The 1979 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 all nine teams making at least one selection in this stage of the draft.
Territorial exemptions
Toronto Argonauts Mike McTague WR North Dakota State
Saskatchewan Roughriders Al Johns DT Pacific University
Saskatchewan Roughriders Tim Hook G Montana
British Columbia Lions Nick Hebeler DT Simon Fraser
British Columbia Lions Ron Morehouse LB San Diego State
Hamilton Tiger-Cats John Priestner LB Western Ontario
Hamilton Tiger-Cats Jim Reid TB Wilfrid Laurier
Winnipeg Blue Bombers Rick Chernoff TE Manitoba
Winnipeg Blue Bombers Bill Yaworsky DE Manitoba
Ottawa Rough Riders Malcolm Inglis OT Carleton
Ottawa Rough Riders Pat Stoqua DB Carleton
Calgary Stampeders Tom Krebs G Utah
Calgary Stampeders Doug Battershill DB Weber State
Calgary Stampeders Rob Forbes FB Drake
Montreal Alouettes Nick Arakgi TE Bishop's
Montreal Alouettes Phil Colwell TB Wilfrid Laurier
Edmonton Eskimos Marco Cyncar DB Alberta
Edmonton Eskimos Kerry O'Connor TB Alberta
1st round
1. Toronto Argonauts Kevin Powell OT Utah State
2. Saskatchewan Roughriders Al Chorney DB British Columbia
3. British Columbia Lions Mark Houghton TB California State
4. Saskatchewan Roughriders Gerry Hornett OT Simon Fraser
5. Winnipeg Blue Bombers Rick House TB Simon Fraser
6. Ottawa Rough Riders Carman Cartieri LB Montana
7. Calgary Stampeders Darrell Moir WR Calgary
8. Calgary Stampeders Daryl Burko LB Saskatchewan
9. Edmonton Eskimos Dan Brown TE Calgary
2nd round
10. Toronto Argonauts Dan Huculak TB Simon Fraser
11. Saskatchewan Roughriders Bernie Crump DB British Columbia
12. British Columbia Lions Chris Curran DB Western Ontario
13. Hamilton Tiger-Cats Jim O'Keefe DB Wilfrid Laurier
14. Winnipeg Blue Bombers Jim Dziedzina TE Simon Fraser
15. Ottawa Rough Riders Al Dosant DB Windsor
16. Calgary Stampeders Ed Thomas DB Boise State
17. Hamilton Tiger-Cats Walt Payerl WR Western Ontario
18. Edmonton Eskimos Paul Shugart TE Queen's
3rd round
19. Montreal Alouettes Ed Szpytma DE McMaster
20. British Columbia Lions Kevin Aver DB St. Francis Xavier
21. British Columbia Lions Murray Watson DE Western Ontario
22. Winnipeg Blue Bombers Walt Passaglia WR Simon Fraser
23. Winnipeg Blue Bombers Doug Biggerstaff DE British Columbia
24. Montreal Alouettes Adrian Polesel T McMaster
25. Calgary Stampeders Jeff Inglis OT Guelph
26. Montreal Alouettes Jim Rutka WR Queen's
27. Edmonton Eskimos Dave Roberts LB Queen's
4th round
28. Toronto Argonauts Brent Racette DE British Columbia
29. Saskatchewan Roughriders Joe Sturby LB Saskatchewan
30. British Columbia Lions Torinado Panetta LB Carleton
31. Winnipeg Blue Bombers Chris Brewer DE Acadia
32. Winnipeg Blue Bombers Jim McHugh LB McMaster
33. Ottawa Rough Riders Dave Green TB Carleton
34. Calgary Stampeders Clay Richards DB Gavilan College
35. Montreal Alouettes Roland Mangold OG Northeast Missouri State
36. Edmonton Eskimos Blair Shier T Bishop's
5th round
37. Toronto Argonauts Mark Forsyth DB Wilfrid Laurier
38. Saskatchewan Roughriders Lyle Bauer OG Weber State
39. British Columbia Lions John Mackay TB British Columbia
40. Hamilton Tiger-Cats Mark Heidebrecht DT Springfield College
41. Winnipeg Blue Bombers Bob McEachern LB Weber State
42. Ottawa Rough Riders Blaine Shore K Queen's
43. Calgary Stampeders Dan Hagen TE Waterloo-Seneca
44. Montreal Alouettes Harry Webster OT Bishop's
45. Edmonton Eskimos Gary Simpson DB Carleton
6th round
46. Toronto Argonauts Peter Racey OT Simon Fraser
47. Saskatchewan Roughriders Paul Krepinski DT Utah State
48. British Columbia Lions Berry Muis WR British Columbia
49. Hamilton Tiger-Cats Jack Davis DT Wilfrid Laurier
50. Winnipeg Blue Bombers Gerry Hatherly LB Manitoba
51. Ottawa Rough Riders Scott Spurgeon DB St. Francis Xavier
52. Calgary Stampeders Ossie Wilson DB McMaster
53. Montreal Alouettes Richard Payne LB Wilfrid Laurier
54. Edmonton Eskimos Bob Colak LB Windsor
7th round
55. Toronto Argonauts John Goodrow TB Toronto
56. Saskatchewan Roughriders Lorne DeGroot DT Alberta
57. British Columbia Lions Paul Jaffe G Carleton
58. Hamilton Tiger-Cats Peter Hepburn DT Wilfrid Laurier
59. Winnipeg Blue Bombers Barry Safinuik TB Manitoba
60. Ottawa Rough Riders Dave Behm TB Ottawa
61. Calgary Stampeders George Fieber C Manitoba
62. Montreal Alouettes Keir Cutler WR McGill
63. Edmonton Eskimos Paul Shugart TE Queen's