2019 CFL draft

{{Infobox sports draft

| name = 2019 CFL Draft

| logosize = 250px

| logoalt = 2019 CFL draft logo

| sport = Canadian football

| date = May 2, 2019

| time = 8:00 pm EDT

| location = Toronto

| network = TSN/RDS

| overall = 73

| rounds = 8

| first = Shane Richards OL,
Toronto Argonauts

| fewest = Saskatchewan Roughriders (6)

| most = Toronto Argonauts (10)

| u_sports = 52

| ncaa = 21

| prev = 2018

| next = 2020

}}

The 2019 CFL Draft took place on May 2, 2019 at 8:00 pm ET and was broadcast on TSN and RDS.{{cite news|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2018/12/17/early-look-2019-cfl-draft-selection-order/|title=An early look at the 2019 CFL Draft selection order|date=December 17, 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://press.cfl.ca/2019-canadian-football-league-key-dates|title=CFL key dates to circle on your calendar in 2019|date=January 31, 2019}} 73 players were chosen from among eligible players from Canadian universities, as well as Canadian players playing in the United States on NCAA or NAIA teams.[http://press.cfl.ca/canadian-football-league-exapnds-draft-to-eight-rounds Canadian Football League expands draft to eight rounds][https://www.cfl.ca/draft-tracker/2019/ 2019 CFL Draft Tracker]

The draft was broadcast live on TSN and RDS for two hours and then switched to digital platforms on TSN.ca and TSN GO. Randy Ambrosie, the CFL commissioner, was at the TSN studios in Toronto to announce the first twenty picks.{{cite news|url=https://press.cfl.ca/2019-cfl-draft-takes-place-tonight-beginning-at-8-pm-et-on-tsn-and-rds|title=2019 cfl draft takes place tonight beginning at 8 pm et on tsn and rds|date=May 2, 2019}}

Top prospects

:Source: CFL Scouting Bureau rankings.{{citation |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2018/08/30/kongbo-tops-first-scouting-bureau-rankings-2019/|title=Kongbo tops first Scouting Bureau Rankings for 2019 |publisher=Canadian Football League |date=August 30, 2018 |accessdate=August 30, 2018}}.

class="wikitable sortable" width="80%"
style="background:#e0e0e0; width:10%;" | Final
Ranking{{citation |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2019/04/12/wilkinson-desjarlais-climb-final-cfl-scouting-bureau-rankings/|title=Wilkinson, Desjarlais climb final CFL Scouting Bureau rankings |publisher=Canadian Football League |date=April 12, 2019 |accessdate=August 14, 2021}}.

! style="background:#e0e0e0; width:10%;" | December
Ranking{{citation |url=https://www.cfl.ca/2018/12/06/betts-tops-december-edition-scouting-bureau-rankings/|title=Betts tops December edition of Scouting Bureau rankings |publisher=Canadian Football League |date=December 6, 2018 |accessdate=December 6, 2018}}.

! style="background:#e0e0e0; width:10%;" | August
Ranking

! 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;" | 1

| style="text-align:center;" | 2

| Mathieu Betts

| Defensive lineman

| Laval

| Montreal, QC

style="text-align:center;" | 2

| style="text-align:center;" | 2

| style="text-align:center;" | 4

| Shane Richards

| Offensive lineman

| Oklahoma State

| Calgary, AB

style="text-align:center;" | 3

| style="text-align:center;" | 3

| style="text-align:center;" | 5

| Justin McInnis

| Receiver

| Arkansas State

| Pierrefonds, QC

style="text-align:center;" | 4

| style="text-align:center;" | 17

| style="text-align:center;" | 8

| Zach Wilkinson

| Offensive lineman

| Northern Colorado

| Vancouver, BC

style="text-align:center;" | 5

| style="text-align:center;" | 6

| style="text-align:center;" | 3

| Hergy Mayala

| Receiver

| UConn

| Montreal, QC

style="text-align:center;" | 6

| style="text-align:center;" | 4

| style="text-align:center;" | 1

| Jonathan Kongbo

| Defensive lineman

| Tennessee

| Surrey, BC

style="text-align:center;" | 7

| style="text-align:center;" | -

| style="text-align:center;" | -

| Drew Desjarlais

| Offensive lineman

| Windsor

| Belle River, ON

style="text-align:center;" | 8

| style="text-align:center;" | 8

| style="text-align:center;" | 11

| Maleek Irons

| Running back

| Ohio

| Chilliwack, BC

style="text-align:center;" | 9

| style="text-align:center;" | 13

| style="text-align:center;" | 14

| Kaion Julien-Grant

| Receiver

| St. Francis Xavier

| Toronto, ON

style="text-align:center;" | 10

| style="text-align:center;" | 5

| style="text-align:center;" | 9

| Alex Fontana

| Offensive lineman

| Kansas

| Toronto, ON

style="text-align:center;" | 11

| style="text-align:center;" | -

| style="text-align:center;" | -

| Brayden Lenius

| Receiver

| New Mexico

| North Vancouver, BC

style="text-align:center;" | 12

| style="text-align:center;" | 16

| style="text-align:center;" | 12

| Samuel Thomassin

| Offensive lineman

| Laval

| Quebec, QC

style="text-align:center;" | 13

| style="text-align:center;" | 11

| style="text-align:center;" | 18

| Maurice Simba

| Offensive lineman

| Concordia

| Laval, QC

style="text-align:center;" | 14

| style="text-align:center;" | -

| style="text-align:center;" | -

| Jesse Gibbon

| Offensive lineman

| Waterloo

| Hamilton, ON

style="text-align:center;" | 15

| style="text-align:center;" | 12

| style="text-align:center;" | 15

| Robbie Smith

| Defensive lineman

| Wilfrid Laurier

| Brampton, ON

style="text-align:center;" | 16

| style="text-align:center;" | 9

| style="text-align:center;" | 13

| Kurleigh Gittens, Jr.

| Receiver

| Wilfrid Laurier

| Ottawa, ON

style="text-align:center;" | 17

| style="text-align:center;" | 19

| style="text-align:center;" | 20

| Michael O'Connor

| Quarterback

| British Columbia

| Orleans, ON

style="text-align:center;" | 18

| style="text-align:center;" | 10

| style="text-align:center;" | 7

| Brady Oliveira

| Running back

| North Dakota

| Winnipeg, MB

style="text-align:center;" | 19

| style="text-align:center;" | -

| style="text-align:center;" | -

| Malcolm Lee

| Defensive back

| British Columbia

| Surrey, BC

style="text-align:center;" | 20

| style="text-align:center;" | 7

| style="text-align:center;" | 10

| Alexandre Savard

| Receiver

| Laval

| Quebec, QC

style="text-align:center;" | -

| style="text-align:center;" | 14

| style="text-align:center;" | 19

| Fraser Sopik

| Linebacker

| Western

| Toronto, ON

style="text-align:center;" | -

| style="text-align:center;" | 15

| style="text-align:center;" | 17

| Jamie Harry

| Defensive back

| Ottawa

| Lachine, QC

style="text-align:center;" | -

| style="text-align:center;" | 18

| style="text-align:center;" | -

| Trivel Pinto

| Receiver

| British Columbia

| Toronto, ON

style="text-align:center;" | -

| style="text-align:center;" | 20

| style="text-align:center;" | -

| Nate Anderson

| Defensive lineman

| Missouri

| Toronto, ON

style="text-align:center;" | -

| style="text-align:center;" | -

| style="text-align:center;" | 6

| Dejon Brissett

| Receiver

| Richmond

| Mississauga, ON

style="text-align:center;" | -

| style="text-align:center;" | -

| style="text-align:center;" | 16

| Jamel Lyles

| Running back

| Manitoba

| Surrey, BC

Trades

In the explanations below, (D) denotes trades that took place during the draft, while (PD) indicates trades completed pre-draft.

=Round one=

  • BC → Winnipeg (PD). BC traded this selection and a second-round pick in the 2018 CFL Draft to Winnipeg in exchange for a first-round pick and a second-round pick in the 2018 CFL Draft.[https://www.cfl.ca/2018/05/02/lions-acquire-first-round-selection-pick-swap-bombers/ BC acquires first round pick in swap with Bombers]

=Round two=

  • Montreal → Hamilton (PD). Montreal traded this selection and the first, 31st, and 44th overall selections in the 2018 CFL Draft to Hamilton in exchange for the second, 34th, and 56th overall picks in the 2018 CFL Draft, Ryan Bomben, and Jamal Robinson.[https://www.cfl.ca/2018/05/02/reed-als-send-first-overall-pick-hamilton-major-trade-ticats/ Ticats acquire first overall pick in major trade with Als]
  • BC → Montreal (PD). BC traded this selection to Montreal in exchange for Tyrell Sutton and a third-round pick in this year's draft.[https://www.cfl.ca/2018/09/25/lions-acquire-rb-tyrell-sutton-trade-als/ Lions acquire RB Tyrell Sutton in trade with Als]
  • Ottawa → Montreal (PD). Ottawa traded this selection to Montreal in exchange for Chris Ackie.[https://www.cfl.ca/2018/10/10/redblacks-acquire-chris-ackie-trade-als/ REDBLACKS acquire Chris Ackie in trade with Als]

=Round three=

  • Saskatchewan → Montreal (PD). Saskatchewan traded this selection, Tevaughn Campbell, and a third-round pick in the 2018 CFL Draft to Montreal for Vernon Adams and a fifth-round pick in the 2018 CFL Draft.[https://www.cfl.ca/2017/08/15/riders-acquire-qb-vernon-adams-trade-als/ Riders acquire QB Vernon Adams in trade with Als]
  • Edmonton → Toronto (PD). Edmonton traded this selection to Toronto in exchange for Martese Jackson and a conditional sixth-round pick in the 2020 CFL Draft.[https://www.cfl.ca/2018/09/10/esks-acquire-martese-jackson-argos/ Esks acquire Martese Jackson from Argos]
  • Montreal → BC (PD). Montreal traded this selection and Tyrell Sutton to BC in exchange for a second-round pick in this year's draft.
  • BC → Hamilton (PD). BC traded this selection to Hamilton in exchange for a sixth-round pick in this year's draft and Davon Coleman.[https://www.cfl.ca/2018/05/25/lions-acquire-dl-coleman-ticats/ Lions acquire DL Coleman from Ticats] This was originally a fourth-round pick, but was revealed to be a third-round pick when the official draft order was released.

=Round four=

  • Hamilton → Calgary (PD). Hamilton traded this selection and fourth-round pick in the 2018 CFL Draft to Calgary in exchange for Charleston Hughes and the 34th overall pick (fourth round) in the 2018 CFL Draft.[https://www.cfl.ca/2018/02/02/ticats-flip-hughes-riders/ On the Move Again: Hughes traded to Riders for QB Adams]

=Round five=

  • Hamilton → Edmonton (PD). Hamilton traded this selection and a seventh-round pick in the 2018 CFL Draft to Edmonton in exchange for Shamawd Chambers.[https://www.cfl.ca/2017/09/17/ticats-acquire-chambers-eskimos/ Ticats acquire Chambers from Eskimos]

=Round six=

  • Hamilton → BC (PD). Hamilton traded this selection and Davon Coleman to BC in exchange for a fourth-round pick in this year's draft.

=Round seven=

  • Saskatchewan → Toronto (PD). Saskatchewan traded this selection to Toronto in exchange for Brian Jones.[https://www.cfl.ca/2018/08/20/riders-acquire-former-4th-overall-pick-brian-jones/ Riders acquire former 4th overall pick Brian Jones]

=Round eight=

  • Toronto → Hamilton (PD). Toronto traded this selection to Hamilton in exchange for Abdul Kanneh.[https://www.cfl.ca/2018/06/10/argos-acquire-former-star-db-kanneh-trade-tiger-cats/ Argos acquire former all-star DB Kanneh in trade with Ticats]

=Conditional trades=

  • Montreal → Winnipeg (PD). Montreal traded a conditional eighth-round selection to Winnipeg in exchange for Adarius Bowman.[https://www.cfl.ca/2018/07/23/montreal-acquires-adarius-bowman-trade-bombers/ Montreal acquires Adarius Bowman in trade with Bombers] This condition was not fulfilled and Montreal kept the selection.

Territorial exemptions

Beginning in 2019, the CFL announced the two teams with the highest waiver priority will each get to make one Territorial Draft Pick (to be used to select a player born within their territorial limits at the end of the second round). The two teams that qualified for the 2019 Draft were Montreal and Toronto and these picks were made with the 17th and 18th overall picks.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2019/04/17/cfl-draft-feature-territorial-picks/|title=CFL Draft to feature territorial picks|date=2019-04-17|website=CFL.ca|language=en|access-date=2019-04-18}}

This was the first time since 1984 that the league’s draft will feature territorial selections. From 1972 to 1982, each club had the right to pre-select two players from its region who would be exempted from the draft. That limit was reduced to one Draft exemption selection in 1983 and 1984, and then the practice was terminated altogether prior to the 1985 Canadian Draft.

Forfeitures

  • Montreal forfeited their first round pick after selecting Tyler Johnstone in the 2018 Supplemental Draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.cfl.ca/2018/07/02/alouettes-select-ol-tyler-johnstone-supplemental-draft/|title=Alouettes select OL Tyler Johnstone in Supplemental Draft|date=July 2, 2018|work=CFL.ca}}

Draft order

=Round one=

class="wikitable" style="width: 100%"
style="background:#E5E5E5;" width=7%| Pick #width=40% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| CFL Teamwidth=20% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| Playerwidth=8% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| Positionwidth=20% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| University
align=center| 1Toronto Argonauts| Shane RichardsOLOklahoma State
align=center| –Montreal Alouettescolspan="3" style="text-align:center;" |Selection forfeited
align=center| 2Hamilton Tiger-CatsJesse GibbonOLWaterloo
align=center| 3Edmonton EskimosMathieu BettsDLLaval
align=center| 4Winnipeg Blue Bombers (via BC)Drew DesjarlaisOLWindsor
align=center| 5Winnipeg Blue BombersJonathan KongboDLTennessee
align=center| 6Saskatchewan RoughridersJustin McInnisWRArkansas State
align=center| 7Ottawa RedblacksAlex FontanaOLKansas
align=center| 8Calgary StampedersHergy MayalaWRUConn

=Round two=

class="wikitable" style="width: 100%"
style="background:#E5E5E5;" width=7%| Pick #width=40% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| CFL Teamwidth=20% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| Playerwidth=8% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| Positionwidth=20% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| University
align=center| 9Toronto ArgonautsRobbie SmithDLWilfrid Laurier
align=center| 10Hamilton Tiger-Cats (via Montreal)Nikola KalinicWRYork
align=center| 11Hamilton Tiger-CatsDavid UngererWRIdaho
align=center| 12Edmonton EskimosKyle SaxelidOLNevada, Las Vegas
align=center| 13Montreal Alouettes (via BC)Kaion Julien-GrantWRSt. Francis Xavier
align=center| 14Winnipeg Blue BombersBrady OliveiraRBNorth Dakota
align=center| 15Saskatchewan RoughridersBrayden LeniusWRNew Mexico
align=center| 16Montreal Alouettes (via Ottawa)Nate AndersonDLMissouri
align=center| 17Calgary StampedersVincent DesjardinsDLLaval
align=center| 18{{efn|name=Ter|Territorial draft pick}}Toronto ArgonautsMatthew BoatengDBFresno State
align=center| 19{{efn|name=Ter}}Montreal AlouettesSamuel ThomassinOLLaval

=Round three=

class="wikitable" style="width: 100%"
style="background:#E5E5E5;" width=7%| Pick #width=40% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| CFL Teamwidth=20% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| Playerwidth=8% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| Positionwidth=20% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| University
align=center| 20Toronto ArgonautsMichael O'ConnorQBBritish Columbia
align=center| 21Montreal AlouettesZach WilkinsonOLNorthern Colorado
align=center| 22Hamilton Tiger-CatsMaleek IronsRBOhio
align=center| 23Toronto Argonauts (via Edmonton)Kurleigh Gittens, Jr.WRWilfrid Laurier
align=center| 24Hamilton Tiger-Cats (via BC)Sheridan LawleyDLBritish Columbia
align=center| 25Winnipeg Blue BombersConnor GriffithsDLBritish Columbia
align=center| 26BC Lions (via Montreal via Saskatchewan)Noah RobinsonLBMissouri
align=center| 27Ottawa RedblacksGabriel PolanRBSherbrooke
align=center| 28Calgary StampedersZack WilliamsOLManitoba

=Round four=

class="wikitable" style="width: 100%"
style="background:#E5E5E5;" width=7%| Pick #width=40% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| CFL Teamwidth=20% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| Playerwidth=8% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| Positionwidth=20% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| University
align=center| 29Toronto ArgonautsMaurice SimbaOLConcordia
align=center| 30Montreal AlouettesChris Osei-KusiWRQueen's
align=center| 31Calgary Stampeders (via Hamilton)Fraser SopikLBWestern
align=center| 32Edmonton EskimosPeter CenderFBGrand Valley State
align=center| 33BC LionsHakeem JohnsonDBWestern
align=center| 34Winnipeg Blue BombersTavita EliOLHawai'i
align=center| 35Saskatchewan RoughridersJacob JankeLBYork
align=center| 36Ottawa RedblacksThomas GrantDLAcadia
align=center| 37Calgary StampedersJaylan GuthrieOLGuelph

=Round five=

class="wikitable" style="width: 100%"
style="background:#E5E5E5;" width=7%| Pick #width=40% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| CFL Teamwidth=20% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| Playerwidth=8% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| Positionwidth=20% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| University
align=center| 38Toronto ArgonautsJamie HarryDBOttawa
align=center| 39Montreal AlouettesMichael SanelliDTConcordia
align=center| 40Edmonton Eskimos (via Hamilton)Shai RossWRManitoba
align=center| 41Edmonton EskimosEvan MachibrodaDLSaskatchewan
align=center| 42BC LionsJonathan HarkeOLAlberta
align=center| 43Winnipeg Blue BombersMalik RichardsWRMount Allison
align=center| 44Saskatchewan RoughridersCharbel DabireDLWagner
align=center| 45Ottawa RedblacksWesley LewisWRHouston Baptist
align=center| 46Calgary StampedersMalcolm LeeDBBritish Columbia

=Round six=

class="wikitable" style="width: 100%"
style="background:#E5E5E5;" width=7%| Pick #width=40% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| CFL Teamwidth=20% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| Playerwidth=8% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| Positionwidth=20% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| University
align=center| 47Toronto ArgonautsJoe SpazianiLSVirginia
align=center| 48Montreal AlouettesJeshrun AntwiRBCalgary
align=center| 49BC Lions (via Hamilton)Charles NwoyeDEBritish Columbia
align=center| 50Edmonton EskimosScott HutterDBWilfrid Laurier
align=center| 51BC LionsMario VillamizarFBWilfrid Laurier
align=center| 52Winnipeg Blue BombersTariq LachanceDLManitoba
align=center| 53Saskatchewan RoughridersVincent RoyOLSherbrooke
align=center| 54Ottawa RedblacksChris LarsenDLManitoba
align=center| 55Calgary StampedersNicholas StatzDBCalgary

=Round seven=

class="wikitable" style="width: 100%"
style="background:#E5E5E5;" width=7%| Pick #width=40% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| CFL Teamwidth=20% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| Playerwidth=8% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| Positionwidth=20% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| University
align=center| 56Toronto ArgonautsPhil IlokiWRCarleton
align=center| 57Montreal AlouettesBenjamin WhitingLBSaskatchewan
align=center| 58Hamilton Tiger-CatsDerek DufaultDLManitoba
align=center| 59Edmonton EskimosHunter KarlWRCalgary
align=center| 60BC LionsBrad LyonsDLSimon Fraser
align=center| 61Winnipeg Blue BombersNick HallettDBToronto
align=center| 62Toronto Argonauts (via Saskatchewan)Eric StarczalaOLGuelph
align=center| 63Ottawa RedblacksSamson AbbottDLManitoba
align=center| 64Calgary StampedersJob ReinhartLBGuelph

=Round eight=

class="wikitable" style="width: 100%"
style="background:#E5E5E5;" width=7%| Pick #width=40% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| CFL Teamwidth=20% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| Playerwidth=8% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| Positionwidth=20% style="background:#E5E5E5;"| University
align=center| 65Hamilton Tiger-Cats (via Toronto)Malcolm CampbellDLToronto
align=center| 66Montreal AlouettesCody CranstonDBOttawa
align=center| 67Hamilton Tiger-CatsGordon WhyteLBSt. Francis Xavier
align=center| 68Edmonton EskimosEric BlakeDBMcMaster
align=center| 69BC LionsJamel LylesRBManitoba
align=center| 70Winnipeg Blue BombersKerfalla Emmanuel ExuméDBMontreal
align=center| 71Saskatchewan RoughridersChristopher JudgeDLCal Poly
align=center| 72Ottawa RedblacksClement LebreuxDLLaval
align=center| 73Calgary StampedersColton HunchakWRYork

{{notelist}}

See also

References