Canadian Quarterbacks in the 2025 CFL Draft

[ArgoRavi]

https://www.fantasypros.com/2025/01/nfl ... bowl-2025/

Taylor Elgersma (QB – Laurier)

Elgersma didn’t have a fantastic week by any means, but he flashed a big arm and intriguing accuracy while proving he belonged at the event. This was an outside-the-box invite for Jim Nagy and the Senior Bowl staff, but Elgersma likely opened some eyes this week. He wasn’t the best QB in Mobile, but he was far from the worst. He’s going to be a project at the NFL level, but with ideal size and arm strength and a solid showing at the Senior Bowl, teams will be taking a closer look in the coming weeks.

– Mike Maher

The actual Senior Bowl game is on Saturday, which should mean more than anything; however, it seems like the practices during the week matter much more than the game itself.

[j-ski]

Nice pass by Taylor at Senior Bowl

https://x.com/nflnetwork/status/1885805 ... 8044007%2F

[OV Argo]

BC & Ticats have recently signed new American QBs for TC. Ottawa signed mediocre FA Matt Schlitz; Bombers re-signed running QB Strevler.

Mot CFL teams seem pretty set at QBs for TC - experienced and young guys; and there are a few veterans (Masoli, Prukop, Dom Davis) FAs who teams could turn to.

Can't see any of these U Sports QBs having the slightest chance to compete for real at QB in a CFL TC. And I'd wager big money on it.

[j-ski]

BC & Ticats have recently signed new American QBs for TC. Ottawa signed mediocre FA Matt Schlitz; Bombers re-signed running QB Strevler.

Mot CFL teams seem pretty set at QBs for TC - experienced and young guys; and there are a few veterans (Masoli, Prukop, Dom Davis) FAs who teams could turn to.

Can't see any of these U Sports QBs having the slightest chance to compete for real at QB in a CFL TC. And I'd wager big money on it.

Sadly OV Argo, I more or less agree with you. Here is how I currently see the CFL status of our Canadian quarterbacks.

1. Kurtis Rourke, 6-5, 231,Indiana Hoosiers – Probably will be drafted by both the NFL and the CFL. Currently recovering from surgery. Don't know if he will be ready for NFL training camp.
2. Christian Veilleux, 6-5, 209, Georgia State Panthers – Staying in school for another year. I believe he will be drafted by the CFL in 2026.
3. Taylor Elgersma, 6-6, 212, Laurier Golden Hawks – I believe he will sign as a free agent in the NFL(before the CFL draft) and will be drafted by the CFL.
4. Jackson Tachinski 6-4, 215, Manitoba Bison – Going to the Invitational Combine. I think he will impress and be invited to the main combine. I think he will go undrafted and be signed by the Blue Bombers. I think he will get cut, and will be back playing QB at Manitoba in 2025. Its too bad the Bombers can't see him as a Canadian Chris Streveler.
5. Jonathan Sénécal, 6-1,200 – Montreal Caribin – Going to the Main Combine. I think he will go undrafted and sign with Montreal. I think he will get cut and will be playing for the Caribin in 2025.
6. Arnaud Desjardins, 6-5,207 – Laval Rouge Et Or – Going to the Main Combine. Already committed to going back to Laval in 2025. Will go undrafted and won't be in any CFL camps this fall.
7. Evan Hillock, 6-3,215, Western Mustangs – Going to the Invitational Combine. Don't think he will get invited to the Main Combine. Will go undrafted and won't be in any CFL camps this fall. Will return to Western for 2025.
8. Keagan Hall, 6-5,230, McMaster Mauraders – Going to the Invitational Combine. Don't think he will get invited to the Main Combine. Will go undrafted and won't be in any CFL camps this fall. Will return to Mac for 2025. Its too bad, I think he's the second best pure passer after Elgersma in U Sports.

[OV Argo]

BC & Ticats have recently signed new American QBs for TC. Ottawa signed mediocre FA Matt Schlitz; Bombers re-signed running QB Strevler.

Mot CFL teams seem pretty set at QBs for TC - experienced and young guys; and there are a few veterans (Masoli, Prukop, Dom Davis) FAs who teams could turn to.

Can't see any of these U Sports QBs having the slightest chance to compete for real at QB in a CFL TC. And I'd wager big money on it.

Sadly OV Argo, I more or less agree with you. Here is how I currently see the CFL status of our Canadian quarterbacks.

1. Kurtis Rourke, 6-5, 231,Indiana Hoosiers – Probably will be drafted by both the NFL and the CFL. Currently recovering from surgery. Don't know if he will be ready for NFL training camp.
2. Christian Veilleux, 6-5, 209, Georgia State Panthers – Staying in school for another year. I believe he will be drafted by the CFL in 2026.
3. Taylor Elgersma, 6-6, 212, Laurier Golden Hawks – I believe he will sign as a free agent in the NFL(before the CFL draft) and will be drafted by the CFL.
4. Jackson Tachinski 6-4, 215, Manitoba Bison – Going to the Invitational Combine. I think he will impress and be invited to the main combine. I think he will go undrafted and be signed by the Blue Bombers. I think he will get cut, and will be back playing QB at Manitoba in 2025. Its too bad the Bombers can't see him as a Canadian Chris Streveler.
5. Jonathan Sénécal, 6-1,200 – Montreal Caribin – Going to the Main Combine. I think he will go undrafted and sign with Montreal. I think he will get cut and will be playing for the Caribin in 2025.
6. Arnaud Desjardins, 6-5,207 – Laval Rouge Et Or – Going to the Main Combine. Already committed to going back to Laval in 2025. Will go undrafted and won't be in any CFL camps this fall.
7. Evan Hillock, 6-3,215, Western Mustangs – Going to the Invitational Combine. Don't think he will get invited to the Main Combine. Will go undrafted and won't be in any CFL camps this fall. Will return to Western for 2025.
8. Keagan Hall, 6-5,230, McMaster Mauraders – Going to the Invitational Combine. Don't think he will get invited to the Main Combine. Will go undrafted and won't be in any CFL camps this fall. Will return to Mac for 2025. Its too bad, I think he's the second best pure passer after Elgersma in U Sports.

Guess the good news would be, U Sports fans can see these guys play a final season there.

Rourke is going to get some sort of NFL look and likely never show in the CFL.

Elgersma might get an NFL FA look; and let's say a CFL team might draft him (as some sort of publicity stunt or as a future project) - which team would that be and would he get real reps in TC ? Can't see it.

The one faint hope might be with the EE starting Tre Ford at QB and the new Canadian HC (Kilam) maybe thinking it might be nice to have a back-up Canadian QB (the good old ratio "depth" thing), and be willing to give one a shot. This is very doubtful though IMO; just like O'Shea & Walters have shown zero interest in brining in a Canadian QB - to even get to compete in a TC there. These Canadian CFL decision makers were raised & trained in CFL ways = QB is just not a Canadian position / it's for Americans, and Canadian QBs don't even rate a real TC shot to even compete for #3 or a PR spot; and they fear the prospect of having a Canadian QB anywhere near their roster, cause a QB problem (injuries, poor play) could lead to local yokel fans and media chanting to give the Canadian kid a shot, and they want no part of this scenario.

Tre Ford was drafted by Chris Jones, as an "athlete" who runs a 4.4 forty - no way he was drafted or given any kind of CFL look if not for that speed; Jones gave him some shots to play though at least. Nathan Rourke was a multi-year starter in Div I ball and led his team to 3 straight Bowl wins - he has the better US college ball resume over many recent CFL QBs and would have been CFL pursued because of that - his Canadian QB passport had nothing to do with it.

[j-ski]

Hey, lets get really crazy here If Michael O'Connor does well in the IFAF Senior Men's World Championship might he get another shot in the CFL?

[shatto]

That was an excellent and insightful break down of the Canadian QBs by j-ski. The Argos need a short yardage QB and sitting on their doorstep are a number of Canadian QBs who IMO, deserve a crack at filing that role. Several have the size necessary for the role and Tachinski in particular also has the running ability. But I am afraid OV is correct and these Canadian QBs are unlikely to get the opportunity. Frankly I think it is short sighted of the powers that be.

[OV Argo]

That was an excellent and insightful break down of the Canadian QBs by j-ski. The Argos need a short yardage QB and sitting on their doorstep are a number of Canadian QBs who IMO, deserve a crack at filing that role. Several have the size necessary for the role and Tachinski in particular also has the running ability. But I am afraid OV is correct and these Canadian QBs are unlikely to get the opportunity. Frankly I think it is short sighted of the powers that be.

You might call it short sighted but I'm afraid I have some other descriptions. What did football fans call the NFL's former blatant bias & prejudice against African American QBs back in the day? No social media back then and maybe most journalists or football reporters tried to sweep it under the rug, or not discuss it all - like we see up here now ?

Maybe some talk will emerge around CFL Combine time; for now, here, it's j-ski, me & you with some interest. There's another CFL discussion site I peruse and it has about 10 or 50 times the members and posts compared to this site. Elgersma made some news (like on 3 Down) - when he was named to the recent CFL Scouting Bureau top 20 list and when he got to play and impress in NFL scouting chances like the Senior Bowl. But not one single word or post about that Canadian QB talent / CFL prospect there ... not sure why ... if there was an American QB who made news being on their team's radar or neg list, there would be lots of posts, info, YouTube hi-lites on the guy. But Canadian trained QBs are write-offs = it's the CFL way.

[j-ski]

WowI Keagan Hall and Jackson Tashinski both moving on to the Main Combine. I think Keagan Hall will be best pure passer at the Combine.

https://www.cfl.ca/2025/02/28/11-advanc ... l-combine/

[j-ski]

Taylor Elgersma interview. He's going to be at the Buffalo Bulls Pro Day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gf98NbY4sNA&t=1s