List of first overall Canadian Football League draft picks

This is an incomplete list of first overall Canadian Football League draft picks. The CFL Draft is an annual sports draft in which the teams of the Canadian Football League (CFL) select eligible Canadian/non-import players, typically from the ranks of CIS football or NCAA college football. The first draft took place in 1953, with Doug McNichol becoming the first player to be drafted and was therefore drafted first overall. While only the eastern teams participated for the first three years, in 1956 all nine teams began participating in the draft. From 1960 to 1962, however, due to a dispute over talent from western universities and a reluctance of eastern draftees to move west, BC, Edmonton, Saskatchewan, and Winnipeg were awarded territorial rights to players from their city's university. Because Calgary had no university program in their territory, they continued to participate in the draft during these three years. From 1973 to 1984, teams were granted territorial rights players before the actual draft took place, hence, players listed in those years were actually drafted later. Since 1997, the draft has consisted of six rounds, with teams selecting in reverse order of their placement in the previous season.

Statistics

 * Since 1956, Simon Fraser University and the University of Western Ontario hold the record for most first overall picks with five apiece.
 * Since 1956, the Toronto Argonauts have had the most first overall picks with 11.
 * Only one first overall draft selection has been awarded the CFL's Most Outstanding Rookie since the award was created in 1972; Orville Lee in 1988.