1997 CFL dispersal draft

The 1997 CFL Dispersal draft took place on March 12, 1997, to distribute players who were under contract to the Ottawa Rough Riders at the time of their disbandment. The Saskatchewan Roughriders were awarded a bonus selection as well as the first selection in the first round. Otherwise the order of selection was determined based on priority waiver (reverse standings from 1996, with the 84th Grey Cup loser selecting second last and 84th Grey Cup winner selecting last in each round). Teams were permitted to trade selections, consequently, Winnipeg traded their first selection to Edmonton for Cody Ledbetter. 32 players were selected in the five-round draft, including 20 import players.

Bonus pick

Pick #	Player	Position	CFL Team
1	David Archer	QB	Saskatchewan Roughriders

Round one

Pick #	Player	Position	CFL Team
2	Lamar McGriggs	LB	Saskatchewan Roughriders
3	Leonard Humphries	CB	BC Lions
4	Kenny Wilhite	CB	Hamilton Tiger-Cats
5	André Bolduc	SB	Edmonton Eskimos (via Winnipeg)
6	Uzooma Okeke	G	Montreal Alouettes
7	Joseph Rogers	WR	Calgary Stampeders
8	Robert Gordon	WR	Edmonton Eskimos
9	Sammie Brennan	DB	Toronto Argonauts

Round two

Pick #	Player	Position	CFL Team
10	Shawn Daniels	FB	Saskatchewan Roughriders
11	Duane Arrindell	OL	BC Lions
12	Orlondo Steinauer	S	Hamilton Tiger-Cats
13	Obrad Spanic	DL	Winnipeg Blue Bombers
14	Swift Burch	DT	Montreal Alouettes
15	Ray Bernard	LB	Calgary Stampeders
16	Tommy Henry	DB	Edmonton Eskimos
17	Travis Anderson	WR	Toronto Argonauts

Round three

Pick #	Player	Position	CFL Team
18	Dave Dinnall	RB	Saskatchewan Roughriders
19	Mike Gillock	DB	BC Lions
20	Frank West	DB	Hamilton Tiger-Cats
21	Stacy Evans	DE	Winnipeg Blue Bombers
22	Michael Hendricks	LB	Montreal Alouettes
23	Troy Mills	RB	Calgary Stampeders
24	Sean Reade	RB	Edmonton Eskimos
25	Joe Mero	CB	Toronto Argonauts

Round four

Pick #	Player	Position	CFL Team
26	Profall Grier	RB	Saskatchewan Roughriders
27	Pass	—	BC Lions
28	Jermaine Younger	LB	Hamilton Tiger-Cats
29	Lubo Zizakovic	DT	Winnipeg Blue Bombers
30	Robert Stevenson	G	Montreal Alouettes
31	Charles Esty	G	Calgary Stampeders
32	Pass	—	Edmonton Eskimos
33	Pass	—	Toronto Argonauts

Round five

Pick #	Player	Position	CFL Team
34	Pass	—	Saskatchewan Roughriders
35	Pass	—	BC Lions
36	Pass	—	Hamilton Tiger-Cats
37	Jayson Dzikowicz	DB	Winnipeg Blue Bombers
38	David Harper	LB	Montreal Alouettes
39	Pass	—	Calgary Stampeders
40	Pass	—	Edmonton Eskimos
41	Pass	—	Toronto Argonauts