With NFL training camps opening soon across the United States, it’s time to remind ourselves of players south of the border who are Canadian or have CFL connections.
*Players listed in alphabetical order by last name
REC Bralon Addison – Minnesota Vikings (I)
CFL rights holder: None
The 26-year-old had a breakout season in 2019, recording 95 receptions for 1,236 yards and seven touchdowns. The speedster could look to contribute with the Vikings as a receiver, ball carrier and/or return specialist.
DB DaShaun Amos – Green Bay Packers (I)
CFL rights holder: None
The East Carolina University product became Calgary’s starting field-side halfback in 2019, making 42 tackles and five interceptions. The West Division all-star will be competing for a roster spot against a former U Sports All-Canadian featured later on this list.
DL Eli Ankou – Cleveland Browns (N)
CFL rights holder: Ottawa Redblacks
The Ottawa native was added to Jacksonville’s practice roster to start the 2019 season, but was quickly scooped up by the Browns. The four-year NFL veteran appeared in nine games in Cleveland, recording 15 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
TE Antony Auclair – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (N)
CFL rights holder: Saskatchewan Roughriders
The six-foot-six, 255-pounder fought injuries last year, appearing in only eight games. Auclair signed a one-year contract extension with the team in March and will look to form quick chemistry with Tom Brady.
REC Reggie Begelton – Green Bay Packers (I)
CFL rights holder: None
The three-year CFLer had a breakout season in 2019, catching 102 passes for 1,444 yards and ten touchdowns. Begelton’s contract with Green Bay is his first-ever NFL deal, which is surprising given his size, speed, and high level of production.
DB Tevaughn Campbell – Los Angeles Chargers (N)
CFL rights holder: None
The Regina product signed his first NFL contract last season and joined the Chargers’ practice squad after finishing training camp with the Jets. He dressed for two games on the west coast but did not record a statistic.
DB Anthony Cioffi – New York Jets (A)
CFL rights holder: None
The six-foot, 205-pound defender made an impact at strong-side linebacker with Ottawa over the past two seasons, recording 110 total tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles and two interceptions. He will look to win a job with the Jets at safety.
REC Chase Claypool – Pittsburgh Steelers (N)
CFL rights holder: B.C. Lions
The Abbotsford native became one of the highest-ever NFL draft picks in Canadian history after he was selected 49th overall by Pittsburgh in April. The six-foot-four, 238-pound target is expected to contribute heavily in the club’s offensive attack.
DL Christian Covington – Denver Broncos (N)
CFL rights holder: B.C. Lions
The Rice product is entering his sixth NFL season following stints in Houston (2015-2018) and Dallas (2019) where he made 93 tackles and 8.5 sacks in 66 games. The interior defender’s one-year deal with the Broncos is worth $1.75-million USD.
DL Tyrone Crawford – Dallas Cowboys (N)
CFL rights holder: None
The seven-year veteran is coming off an injury-plagued campaign in which he played just four games. Now in the final year of his contract, Crawford is guaranteed $1.1-million USD of the $9.1-million he’s scheduled to make in 2020.
DB Marc-Antoine Dequoy – Green Bay Packers (N)
CFL rights holder: Montreal Alouettes
The lanky cover man has a rare combination of size (six-foot-three, 200 pounds) and speed (4.35 forty-yard dash). Dequoy fell to Montreal in the second round of the CFL draft because he’d already inked an undrafted NFL deal with the Packers.
OL Laurent Duvernay-Tardif – Kansas City Chiefs (N)
CFL rights holder: Calgary Stampeders
The McGill product won Super Bowl LIV with the Chiefs last season, starting the game at right guard. Dr. Duvernay-Tardif recently became the first player to opt out of the 2020 NFL season to help fight the spread of COVID-19.
DB Chris Edwards – San Francisco 49ers (I)
CFL rights holder: None
The six-foot-two, 215-pounder played well at strong-side linebacker with B.C. last season, making 50 tackles, two forced fumbles, one sack and one interception. This is the 27-year-old’s first NFL opportunity since he signed with the Raiders in 2016.
LB Samuel Eguavoen – Miami Dolphins (I)
CFL rights holder: None
The Texas Tech product made Miami’s roster out of training camp last season and appeared in all 16 games. Eguavoen recorded 40 tackles and 3.5 sacks, continuing the success he enjoyed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (2016-2018).
DL Neville Gallimore – Dallas Cowboys (N)
CFL rights holder: Saskatchewan Roughriders
The six-foot-two, 300-pound defender was a third-round pick of the Cowboys in this year’s NFL draft. Born in Ottawa, Gallimore will look to make a strong impact as a rookie alongside fellow Ontario native Tyrone Crawford.
K/P Lirim Hajrullahu – Los Angeles Rams (N)
CFL rights holder: None
The 30-year-old signed his first career NFL contract April, inking a deal with the Rams. The Western product went 93-of-109 on field goals with the Tiger-Cats over the past two seasons (85.3 percent) with a long of 56 yards.
DB Erik Harris – Oakland Raiders (I)
CFL rights holder: None
The former Hamilton defender has spent the past three years with the Raiders, appearing in 47 of a possible 48 games. Harris set a number of new career-highs in 2019 including 67 tackles, eight pass deflections and three interceptions.
REC N’Keal Harry – New England Patriots (N)
CFL rights holder: None
The Toronto native became a first-round pick in last year’s NFL draft after a stellar career at Arizona State. He missed most of the season due to injury but still recorded 12 receptions for 105 yards and two touchdowns.
DL Michael Hoecht – Los Angeles Rams (N)
CFL rights holder: Ottawa Redblacks
The Brown University product was signed by the Rams as an undrafted free agent after demonstrating shocking athleticism for his six-foot-three, 290-pound frame. He was recently added to L.A.’s reserve/COVID-19 list.
OL Ryan Hunter – Kansas City Chiefs (N)
CFL rights holder: Toronto Argonauts
The ninth overall pick of the 2018 CFL draft has spent the past two years in Kansas City, dressing for three contests. The absence of fellow Canadian Laurent Duvernay-Tardif in 2020 could help Hunter’s chances of earning a regular role with the reigning Super Bowl champions.
REC Dontrelle Inman – Free Agent (I)
CFL rights holder: None
The former Argonaut has been in the NFL for the past six seasons, splitting time between the Chargers (2014-2017, 2019), Bears (2017), Patriots (2018) and Colts (2018, 2019). Though he’s currently a free agent, Inman caught 12 passes last year for 181 yards.
REC Rysen John – New York Giants (N)
CFL rights holder: Calgary Stampeders
The six-foot-seven target signed with the Giants after going unselected in the 2020 NFL draft and could look to contribute at wideout, slotback or tight end. Calgary later selected the Simon Fraser product in the third round of the 2020 CFL draft.
OL Brett Jones – Minnesota Vikings (N)
CFL rights holder: None
The 28-year-old is entering his sixth NFL campaign and his second with the Vikings. Jones missed seven games last year due to injury but remains a valuable depth piece along the interior of Minnesota’s offensive line.
REC T.J. Jones – Free Agent (N)
CFL rights holder: None
The native of Winnipeg spent the past six years in the NFL, splitting time between the Detroit Lions (2014-2018) and New York Giants (2019). He tried to sign with the Toronto Argonauts in February but a dispute regarding language in the CFL’s CBA put contract talks on hold.
DL Jonathan Kongbo – San Francisco 49ers (N)
CFL rights holder: None
The former first-round pick of the Blue Bombers was released following one year with the club to pursue the NFL. Though it’s likely he’ll return to Winnipeg if released by the 49ers, Kongbo is technically free to sign with any team north of the border if he becomes a free agent.
LS L.P. Ladoceur – Dallas Cowboys (N)
CFL rights holder: None
The Montreal native enters his 16th season as the Cowboys’ long snapper. Now 39, Ladoceur is one of the oldest active players in the NFL.
K/P Ty Long – Los Angeles Chargers (I)
CFL rights holder: None
The former member of the B.C. Lions (2017-2018) won a job with the Chargers in 2019, recording 48 punts for an average of 47 yards. He was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week One and will look to continue that success in 2020.
K/P Brett Maher – New York Jets (I)
CFL rights holder: None
The 30-year-old spent the past two seasons with the Cowboys where he converted 49-of-66 field goal attempts (74.2 percent). His impressive leg strength earned the Nebraska product another NFL shot, signing with the Jets in December 2019.
REC Marken Michel – Free Agent (I)
CFL rights holder: None
The 27-year-old was in training camp with the Philadelphia Eagles last year, spending a portion of the season on the practice roster. Now a free agent, the former Stampeder is free to sign with a team on either side of the border.
REC Bryant Mitchell – Tampa Bay Buccaneers (I)
CFL rights holder: None
The Northwestern State product inked a deal with the Cardinals last year following a strong four-year stint in Edmonton. Released in May, Mitchell quickly signed with Tampa Bay before suffering a season-ending Achilles tear in August.
DB Derrick Moncrief – Free Agent (I)
CFL rights holder: None
The six-foot-two, 220-pound defender was dominant with the Roughriders (2017-2019), recording 126 tackles, five interceptions, four sacks and one forced fumble in 35 games. Moncrief was signed by the Raiders in January but has been a free agent since his release in May.
OL Carter O’Donnell – Indianapolis Colts (N)
CFL rights holder: Montreal Alouettes
The 21-year-old went unselected in the NFL draft but signed with the Colts as a priority free agent. The Alberta product was a third-round pick of the Montreal Alouettes, though he would have been the CFL draft’s first overall selection had he not received such strong NFL interest.
OL Michael Ola – Free Agent (I)
CFL rights holder: None
The 32-year-old has made nine different stops in the NFL since his two-year stint with the Montreal Alouettes (2012-2013). Ola dressed for two games with the New Orleans Saints last year but remains a free agent ahead of the 2020 season.
DL David Onyemata – New Orleans Saints (N)
CFL rights holder: Saskatchewan Roughriders
The former fourth-round NFL draft pick dressed for 15 games last season — his fourth with the Saints — and made 31 tackles and three sacks. The Manitoba product inked a new three-year deal in March worth $27-million USD.
OL Austin Pasztor – Free Agent (N)
CFL rights holder: Edmonton Eskimos
The eight-year NFL veteran was cut following training camp with the Titans last year and has remained a free agent ever since. Now 29, Pasztor’s CFL rights remain with Edmonton as they chose him with the fourth overall pick in the 2011 draft.
LB Brian Peters – Free Agent (I)
CFL rights holder: None
The former Roughrider spent four seasons with the Houston Texans (2015-2018) during which he became a standout on special teams. He inked an XFL contract in March though he didn’t dress before the league folded in April.
DB Tre Roberson – Chicago Bears (I)
The 2019 CFL all-star was recently waived by Chicago after suffering an off-season injury during training. Roberson has since been added to the team’s reserve/non-football injury list, allowing the Bears to retain his rights.
DB Kacy Rodgers II – Free Agent (I)
CFL rights holder: None
Rodgers signed his first NFL contract with the Jets in 2018 but was released following training camp. Now 28, the former Roughrider has remained a free agent since.
DB Winston Rose – Cincinnati Bengals (I)
CFL rights holder: None
The 26-year-old was named a CFL all-star last season after leading the league with nine interceptions. Rose was released following the Grey Cup to sign with the Bengals, marking his first NFL opportunity since 2016.
DB Marcus Sayles – Minnesota Vikings (I)
CFL rights holder: None
The 25-year-old played well at boundary halfback over the past two seasons in Winnipeg, recording 143 total tackles, six interceptions, five forced fumbles and two sacks in 34 games. Sayles was named a West Division all-star in 2019.
OL Justin Senior – Free Agent (N)
CFL rights holder: Edmonton Eskimos
The 26-year-old was a sixth-round pick of the Seahawks in 2017 but was released by the team after sustaining an injury. Cut by the Chiefs prior to last year’s training camp, Senior remains a free agent.
DL Nathan Shepherd – New York Jets (N)
CFL rights holder: Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The 26-year-old made 11 tackles and two sacks in his second season with the Jets, though he was forced to miss six games after failing two tests for performance-enhancing drugs. The Ajax, Ont. native remains under contract through 2021.
LB Alex Singleton – Philadelphia Eagles (N)
CFL rights holder: None
The CFL’s former Most Outstanding Defensive Player made Philadelphia’s practice roster after training camp last year and eventually dressed for ten games. Singleton will look to take on a bigger role with the club in 2020 with a full NFL season now under his belt.
REC Diontae Spencer – Denver Broncos (I)
CFL rights holder: None
The 28-year-old signed with the Broncos last year after the Steelers cut him following training camp. The former CFL all-star caught six passes for 31 yards and returned 41 kickoffs/punts for 644 yards in 16 games with the club.
RB William Stanback – Las Vegas Raiders (I)
CFL rights holder: None
The six-foot-one, 230-pound ball carrier was sensational last season in Montreal, rushing 170 times for 1,048 yards and five scores. The league all-star will look to continue that success with the run-happy Raiders.
QB Chris Streveler – Arizona Cardinals (I)
CFL rights holder: None
The dual-threat passer could be the perfect backup to former first overall pick Kyler Murray, who rushed for 544 yards last season. Streveler will be coached by Kliff Kingsbury, the second-year head coach who served as a backup quarterback with the Blue Bombers in 2007.
LB Jameer Thurman – Free Agent (I)
CFL rights holder: None
The former Stampeder was released by the Bears following training camp last season despite making 16 preseason tackles. He later became a member of the XFL’s D.C. Defenders prior to the league’s collapse and has remained a free agent since.
DL Brent Urban – Tennessee Titans (N)
CFL rights holder: Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The 29-year-old spent the past six seasons with Baltimore (2014-2018), Tennessee (2019) and Chicago (2019), making 67 tackles and 3.5 sacks. The Virginia product returns to the Bears this season on a one-year deal that is worth $840,000 USD against the salary cap.
DL Nick Usher – Las Vegas Raiders (I)
CFL rights holder: None
The 25-year-old recorded 36 tackles, six sacks and three forced fumbles with Edmonton last year and the Raiders took notice. Las Vegas needs help getting to the passer and this six-foot-three, 255-pound edge rusher could help them get after the quarterback.
OL Greg Van Roten – New York Jets (I)
CFL rights holder: None
The former Argonaut recently finished his third season with the Panthers during which he started 11 games before suffering an injury. The 30-year-old inked a three-year deal with the Jets in March worth $10.5-million USD.
DL James Vaughters – Chicago Bears (I)
CFL rights holder: None
The 27-year-old spent most of last season on the Bears’ practice roster, though he eventually dressed for three games. He was a high draft pick of the XFL’s D.C. Defenders but didn’t report to the team and remains with Chicago.
DL Cameron Wake – Free Agent (I)
CFL rights holder: None
The 38-year-old dominated over a ten-year stint with the Dolphins, recording 98 sacks over 146 regular season games. Wake was released in March after one year with the Titans — he made 2.5 sacks in nine games — and remains a free agent.
REC D’haquille ‘Duke’ Williams – Buffalo Bills (I)
CFL rights holder: None
The six-foot-three target dressed for four games in his first season with the Bills, making 12 catches for 166 yards and a touchdown. Williams was recently added to the team’s reserve/COVID-19 list.
TE Luke Willson – Seattle Seahawks (N)
CFL rights holder: Toronto Argonauts
The 30-year-old rejoined the Seahawks last year after he was released by the Raiders following training camp. The Toronto native caught eight passes for 79 yards in eight games and should contribute to a similar degree in 2020.
REC Brandon Zylstra – Carolina Panthers (I)
CFL rights holder: None
The 27-year-old was claimed by Carolina when he was waived by Minnesota following training camp last September. He caught eight passes for 106 yards in eight games with the Panthers and will look to form chemistry with new franchise pivot Teddy Bridgewater.
*‘N’ denotes national, ‘I’ denotes international
