- Americans aren’t eligible for the CFL Draft.
- The CFL occasionally hosts open tryouts, which are typically held in the United States.
- Canadians can be selected in the NFL Draft.
Each year, the CFL has a draft for the eight teams in the league to improve their rosters.
Today, football bets on the Grey Cup odds and CFL games can be conducted at the BetMGM online sportsbook.
Speaking of the CFL Draft, below, I’ll examine whether Americans can be selected, how many Americans are allowed on a CFL roster, and more.
Can Americans Get Drafted to the CFL?
No, Americans aren’t eligible to be selected in the CFL Draft. It is reserved for Canadian nationals only.
For Americans to join the CFL, they do so via free agency or the negotiation list.
The negotiation list features up to 45 players for each team, and the team is given exclusive rights to negotiate with players who want to join the CFL.
How Many Americans are Allowed on a CFL Team?
According to the “Game Rule Ratio,” a CFL team can have a maximum of 19 Americans on its 45-man active roster. This includes players who are United States citizens and do not qualify as Canadian nationals or Global players.
Each roster must have one Global player—someone from outside of Canada and the United States.
Does the CFL Have Open Tryouts?
Yes, the CFL does host open tryouts. However, they are not a league-wide affair; instead, individual teams organize them.
Interestingly, most of the open tryouts are held in the United States.
For example, on Dec. 10, 2022, the Edmonton Elks held an open tryout at the William Owen Pass Sports Complex in Tampa, Florida.
Can You Get Drafted to the NFL From Canada?
Yes. A player must have been out of high school for at least three years to be eligible for the NFL Draft.
However, a Canadian player from a Canadian university being drafted into the NFL is rare.
There are examples of it, though.
In 2024, the Detroit Lions selected offensive tackle Giovanni Manu in the fourth round out of the University of British Columbia.
Also, in 2014, the Kansas City Chiefs selected offensive lineman Laurent Duvernay-Tardif in the sixth round. He played with the Chiefs from 2014 to 2021, before concluding his career with the New York Jets, where he played in 2021 and 2022.
