Ottawa Redblacks head coach Paul LaPolice knows who he wants to start at quarterback for his team in 2022: Chris Streveler.
According to sources, LaPolice believes Streveler is a superior passer compared to up-and-coming youngster Caleb Evans, despite the 23-year-old flashing intriguing potential as a starter in the CFL during his rookie season. It’s worth noting Evans’ contract runs through the 2022 season with a minimum base salary of $65,000.
Streveler came into the CFL in 2018 when LaPolice was the offensive coordinator for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The bench boss in the nation’s capital coached Streveler for two seasons and the pair won a Grey Cup together in 2019.
The six-foot-one, 216-pound Streveler threw for 2,698 yards while completing 64 percent of his passes with 19 touchdowns and 19 interceptions in 35 CFL games. He rushed for 1,167 yards and 22 touchdowns, averaging 5.7 yards per carry.
The athletic QB was especially effective for the Bombers during their 107th Grey Cup title run, running for 82 yards and one touchdown in the West Semi-Final against Calgary and throwing one touchdown pass to Andrew Harris in the CFL championship.
Winnipeg released Streveler to pursue NFL opportunities that December. He visited Arizona once prior to Christmas and worked out for the Cardinals in January, officially signing his contract in February 2020.
Streveler was released by Arizona in November after completing 17-of-25 pass attempts for 141 yards, one touchdown, and one interception while rushing seven times for 21 yards in parts of two seasons with the Cardinals. The Baltimore Ravens signed him to the practice squad in late November. He’s made over $1 million in his NFL career so far.
The University of South Dakota product has drawn comparisons to New Orleans Saints’ quarterback Taysom Hill as an explosive athlete who can attack defences with his arm and legs. He runs a 4.45-second 40-yard dash, posted a 38.5-inch vertical, and fired off a 10-foot, five-inch broad jump at his pro day.
Each of the three testing results would have been top among all quarterbacks who attended the 2018 NFL Combine. However, take the QB position designation away for a second, and those numbers would be high among any skill position group – and they are certainly elite for signal callers.
Streveler was a captain and led the Coyotes to the FCS playoffs for the first time in program history as a senior. He completed 65.7 per cent of his passes for 4,134 yards, 32 touchdowns against eight interceptions while rushing for 720 yards and 11 touchdowns on 168 carries, 4.3 yards per carry, during 13 games in his final year for South Dakota.
Every single NFL franchise had a representative at Streveler’s pro day in March 2018 and he worked out privately for the Chicago Bears, but went unselected in the 2018 NFL Draft – he actually turned down NFL rookie mini-camp invites to sign in Winnipeg.
If NFL opportunities run out for Streveler, expect LaPolice to try and recruit his prized pivot to Ottawa.
