Nick Arbuckle has signed a one-year contract extension with the Edmonton Elks, taking him off the free agent market that’s set to open in February 2022. Below is a look at the remaining quarterbacks who will be available unless they sign extensions with their current teams.
Existing contracts can always be terminated or renegotiated — Montreal, for example, won’t be able to afford Vernon Adams Jr. and Trevor Harris on their current deals — so we’ve also included a list of quarterbacks whose contracts expire in February 2023 and February 2024.
McLeod Bethel-Thompson, Toronto Argonauts
The 33-year-old was recently anointed as the face of the franchise in Toronto where he has thrown for 1,760 yards, ten touchdowns, and seven interceptions this season. The Argos currently hold the top spot in the East Division with a 7-4 record and five of those wins have come with Bethel-Thompson as the starter.
Zach Collaros, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The ten-year veteran has turned back the clock this season, playing like the Most Outstanding Player candidate we saw in Hamilton five years ago. Collaros leads the league in passing yards (2,832), touchdown passes (18) and quarterback efficiency rating (111.7) and is widely considered the front-runner to win M.O.P. this year.
Dominique Davis, Ottawa Redblacks
The six-year veteran started two games this season and put up 624 passing yards, though many of them came after his team gave up big leads. At 32, Davis has a career touchdown-to-interception ratio of 11-to-19, which makes you wonder if he’ll be viewed as anything but a depth option (if anything) moving forward.
Dane Evans, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The 27-year-old went 2-1 as Hamilton’s starting quarterback this year before suffering an oblique injury that held him out of four games. He’s completed 67.8 percent of his passes this year for 661 yards, five touchdowns, and one interception while adding two more scores along the ground.
Isaac Harker, Saskatchewan Roughriders
The second-year quarterback has yet to throw his first career touchdown pass but has looked comfortable in spot duty behind Cody Fajardo. Harker has completed 73 percent of his career pass attempts for 556 yards and three interceptions and it’s possible we’ll see more of him late in the season if Saskatchewan has any meaningless games.
Jake Maier, Calgary Stampeders
The Maier of Calgary replaced an injured Bo Levi Mitchell early this season and became the first player in CFL history to throw for 300 yards in each of his first three starts. The 24-year-old has played sparingly since Mitchell’s return but could be viewed by another team as a potential starter come free agency.
Jeremiah Masoli, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The eight-year veteran has shaken off his early-season rust, posting sensational numbers over his last four starts: 1,261 passing yards, seven touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Masoli has also shown that he can still move the ball with his legs, rushing for 126 yards and one touchdown on the year.
Sean McGuire, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The 25-year-old has been in The Peg since the start of the 2019 season and has played sparingly, completing four-of-nine pass attempts for 72 yards. With Winnipeg having already clinched first place in the West Division, it’s possible we’ll see a lot of McGuire over the next three weeks.
David Watford, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The short-yardage specialist was released prior to the season but rejoined the Tabbies following an early-season injury to Jeremiah Masoli. He ended up starting two games and won both, passing for 342 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions while rushing for 96 yards.
Signed through 2022: Vernon Adams Jr., Montreal Alouettes; Nick Arbuckle, Edmonton Elks; Taylor Cornelius, Edmonton Elks; Caleb Evans, Ottawa Redblacks; Cody Fajardo, Saskatchewan Roughriders; Trevor Harris, Montreal Alouettes; Paxton Lynch, Saskatchewan Roughriders; Bo Levi Mitchell, Calgary Stampeders; Matt Nichols, Ottawa Redblacks; Dakota Prukop, Edmonton Elks; Michael Reilly, B.C. Lions.
Signed through 2023: Devlin ‘Duck’ Hodges, Ottawa Redblacks; Nathan Rourke, B.C. Lions.
