The Calgary Stampeders have made wide receiver Damien Alford from the University of Utah the first overall pick in the 2025 Canadian Football League (CFL) Draft.
First-Round Selections
Here’s a breakdown of the first-round picks:
| Team | Position | Name | School | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calgary | WR | Damien Alford | Utah | Montreal |
| Hamilton | LB | Devin Veresuk | Windsor | Windsor, Ont. |
| Ottawa | WR | Keelan White | Montana | North Vancouver, B.C. |
| Saskatchewan | DL | Ali Saad | Bowling Green | Windsor, Ont. |
| Montreal | OL | Tiger Shanks | UNLV | Henderson, Nev. |
| Winnipeg | LB | Connor Shay | Wyoming | Danville, Calif. |
| Toronto | DL | Jeremiah Ojo | Montreal | Lachine, Que. |
| Calgary | OL | Christopher Fortin | Connecticut | St-René, Que. |
Notes
- BC forfeited its first-round pick due to exceeding the 2024 Salary Expenditure Cap.
- Edmonton forfeited its first-round pick after selecting receiver Zach Mathis in the 2024 Supplemental Draft.
By the Numbers
- Position Breakdown: Two wide receivers, two linebackers, two defensive linemen, and two offensive linemen were selected in the first round.
- Historical Highlights:
- Damien Alford is the sixth wide receiver to be selected first overall and the first since Mark Chapman in 2018.
- Two wide receivers were drafted in the Top 3 for the first time since 1991.
- Tiger Shanks is the first UNLV Rebel to be selected in the first round.
- Winnipeg selected a linebacker in the first round for the first time since 2011 (Henoc Muamba).
- Jeremiah Ojo is the fifth Montreal Carabin to be chosen in the first round.
Additional Information
Exclusive coverage of Rounds 3-8 is available on TSN+, and up-to-date results can be accessed via the CFL Draft Tracker. For more details on the Class of 2025, download the CFL Draft Guide.
Damien Alford’s selection marks a significant moment for the Stampeders as they aim to rebuild following a challenging 2024 season.
