CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE EXPANDS DRAFT TO EIGHT ROUNDS

TORONTO (May 4, 2016) — The Canadian Football League (CFL) announced that the CFL Draft has expanded from seven to eight rounds starting at the 2016 CFL Draft on May 10.

“With the emerging Canadian football talent across all levels, General Managers across the CFL agreed that expanding the draft would be beneficial to the league,” said Glen Johnson, Senior Vice President, Football.

By adding a round to the CFL Draft, it allows the opportunity for nine more Canadians to get a training camp invite, as well as giving these players, who may return to school for their fifth year, some professional experience which will help in their development.

For the teams, it gives them an additional player in training camp who does not count toward their overall maximum roster limit.

Since 2013, the CFL Draft consisted of seven rounds of selections and from 1997 to 2012 the Draft concluded after six rounds.   

It was also announced that TSN2 and RDS2 will broadcast the CFL Draft on television from 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. ET with subsequent rounds being streamed live on TSN GO.

TSN’s CFL Draft team will be hosted by Farhan Lalji, joined by CFL on TSN analyst and CFL Draft guru Duane Forde, who has covered the draft on eleven previous occasions. Joining Lalji and Forde will be CFL Insider, Gary Lawless, CFL on TSN analyst Chris Schultz and Lee Barette, founder of the pre-eminent website on football prospects in Canada, CanadaFootballChat.com. 

RDS’ Draft team will consist of host, Matthieu Proulx as well as a trio of analysts, Bruno Heppell, Didier Orméjuste and Pierre Vercheval.

CFL.ca will have wall-to-wall coverage with instant analysis, exclusive interviews and official Draft Tracker for fans to keep their eye on for all eight rounds.

Attached in the release is the 2016 CFL Draft Guide. To download, please scroll to the bottom of the page.

Barring any trades, the order for the first round of the 2016 CFL Draft is as follows:

1. Saskatchewan Roughriders
   Winnipeg Blue Bombers*
2. Montreal Alouettes
3. BC Lions
4. Toronto Argonauts
5. Hamilton Tiger-Cats
6. Calgary Stampeders
7. Ottawa REDBLACKS
8. Edmonton Eskimos

*Winnipeg forfeited their first round selection in the supplemental draft to select Garrett Waggoner.

The Canadian Football League regular season kicks off June 23rd when the Toronto Argonauts host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at their new home at BMO Field. It culminates with the playing of the 104th Grey Cup on November 27th, also in Toronto.