Former Saskatchewan Roughriders’ Canadian linebacker Cameron Judge worked out for the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday, February 11, per sources.
General manager Mike Mayock signed multiple players with CFL experience last off-season, including running back William Stanback, defensive lineman Nick Usher, and linebacker Derrick Moncrief. Former CFL standout Erik Harris has started at safety the last three seasons for the silver and black.
Mayock has raved about Harris in the past and is well aware the talent level in the CFL can allow players to compete in the NFL. That should give the six-foot-two, 235-pound Judge a legitimate chance to impress Mayock and head coach Jon Gruden in the Sin City.
The 26-year-old recorded a career-high 61 tackles, 11 special teams stops, five sacks, two interceptions, and one forced fumble in 2019. He was named the West Division’s Most Outstanding Canadian for his efforts with the green and white.
In December 2019, Judge worked out for the Los Angeles Chargers and did the same for the Jacksonville Jaguars the following January. He was not offered a contract by either team and chose to return to Saskatchewan on a one-year deal for 2020. When the CFL season was cancelled, he opted out of his contract to pursue NFL opportunities.
The jury was out on Judge after a tumultuous rookie season in which the UCLA product arrived late to training camp in Saskatchewan. He played in just three games prior to suffering a shoulder injury and tweeted he was stepping away from football in September 2017 to focus on an off-field opportunity.
Judge laid the gavel down in 2018 when he made 41 tackles, two sacks and forced one fumble in 18 games. He turned the promise shown as a prospect when Saskatchewan selected Judge in the first round, second overall during the 2017 CFL draft into production.
Judge has developed into a ratio-changing defender, looking every bit the player scouts envisioned while watching him in the NCAA with the Bruins. He played in 47 games for UCLA recording 46 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two passes defended, one forced fumble and one interception while serving as a special teams captain.
At UCLA’s pro day, Judge measured six-foot-one and weighed 220 pounds, running a 4.50 40-yard dash, 6.69 three-cone, 10-foot, one-inch broad jump, 36.5-inch vertical leap and 19 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press. He has a complete package of speed, agility, explosiveness, and power.
Judge earned an increased role with the Bruins with passing season at UCLA, starting games at linebacker in his junior and senior seasons and being named the weight room captain, too. The Houston Texans invited Judge to rookie mini-camp in May 2017, but he did not receive a contract offer.
The NFL interest remains and it could lead to a Raiders contract for Judge.
