‘It wasn’t very practical’: CFL puts American player draft plans on hold

It didn’t make a lot of sense’: CFL shelves proposal for American player draft

The Canadian Football League has decided not to move forward with plans for an American player draft, after discussing the idea during their offseason winter meetings.

Commissioner Stewart Johnston told the media from Calgary that while the league explored how a 10-round draft might work, the concept ultimately didn’t provide enough benefit to justify the effort. “It just seemed like on a cost-benefit basis, it didn’t make a lot of sense,” he said. Johnston added that discussions could still lead to new ideas, but the American draft itself won’t be implemented.

Currently, CFL teams sign American players as free agents and can claim the rights to up to 45 prospects through their negotiation lists. While this system has been criticized as confusing for casual fans, it allows teams to manage and secure talent efficiently. The league has made negotiation lists public in recent years, but an American draft would face logistical hurdles, including players’ commitments to the NFL and limited Canadian fan interest in U.S. college football.

Johnston suggested that while the draft won’t happen, the brainstorming generated by the proposal could lead to improvements in the league’s existing Canadian and Global drafts. He emphasized the importance of celebrating players drafted in those events while exploring ways to increase their entertainment value.

The CFL Draft for Canadian and Global players is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28, 2026.