The 2021 CFL global draft took place on April 15, 2021 and was the first CFL draft that pooled all of the global players together after previously having separate drafts for Mexican players and European players in 2019.^[1][2][3] 36 players were chosen from among eligible players following a virtual CFL Combine.^[4] The order of the draft was determined by random lottery, similar to the system used for the 2021 CFL draft.^[3] As a snake draft, each odd round was in the opposite order of each even round.^[3]

The Canadian Football League introduced global players for the 2019 CFL season through the LFA and European drafts where each team was required to have one of these player on the active roster and up to two on the practice roster.^[5] The league had planned to have one single draft for global players in 2020 just before the start of the season, but with the 2020 CFL season cancelled, so was this draft.^[6][7] The 2020 draft was planned to have five rounds ^[8]

For the 2021 CFL season, teams are required to keep two global players on the active roster and up to three on the practice roster.^[6] Global players are required to sign their first contracts for a length of two years plus a one-year club option.^[9]

In the explanations below, (D) denotes trades that took place during the draft, while (PD) indicates trades completed pre-draft.

• 2021 CFL draft