A brief session to throw timing routes and a quick walk-through to go over the 30-play script was all the preparation Wilfred Laurier (Ontario) quarterback Taylor Elgersma had for the University at Buffalo’s Pro Day on March 13.
“Obviously, you would like a full week,” he said.
The two days were enough because Elgersma put on a fine performance before NFL and CFL scouts, showing accuracy on the full route tree. Elgersma, 6-foot-5, 216 pounds and 9½-inch hands that felt as big as catcher mitts when we shook hands last week, is expected to be at least a priority undrafted free agent next month if not selected by an NFL club.
Senior Bowl Football
Wilfrid Laurier University quarterback Taylor Elgersma, passing at the Senior Bowl, was at UB’s Pro Day on March 13. Butch Dill, Associated Press
Elgersma, who turned 23 on Friday, grew up in London, Ontario. He was a backup at Laurier (located in Waterloo) in 2021 and started for three years. He finished his career with 10,547 yards passing, 78 touchdowns and 33 interceptions in 41 games, but really showed progress in his last two years (60 touchdowns, 19 interceptions).
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Elgersma was a second-team All-U Sports (Canadian colleges) selection in 2023, and a first-team pick in 2024. He did not explore transferring to an American college.
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“I always wanted to play at Laurier,” he said. “When I committed to Laurier, I committed to the team and to the coaches. For me, there were people who had suggestions for what I should do with my career, but staying at Laurier worked out for me.”
After last season, Elgersma participated in the College Gridiron Showcase (Jan. 12 in Fort Worth, Texas) and the Tropical Bowl (Jan. 19 in Daytona Beach, Florida). Then, he became the first Canadian college quarterback – and only the second Canadian college player overall – to be invited to the Senior Bowl. He was 4 of 7 passing for 57 yards.
“That was an amazing week, overall,” said Elgersma, who was not invited to the scouting combine. “The event was first class. The staff, the players, the coaches – everyone was amazing to me, and I thought it was good week for me to develop and be able to showcase who I am.”
How did now-former Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy discover Elgersma?
Elgersma has spent time in recent offseasons training at QB Country in Birmingham, Ala. Instructor Ben Neill, who ran Elgersma’s pro day at UB, alerted Nagy to Elgersma’s tape.
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It is a good opportunity for both sides, writes Jay Skurski. The Buffalo Bills add depth at a position with a player the coaching staff trusts, while Dane Jackson, 28, gets to rebuild his value with another crack at free agency in 2026.
The focus this winter, Elgersma said, was practical.
The field is smaller: Canadian football is 110 yards by 65 yards, compared to 100 yards by 53⅓ yards in America.
The teammates are fewer: twelve-man Canadian football vs. 11-man American football.
And the presnap setup is different: Elgersma played almost exclusively in the shotgun at Laurier.
“A lot of the (current work) is under-center footwork,” he said.
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“I feel like I can definitely help. This team reminds me, I remember when we were in Cincinnati, we had that Super Bowl run,” Ogunjobi said. “The defense is very similar to what I played in Cincinnati. The success I had in Cincinnati was exciting.”
One route – a corner route from the far hash – has required an adjustment.
“When you threw a field corner in Canadian football, you have to give it a ton of air and let your guy track it,” Elgersma said. “In America, I’ve had to speed up my footwork and get the ball down (quicker).”
Elgersma was ranked as the No. 20 prospect by the CFL Scouting Bureau in January. The CFL draft is April 29 (the NFL draft is April 24-26). He was not on the list of players participating in this week’s CFL scouting combine.
Quick kicks
DK Metcalf
While former Seahawks star DK Metcalf, left, should help the Steelers offense as a legitimate No. 1 receiver, who will be throwing him the football? Kyusung Gong, Associated Press
1. All in … on offense. The Cincinnati Bengals likely cost themselves millions of dollars in waiting so long to extend receiver Ja’Marr Chase (he has one year left on his deal) and re-sign Tee Higgins (he was placed under the franchise tag last month), but all’s well that ends well for quarterback Joe Burrow. On four-year deals, Chase checked in at $161 million and Higgins $115 million.
The Bengals joined Philadelphia (A.J. Brown/Devonta Smith) and Miami (Tyreek Hill/Jaylon Waddle) as teams with two $20 million-per-year receivers.
Cincinnati should be compared to the 2000s Indianapolis Colts. All offense, little defense. During quarterback Peyton Manning’s time with the Colts (1998-2010), the offense had an average scoring finish of 6.4, compared to the defense having an average scoring finish of 15.5.
2. Detroit’s playoff proposal. Detroit’s submission to change the playoff seeding process – ranking teams Nos. 1-7 based on wins instead of division champions being guaranteed Nos. 1-4 – has some merit. Over the last decade, 14 first-round games featured a wild-card club with a better record playing on the road. (The Bills have not been impacted.)
Last season, the Chargers (at Houston), Minnesota (at the Los Angeles Rams) and Washington (at Tampa Bay) had the better record than their wild-card opponent. Only the Commanders won. That said, I don’t see it being approved by owners. These radical changes move at a glacial pace.
3. Everything but QB. Pittsburgh has done a decent job this month in acquiring a legitimate No. 1 receiver (DK Metcalf from Seattle) and signing cornerback Darius Slay (Philadelphia), linebacker Malik Harrison (Baltimore) and running back Kenneth Gainwell (Philadelphia). But the Steelers know they don’t have a starting-caliber quarterback under contract, right? They seem content waiting for Aaron Rodgers to make a decision, knowing Russell Wilson is still unsigned.
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4. Extra points. Smart move by the Bills to reach a reworked/pay-cut contract agreement with linebacker Matt Milano. He will be in his age-31 season and has played nine of 34 regular-season games the last two years (leg and triceps injuries). Dorian Williams had a team-high 114 tackles in place of Milano, enough evidence to me that he merits a post-Milano chance. … Elgersma’s favorite quarterbacks? “I really enjoy (the Rams’) Matthew Stafford. I think he’s a tough dude, throws at different arm angles and leads. I also like watching Josh Allen – obviously one of the best in the world.”
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