The 1981 CFL Draft composed of seven rounds where 81 Canadian football players were chosen from eligible Canadian universities and Canadian players playing in the NCAA. A total of 18 players were selected as territorial exemptions, with every team making at least one selection during this stage of the draft. Through a trade with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the Calgary Stampeders selected first overall in the draft.
Territorial exemptions.
Saskatchewan Roughriders Eugene Larocque DT Utah
Toronto Argonauts Hazen Carinci DB Simon Fraser
Toronto Argonauts Dan Ferrone G Simon Fraser
Toronto Argonauts Bernie Pickett TB Wilfrid Laurier
Toronto Argonauts Bob Bronk TB Queen's
Ottawa Rough Riders John Park TE Bowling Green
Ottawa Rough Riders Ian Beckstead TE Richmond
Montreal Alouettes Marc Lacelle TB McGill
British Columbia Lions Rob Smith G Utah State
British Columbia Lions Rick Klassen G Simon Fraser
Calgary Stampeders Scott MacArthur DE Calgary
Calgary Stampeders Shawn Beaton DL Boise State
Calgary Stampeders Randy Besler G Northeast Missouri
Calgary Stampeders Randy Fournier DT Cincinnati
Winnipeg Blue Bombers Perry Kuras G North Dakota
Hamilton Tiger-Cats Bill Howard C Western Ontario
Edmonton Eskimos Sean Kehoe TB Alberta
Edmonton Eskimos Joshua Borger WR Calgary
2nd round.
10. Saskatchewan Roughriders Hazen Henderson DB Simon Fraser
11. Toronto Argonauts Gord Elser LB Calgary
12. Ottawa Rough Riders Don Burns WR Ottawa
13. Montreal Alouettes Samuel Marshall DB Simon Fraser
14. Toronto Argonauts Warner Miles OL Ottawa
15. Montreal Alouettes Fred Prinzen LB Queen's
16. Winnipeg Blue Bombers Dave Brown WR Alberta
17. Calgary Stampeders Terry Lehne DB Saskatchewan
18. Edmonton Eskimos Mike Reid C Ottawa
3rd round.
19. Saskatchewan Roughriders Don Busto FL/DB Simon Fraser
20. Toronto Argonauts Don Dominico WR Western Ontario
21. British Columbia Lions Jamie Armstead DB Calgary
22. Montreal Alouettes Joe Kuklo DB Simon Fraser
23. British Columbia Lions Larry Priestnall TB Acadia
24. Calgary Stampeders Kari Suutari LB Wisconsin
25. Winnipeg Blue Bombers Hubert Walsh TB Acadia
26. Hamilton Tiger-Cats Jeff Arp G Western Ontario
27. Edmonton Eskimos Scott Essery TE Windsor
4th round.
28. Saskatchewan Roughriders David Pearson DT Western Ontario
29. Ottawa Rough Riders John Lowe TB Guelph
30. Ottawa Rough Riders Eric Boss DT Toronto
31. Montreal Alouettes Dean Claridge DE British Columbia
32. British Columbia Lions Ed Jones DB Simon Fraser
33. Calgary Stampeders Ted Kozik DE Saint Mary's
34. Winnipeg Blue Bombers Dick Rigelhof LB North Dakota
35. Hamilton Tiger-Cats Rob Sommerville DB Waterloo
36. Edmonton Eskimos Ron Lammer DL Alberta
6th round.
46. Saskatchewan Roughriders John Celestino DT Windsor
47. Toronto Argonauts Jeff Hale T Guelph
48. Ottawa Rough Riders Anthony Refosso T Toronto
49. Montreal Alouettes Dominic Vetro WR Wilfrid Laurier
50. British Columbia Lions David Thornhill WR Bishop's
51. Calgary Stampeders Jay Triano DB Simon Fraser
52. Winnipeg Blue Bombers Hugh Goodman DL Acadia
53. Hamilton Tiger-Cats Ian Troop G Wilfrid Laurier
54. Edmonton Eskimos Wyatt Wishart DT Concordia
7th round.
55. Saskatchewan Roughriders Wayne Stremel LB Simon Fraser
56. Toronto Argonauts Kevin Malone DB Queen's
57. Ottawa Rough Riders Rob Ball DB Queen's
58. Montreal Alouettes Dave Ridgway K Toledo
59. British Columbia Lions Ed Hole T Alberta
60. Calgary Stampeders Wayne Harris Jr. LB Calgary
61. Winnipeg Blue Bombers Peter Martell TB St. Francis Xavier
62. Hamilton Tiger-Cats Bill Paul TB Sheridan
63. Edmonton Eskimos Craig Mallender TB Windsor