce the picks for the first two rounds.
==Format changes== Due to the cancellation of the 2020 CFL season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada, the 2021 CFL draft underwent several changes. Since there was no previous season and standings, the draft order was a random draw with all nine teams having the same odds of being drawn.<ref name="2021 Changes"/><ref name="TSN reported changes">{{Cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/cfl-making-changes-to-draft-1.1548286|title=CFL making changes to draft|date=November 5, 2020|publisher=TSN|language=en|access-date=November 5, 2020}}</ref> Every even-numbered round is in the reverse order of the odd-numbered rounds to balance the randomness of the draft order.<ref name="2021 Changes"/> The number of rounds in the draft decreased from eight to six due to the large number of rookies that will be present in camps (those from the 2020 CFL draft class).<ref name="2021 Changes"/><ref name="TSN reported changes"/> To accommodate that change, and due to U Sports and some NCAA programs not playing in 2020, eligible 2021 draftees were able to defer their draft years to 2022.<ref name="2021 Changes"/><ref name="TSN reported changes"/><ref name="Opt out">{{cite web|url=https://3downnation.com/2020/12/08/cfl-may-keep-all-ncaa-players-in-2021-cfl-draft-after-132-u-sports-players-opt-out/|title=CFL may keep all NCAA players in 2021 CFL draft after 132 U Sports players opt out|first=John|last=Hodge|publisher=3DownNation|date=December 8, 2020}}</ref> Following the November 30, 2020 deadline, 132 U Sports players opted out of the 2021 Draft, which substantially reduced the available players this year.<ref name="Opt out"/><ref name=JanRank/> This led to speculation that NCAA redshirt juniors could be included in the draft to add more talent available this year which would also balance out the massive influx of players in 2022.<ref name="Opt out"/> This was confirmed when the league released the winter player rankings on January 20, 2021.<ref name=JanRank/>
Further to those changes, there will be no territorial selections in 2021, after featuring them in the previous two drafts.<ref name="2021 Changes"/><ref name="Terr picks">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2019/04/17/cfl-draft-feature-territorial-picks/|title=CFL Draft to feature territorial picks|date=April 17, 2019|website=CFL.ca|language=en|access-date=October 9, 2019}}</ref>
Unrelated to COVID-19 changes, beginning with this year's draft, any American or Global player that played football for a minimum of three years at a U Sports institution and graduated with a degree at that institution would qualify as a national player and be eligible for this year's draft.<ref name="CBA 50">{{cite web|url=https://3downnation.com/2020/01/07/the-comprehensive-cfl-collective-bargaining-agreement/|title=The comprehensive CFL collective bargaining agreement|first=Justin|last=Dunk|page=50|quote="Collective Bargaining Agreement"|publisher=3DownNation|via=Canadian Football League|date=January 7, 2020}}</ref>
==Top prospects== :Source: CFL Scouting Bureau rankings.<ref name=AprRank>{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2021/04/26/josh-palmer-tops-spring-cfl-scouting-bureau-rankings/ |title=Josh Palmer tops spring CFL Scouting Bureau Rankings |publisher=Canadian Football League |date=April 26, 2021|accessdate=April 27, 2021}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" width="80%" |- ! style="background:#e0e0e0; width:10%;" | Spring<br>ranking<ref name=AprRank/> ! style="background:#e0e0e0; width:10%;" | Winter<br>ranking<ref name=JanRank>{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2021/01/20/alaric-jackson-tops-winter-scouting-bureau-rankings/|title=Alaric Jackson tops winter Scouting Bureau Rankings|publisher=Canadian Football League|date=January 20, 2021|accessdate=January 20, 2021}}</ref> ! style="background:#e0e0e0; width:10%;" | Fall<br>ranking<ref name=OctRank>{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2020/10/08/jackson-tops-fall-edition-scouting-bureau/|title=Jackson tops fall edition of Scouting Bureau|publisher=Canadian Football League|date=October 8, 2020|accessdate=October 10, 2020}}</ref> ! style="background:#e0e0e0; width:25%;" | Player ! style="background:#e0e0e0; width:15%;" | Position ! style="background:#e0e0e0; width:15%;" | University ! style="background:#e0e0e0; width:15%;" | Hometown |- | style="text-align:center;" | 1 | style="text-align:center;" | 2 | style="text-align:center;" | 4 | Josh Palmer | Receiver | Tennessee | Brampton, ON |- | style="text-align:center;" | 2 | style="text-align:center;" | 1 | style="text-align:center;" | 1 | Alaric Jackson | Offensive lineman | Iowa | Windsor, ON |- | style="text-align:center;" | 3 | style="text-align:center;" | 5 | style="text-align:center;" | – | Jevon Holland | Defensive back | Oregon | Coquitlam, BC |- | style="text-align:center;" | 4 | style="text-align:center;" | 4 | style="text-align:center;" | 2 | Amen Ogbongbemiga | Linebacker | Oklahoma State | Calgary, AB |- | style="text-align:center;" | 5 | style="text-align:center;" | 3 | style="text-align:center;" | – | Chuba Hubbard | Running back | Oklahoma State | Sherwood Park, AB |- | style="text-align:center;" | 6 | style="text-align:center;" | 11 | style="text-align:center;" | – | Benjamin St-Juste | Defensive back | Minnesota | Montreal, QC |- | style="text-align:center;" | 7 | style="text-align:center;" | 10 | style="text-align:center;" | 11 | Pier-Olivier Lestage | Offensive lineman | Montreal | Saint-Eustache, QC |- | style="text-align:center;" | 8 | style="text-align:center;" | 8 | style="text-align:center;" | 6 | Sage Doxtater | Offensive lineman | New Mexico State | Welland, ON |- | style="text-align:center;" | 9 | style="text-align:center;" | 15 | style="text-align:center;" | – | Mohamed Diallo | Defensive lineman | Central Michigan | Toronto, ON |- | style="text-align:center;" | 10 | style="text-align:center;" | 17 | style="text-align:center;" | 13 | Deane Leonard | Defensive back | Mississippi | Calgary, AB |- | style="text-align:center;" | 11 | style="text-align:center;" | 13 | style="text-align:center;" | 8 | Patrice Rene | Defensive back | North Carolina | Ottawa, ON |- | style="text-align:center;" | 12 | style="text-align:center;" | 7 | style="text-align:center;" | 5 | Liam Dobson | Offensive lineman | Maine | Ottawa, ON |- | style="text-align:center;" | 13 | style="text-align:center;" | 9 | style="text-align:center;" | 7 | Daniel Joseph | Defensive lineman | North Carolina State | Toronto, ON |- | style="text-align:center;" | 14 | style="text-align:center;" | 12 | style="text-align:center;" | 10 | Alonzo Addae | Defensive back | West Virginia | Pickering, ON |- | style="text-align:center;" | 15 | style="text-align:center;" | 6 | style="text-align:center;" | 3 | Terrell Jana | Receiver | Virginia | Vancouver, BC |- | style="text-align:center;" | 16 | style="text-align:center;" | – | style="text-align:center;" | 17 | Bruno Labelle | Tight end | Cincinnati | Montreal, QC |- | style="text-align:center;" | 17 | style="text-align:center;" | 19 | style="text-align:center;" | 14 | Nelson Lokombo | Defensive back | Saskatchewan | Abbotsford, BC |- | style="text-align:center;" | 18 | style="text-align:center;" | 16 | style="text-align:center;" | 12 | Logan Bandy | Offensive lineman | Calgary | Calgary, AB |- | style="text-align:center;" | 19 | style="text-align:center;" | 20 | style="text-align:center;" | – | Bryce Bell | Offensive lineman | Wilfrid Laurier | Waterloo, ON |- | style="text-align:center;" | 20 | style="text-align:center;" | 14 | style="text-align:center;" | 9 | Deshawn Stevens | Linebacker | Maine | Toronto, ON |- | style="text-align:center;" | – | style="text-align:center;" | 18 | style="text-align:center;" | 15 | Luiji Vilain | Defensive lineman | Michigan | Ottawa, ON |- | style="text-align:center;" | – | style="text-align:center;" | – | style="text-align:center;" | 16 | Ben Hladik | Linebacker | British Columbia | Vernon, BC |- | style="text-align:center;" | – | style="text-align:center;" | – | style="text-align:center;" | 18 | Tyris Lebeau | Linebacker | Massachusetts | Montreal, QC |- | style="text-align:center;" | – | style="text-align:center;" | – | style="text-align:center;" | 19 | Grant McDonald | Linebacker | Calgary | Tsawwassen, BC |- | style="text-align:center;" | – | style="text-align:center;" | – | style="text-align:center;" | 20 | Nick Cross | Linebacker | British Columbia | Regina, SK |}
==Draft order==
===Round one=== {| class="wikitable" style="width: 90%" |- !style="background:#E5E5E5;" width=7%| Pick # !!width=40% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| CFL team !!width=20% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| Player !!width=8% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| Position !!width=20% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| University |- |align=center| 1 || Hamilton Tiger-Cats || Jake Burt || TE || Boston College |- |align=center| 2 || Saskatchewan Roughriders || Nelson Lokombo || DB || Saskatchewan |- |align=center| 3 || Winnipeg Blue Bombers || Liam Dobson || OL || Texas State |- |align=center| 4 || BC Lions || Daniel Joseph || DL || North Carolina State |- |align=center| 5 || Edmonton Football Team || Cole Nelson || DL || Alberta |- |align=center| 6 || Ottawa Redblacks || Deshawn Stevens || LB || Maine |- |align=center| 7 || Toronto Argonauts || Peter Nicastro || OL || Calgary |- |align=center| 8 || Calgary Stampeders || Amen Ogbongbemiga || LB || Oklahoma State |- |align=center| 9 || Hamilton Tiger-Cats (via Montreal<ref name=Manziel group=trade/>) || Nick Cross || LB || British Columbia |}
===Round two=== {| class="wikitable" style="width: 90%" |- !style="background:#E5E5E5;" width=7%| Pick # !!width=40% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| CFL team !!width=20% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| Player !!width=8% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| Position !!width=20% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| University |- |align=center| 10 || Montreal Alouettes || Pier-Olivier Lestage || OL || Montreal |- |align=center| 11 || Calgary Stampeders || Bryce Bell || OL || Wilfrid Laurier |- |align=center| 12 || Toronto Argonauts || Sage Doxtater || OL || New Mexico State |- |align=center| 13 || Ottawa Redblacks || Alonzo Addae || DB || West Virginia |- |align=center| 14 || Edmonton Football Team || Grant McDonald || LB || Calgary |- |align=center| 15 || BC Lions || Alaric Jackson || OL || Iowa |- |align=center| 16 || Winnipeg Blue Bombers || Redha Kramdi || DB || Montreal |- |align=center| 17 || Saskatchewan Roughriders || Terrell Jana || WR || Virginia |- |align=center| 18 || Hamilton Tiger-Cats || Deane Leonard || DB || Mississippi |}
===Round three=== {| class="wikitable" style="width: 90%" |- !style="background:#E5E5E5;" width=7%| Pick # !!width=40% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| CFL team !!width=20% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| Player !!width=8% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| Position !!width=20% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| University |- |align=center| 19 || Hamilton Tiger-Cats || Mohamed Diallo || DL || Central Michigan |- |align=center| 20 || Saskatchewan Roughriders || Bruno Labelle || TE || Cincinnati |- |align=center| 21 || Winnipeg Blue Bombers || Patrice Rene || DB || North Carolina |- |align=center| 22 || BC Lions || Ben Hladik || LB || British Columbia |- |align=center| 23 || Edmonton Football Team || Deonte Glover || RB || Shepherd |- |align=center| 24 || Ottawa Redblacks || Connor Berglof || OL || Saskatchewan |- |align=center| 25 || Toronto Argonauts || Luiji Vilain || DL || Michigan |- |align=center| 26 || Calgary Stampeders || Charlie Moore || LB || Calgary |- |align=center| 27 || Montreal Alouettes || Chris Fournier || OL || Lehigh |}
===Round four=== {| class="wikitable" style="width: 90%" |- !style="background:#E5E5E5;" width=7%| Pick # !!width=40% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| CFL team !!width=20% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| Player !!width=8% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| Position !!width=20% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| University |- |align=center| 28 || Montreal Alouettes || Patrick Davis || OL || Syracuse |- |align=center| 29 || Calgary Stampeders || Elliot Graham || LB || British Columbia |- |align=center| 30 || Toronto Argonauts || Tommy Nield || WR || McMaster |- |align=center| 31 || Ottawa Redblacks || Jake Julien || K/P || Eastern Michigan |- |align=center| 32 || Edmonton Football Team || Dominic Johnson || WR || Buffalo |- |align=center| 33 || Toronto Argonauts (via BC<ref name=Lemon group=trade/>) || Trevor Hoyte || LB || Carleton |- |align=center| 34 || Winnipeg Blue Bombers || Robbie Lowes || LB || Regina |- |align=center| 35 || Saskatchewan Roughriders || Alain Cimankinda || DL || Guelph |- |align=center| 36 || Hamilton Tiger-Cats || Jarek Richards || LB || Saint Mary's |}
===Round five=== {| class="wikitable" style="width: 90%" |- !style="background:#E5E5E5;" width=7%| Pick # !!width=40% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| CFL team !!width=20% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| Player !!width=8% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| Position !!width=20% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| University |- |align=center| 37 || Hamilton Tiger-Cats || Felix Garand-Gauthier || FB || Laval |- |align=center| 38 || Saskatchewan Roughriders || Logan Bandy || OL || Calgary |- |align=center| 39 || Winnipeg Blue Bombers || Kyle Borsa || RB || Regina |- |align=center| 40 || BC Lions || Alfred Green || DL || Wilfrid Laurier |- |align=center| 41 || Edmonton Football Team || Peter Kourtis || OL || Saint Mary's |- |align=center| 42 || Ottawa Redblacks || Keegan Markgraf || LS || Utah |- |align=center| 43 || Calgary Stampeders (via Toronto<ref name=Roglawiel group=trade/>) || Chuba Hubbard || RB || Oklahoma State |- |align=center| 44 || Calgary Stampeders || Luther Hakunavanhu || WR || York |- |align=center| 45 || Montreal Alouettes || David Côté || K || Laval |}
===Round six=== {| class="wikitable" style="width: 90%" |- !style="background:#E5E5E5;" width=7%| Pick # !!width=40% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| CFL team !!width=20% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| Player !!width=8% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| Position !!width=20% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| University |- |align=center| 46 || Montreal Alouettes || Ethan Makonzo || DB || Montreal |- |align=center| 47 || Toronto Argonauts (via Calgary<ref name=Roglawiel group=trade/>) || Joshua Hagerty || DB || Saskatchewan |- |align=center| 48 || Winnipeg Blue Bombers (via Toronto<ref name=Speller group=trade/>) || Shae Weekes || DB || Manitoba |- |align=center| 49 || Ottawa Redblacks || Matthew Derks || OL || Delaware State |- |align=center| 50 || Edmonton Football Team || Kenan Clarke || DB || Cornell |- |align=center| 51 || BC Lions || Tyler Packer || OL || Calgary |- |align=center| 52 || Toronto Argonauts (via Winnipeg<ref name=Speller group=trade/>) || Benjamin St-Juste || DB || Minnesota |- |align=center| 53 || Saskatchewan Roughriders || Matt Watson || DB || Mount Allison |- |align=center| 54 || Hamilton Tiger-Cats || Myles Manalo || LB || Western |}
==Trades== In the explanations below, '''(D)''' denotes trades that took place during the draft, while '''(PD)''' indicates trades completed pre-draft.
===Round one=== * '''Montreal → Hamilton (PD). ''' Montreal traded this selection, Jamaal Westerman, Chris Williams, and a first-round pick in the 2020 CFL draft to Hamilton in exchange for Johnny Manziel, Tony Washington, and Landon Rice.<ref name=Manziel group=trade>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2018/07/22/report-ticats-als-close-manziel-deal/|title=Als acquire Johnny Manziel in blockbuster deal|date=July 22, 2018|publisher=CFL.ca|access-date=July 23, 2018}}</ref> <!--- ===Round two===
===Round three=== ---> ===Round four=== * '''BC → Toronto (PD). ''' BC traded this selection and Davon Coleman to Toronto in exchange for Shawn Lemon.<ref name=Lemon group=trade>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2019/08/12/lions-acquire-shawn-lemon-trade-argos/|title=Lions acquire Shawn Lemon, Argos land all-star Davon Coleman in trade|date=August 12, 2019|publisher=CFL.ca|access-date=November 21, 2020}}</ref><ref name="2021 order"/>
===Round five=== * '''Toronto → Calgary (PD). ''' Toronto traded this selection and a third-round pick in the 2021 CFL global draft to Calgary in exchange for a sixth-round pick in this year's draft, a fourth-round pick in the 2021 CFL global draft, and the rights to Eric Rogers, Cordarro Law, and Robertson Daniel.<ref name=Roglawiel group=trade>{{cite news|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2021/01/31/argos-acquire-rights-three-including-rogers-trade-stamps/ |title=Argos acquire rights to three, including Rogers, in trade with Stamps |publisher=Canadian Football League |date=January 31, 2021 |access-date=January 31, 2021}}</ref>
===Round six=== * '''Winnipeg ←→ Toronto (PD). ''' Winnipeg traded the 52nd overall selection and the playing rights to Cody Speller to Toronto in exchange for the 48th overall selection.<ref name=Speller group=trade>{{Cite news|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2021/01/27/argos-acquire-speller-trade-bombers/|title=Argos acquire Speller in trade with Bombers|date=January 27, 2021|publisher=CFL.ca|access-date=January 27, 2021}}</ref> * '''Calgary → Toronto (PD). ''' Calgary traded this selection, a fourth-round pick in the 2021 CFL global draft, and the rights to Eric Rogers, Cordarro Law, and Robertson Daniel to Toronto in exchange for a fifth-round pick in this year's draft and a third-round pick in the 2021 CFL global draft.<ref name=Roglawiel group=trade/> <!--- ===Conditional trades===
==Forfeitures== --->
==References== '''Trade references''' {{Reflist|group=trade}}
'''General references''' {{reflist|30em}}
{{CFL Drafts}} {{2021 CFL season by team}}
Category:CFL draft Category:2021 in Canadian football Category:May 2021 sports events in Canada Category:2021 in Toronto Category:2021 in sports in Ontario Category:Canadian football in Toronto