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Jeff Parker is an sports writer for BetCanada.com. Jeff lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and provides news and analysis of the latest developments in professional sports media, with an emphasis on the NHL and the CFL.
What CFL Teams Have Had The Most Draft Success?
The CFL Draft is April 29 and the Calgary Stampeders hold the first overall pick. They’ll be selecting from top eligible Canadian prospects including the likes of Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke, LSU defensive lineman Paris Shand and Montana wideout Keelan White. But contrary to the National Football League, general managers in the CFL must consider intangible factors – for instance, will the player even show up for training camp?
BetCanada.com, as part of our Canada sports betting coverage, wanted to find out which CFL teams have had the most draft success in the past five years. Here is what we found:
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Which CFL Team Has The Most Draft Success?
Rank | Team | Avg. Ranking |
1 | Toronto Argonauts | 2.0 |
T2 | Calgary Stampeders | 3.0 |
T2 | Montreal Alouettes | 3.0 |
4 | Edmonton Elks | 3.3 |
5 | Ottawa Redblacks | 3.7 |
6 | Saskatchewan Roughriders | 5.7 |
7 | BC Lions | 6.7 |
8 | Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 7.0 |
9 | Hamilton Tiger-Cats | 7.3 |
To come up with our rankings, we looked at how each team’s first-round selection performed during their first season, considering three key stats: total tackles, receiving yards, and rushing yards. The overall rankings were determined by averaging the individual rankings for each of those three categories.
CFL Draft Success: Who Has Been Best?
Success in the CFL draft often means taking calculated risks and placing big bets – concepts that customers at Canada sportsbook apps understand well.
Not only are the Toronto Argonauts the reigning Grey Cup champions, but they also top our list of the CFL teams with the most draft success since 2020. During that span, the Argos have had five first-round selections, drafting three offensive linemen and two wide receivers.
The wideouts propel Toronto to the top of the list.
Drafted second overall in 2020, Dejon Brissett made his CFL debut 2021, after the league resumed operations following the COVID-19 pandemic. Brissett put up only a modest nine catches for 131 yards during his rookie year, but he made an impact on special teams, including a 23-yard scoop-and-score touchdown after a blocked punt against Ottawa on Oct. 6. 2021.
Last year’s fifth overall pick, Kevin Mital, also failed to flash on the stat sheet (just 18 grabs for 201 yards), but he scored his first CFL touchdown during the Argos’ Grey Cup win last November.
At Pinnacle Canada Sportsbook, Toronto has +285 odds to repeat as Grey Cup champions, making the Argos the favorite just ahead of Winnipeg (+390).
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Who Is Ranked After Toronto?
Next up in our rankings of the CFL teams with the most draft success are the Calgary Stampeders and the Montreal Alouettes, in a tie for second place. Interestingly, both teams selected one of the two Philpot twins during the first round of the 2022 CFL draft.
Jalen and Tyson Philpot were born seven minutes apart in Delta, British Columbia. Both wide receivers, Jalen and Tyson both played for the University of Calgary Dinos before entering the CFL.
Jalen was selected fifth overall by the Calgary Stampeders. Tyson was chosen at No. 9 when the Montreal Alouettes traded up into the first round to select the younger Philpot twin.
See where all of these clubs rank among the most popular CFL teams according to recent search volume.
Coming in at No. 4 are the Edmonton Elks. In terms of counting stats considered for this exercise, linebacker Enock Makonzo, drafted fourth overall in 2022, is Edmonton’s standout player. That year, Makonzo led all CFL rookies with 57 tackles, while contributing two sacks and a forced fumble.
That said, the most important first round draft selection for the Elks in the past five years has to be QB Tre Ford (chosen eighth overall in 2022). He only appeared in one game as a rookie and has experienced a tumultuous tenure with the team, but Ford has finally earned his spot as the QB1 for the Elks, inking a three-year extension with the team this offseason.
Ford has become one of the most searched CFL players of 2025 as well.
Rounding out the top five of our list are the Ottawa Redblacks. Their most recent first-round pick, WR Nick Marner, caught 26 passes for 300 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie last season.
As the list goes on, the relative contribution of first round picks to their respective teams dwindles. Let’s face it, first-round selections in the CFL draft aren’t as valuable as American players who enter the league primarily as undrafted free agents. And teams know it. Just ask the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who have only made two first-round selections in the past five years. They routinely trade their top picks and the strategy hasn’t hurt them either. The Blue Bombers have appeared in every Grey Cup since 2019.
Conversely, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have had six first-round picks between 2020 and 2024 tying Edmonton for the most – and only recorded a winning record in one of the past four seasons.
Our guide to CFL betting odds will give you the scoop before the 2025 season begins.
USA Today photo by Anne-Marie Sorvin