Photo courtesy: CFL
With the CFL offseason officially underway, it’s time to take a look at which players could garner NFL opportunities over the next few months.
Almost 20 CFL players earned NFL workouts last offseason, seven of whom signed contracts — Saskatchewan receiver Ajou Ajou, Edmonton defensive lineman Elliott Brown, Toronto defensive lineman Ralph Holley, Edmonton punter Jake Julien, Toronto receiver Makai Polk, Saskatchewan offensive lineman Trevor Reid, and Winnipeg receiver Ontaria ‘Pokey’ Wilson.
The New York Jets have already hosted three CFL players for a workout, so here’s a preview of who could be heading down south over the next few months.
This list was made based on feedback from over a dozen league sources, many of whom are asked to provide lists of possible candidates to NFL teams each year.
Players are listed alphabetically by last name.
REC Damien Alford, Calgary Stampeders
The six-foot-six, 224-pound target ran a 4.46-second forty-yard dash at last year’s Big 12 pro day, though NFL teams might have been scared off by his lack of production at the University of Utah. Now that Alford has shown he can produce at the professional level, catching 20 passes for 407 yards and five touchdowns over 15 regular-season games with the Stampeders, the NFL should come calling.
OL Jacob Brammer, Saskatchewan Roughriders
The native of Richmond, Texas will turn 27 in February but he’s never had an NFL shot and only has two years of professional experience. Brammer started at right guard for a rock-solid Saskatchewan offensive line in 2025, earning All-CFL honours and helping the team win the Grey Cup. After starting primarily at tackle at the collegiate level, NFL teams might take more notice of Brammer now that he has experience at guard.
Photo courtesy: Jeff Vinnick/B.C. Lions
DB Robert Carter Jr., B.C. Lions
The Robert Morris University product went viral this year when he made what was arguably one of the greatest interceptions in the history of professional football. Carter Jr. noticeably improved over the course of the season, his first at the professional level, recording 51 defensive tackles, five interceptions, one forced fumble, and one touchdown. He’s also one of the CFL’s youngest active players at 22, which should work to his advantage.
OL Payton Collins, Saskatchewan Roughriders
The six-foot-six, 301-pound blocker started 12 regular-season games at left tackle for arguably the CFL’s best offensive line, allowing a pressure rate of 3.0 percent on 429 pass-blocking snaps, per Pro Football Focus (PFF). The 24-year-old native of Columbus, Ohio signed with the Roughriders straight out of Eastern Kentucky University despite having a decorated collegiate career, so he’s never been graded at an NFL training camp.
DB Jackson Findlay, B.C. Lions
The native of North Vancouver, B.C. didn’t enter the starting lineup until late this season but he was brilliant at safety, recording 26 defensive tackles, 12 special teams tackles, and four interceptions. Findlay tested well coming out of Western University but now has professional film to show NFL teams, which is significant for a U Sports prospect. The six-foot-two, 207-pound defender also won’t turn 22 until December.
LB Kyler Fisher, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The 24-year-old made 60 defensive tackles, nine special teams tackles, and one sack over 14 regular-season games in 2025, his first year as a professional. Fisher was only a part-time starter throughout his collegiate career at the University of Iowa but earned Hamilton’s starting job at weak-side linebacker midway through his rookie season, showing NFL teams he can be a first-string player.
DL Clarence Hicks, Calgary Stampeders
The six-foot-two, 229-pound defender is right on the cusp of being too old for the NFL — he’ll turn 27 next month — but he’s coming off a breakout season during which he notched 28 defensive tackles, 12 sacks, and two forced fumbles to be named All-West Division. Hicks attended training camp with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2022 but the native of Pensacola, Fla. has since proven that he can consistently rush the passer off the edge.
Photo courtesy: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography
DL Jaylon Hutchings, Calgary Stampeders
The 25-year-old was arguably the CFL’s best defensive player in 2025, recording 39 tackles, eight sacks, and one forced fumble from the interior of Calgary’s defensive line. Hutchings had to undergo knee surgery at the end of his collegiate career at Texas Tech University, which likely hampered his NFL interest. Ultra-strong, athletic interior defenders are hard to find, so expect Hutchings to receive plenty of NFL interest.
REC Dohnte Meyers, Saskatchewan Roughriders
The five-foot-ten, 190-pound target had a breakout season with the Roughriders, making 65 catches for 1,056 yards and eight touchdowns to be named All-West Division. Meyers has never previously been under contract in the NFL and didn’t play at the FBS level during his collegiate career, splitting time between Presbyterian College and Delta State University. The 25-year-old could very well be considered an NFL diamond-in-the-rough.
LB Jacob Roberts, Calgary Stampeders
The native of Charlotte, N.C. was excellent in his first full season as a CFL starter, recording 93 defensive tackles, nine special teams tackles, four sacks, and one forced fumble. The 24-year-old defender has no previous NFL experience, having signed straight from Wake Forest University to the Stampeders in 2024. Roberts especially excelled against the run, which matters more in four-down football than it does in the Canadian game.
DB J.J. Ross, Edmonton Elks
The 24-year-old blossomed into one of the CFL’s top-graded cornerbacks by PFF this season, recording 52 defensive tackles, three interceptions, and two forced fumbles. Ross has never been under contract in the NFL — he received only a rookie minicamp invitation from the Detroit Lions coming out of Western Illinois University — and has rare size for a defensive back at six-foot-three and 195 pounds.
DB Derek Slywka, Toronto Argonauts
The native of Waterloo, N.Y. had a stint with the Indianapolis Colts last year but participated in the team’s training camp as a receiver. Slywka played safety with the Argonauts this year — the same position he played at Ithaca College — and shone, making 46 defensive tackles, six special teams tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, and two touchdowns, also contributing as a returner.
DL Jonah Tavai, B.C. Lions
The five-foot-ten, 283-pound defender lacks the prototypical size coveted by NFL teams but his film is special. Tavai was arguably the CFL’s most impactful defensive lineman during the second half of the 2025 season and proved he can be effective from the interior or off the edge. Though he was under contract with the Seattle Seahawks in 2023, Tavai was never properly assessed as he was waived with a non-football injury designation.
Photo: Winnipeg Blue Bombers
KR Trey Vaval, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The 25-year-old was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie and Most Outstanding Special Teams Player after leading the league in punt return yards, missed field goal return yards, and kick return touchdowns, and finishing third in all-purpose yards. The speedster from Blue Springs, Mo. also contributed elsewhere on the field, recording 21 defensive tackles, four special teams tackles, and one interception.
LB Devin Veresuk, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The native of Windsor, Ont. drew NFL interest after lighting up last year’s University at Buffalo pro day, though there were some questions about his collegiate film. The six-foot-two, 240-pound defender quelled those concerns this year after making 66 defensive tackles, three special teams tackles, two sacks, one interception, and one forced fumble to earn the East Division nomination for Most Outstanding Rookie.
KR Isaiah Wooden, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The 25-year-old missed part of the season due to injury but was still impactful on special teams, averaging 26.3 yards on 42 kickoff returns, 15.0 yards on 38 punt returns, and scoring three return touchdowns. The native of San Diego, Calif. had brief stints with the Atlanta Falcons and Los Angeles Chargers in 2024 but could be worth another look in the NFL given the renewed importance of the return game down south.
Others in the mix: QB Davis Alexander, Montreal Alouettes; OL Brendan Bordner, Hamilton Tiger-Cats; LB Isaac Darkangelo, Toronto Argonauts; REC Ayden Eberhardt, B.C. Lions; DB Anthony Johnson, Calgary Stampeders; REC Jalen Philpot, Calgary Stampeders; REC Tyson Philpot, Montreal Alouettes; REC Kalil Pimpleton, Ottawa Redblacks; REC Makai Polk, Toronto Argonauts; OL Kendall Randolph, Winnipeg Blue Bombers; RB Justin Rankin, Edmonton Elks; LB Tyrell Richards, Montreal Alouettes