The Canadian Football League (CFL) draft will be held this coming week. In some ways, the nine-team league might serve as a consolation prize for players whose names were not called this weekend. The dust is only beginning to settle from an electrifying NFL draft that has seen various degrees of elation, shock, and surprise sweep across the league’s massive fan base.
With Rounds 4-7 currently underway, all eyes are on high-profile and super-talented Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders, the son of Deion “Prime” Sanders. It is an understatement to suggest it’s surprising to see Shedeur’s name still available on the board at this late stage of the draft. The probability of his name being called today, though, whether it’s in round four or round seven, is quite likely.
History has proven that the order in which a player is selected does not always translate into success or longevity in the NFL. Tom Brady, after all, was not taken until the sixth round of the NFL draft, and went on to fame and fortune as one of the game’s all-time best. Courtney Brown, however, the much hyped, and freakishly athletic defensive end out of Penn State, quickly fizzled out with the Cincinnati Bengals after being taken number one that year.
The CFL is a viable option for players who may have been overlooked in the NFL draft. It is possible for a drafted player who may have been cut or relegated to the practice roster to recreate a pathway back to the NFL through the CFL.
There are examples of players who have made a comeback to success in the NFL by deploying this strategy. Players who, after being drafted by CFL teams, played exceptionally well in the nine-team professional league.
In turn, they were offered a second chance with the NFL and seized the opportunity entirely. One is New York Jets cornerback Qwan’tez Stiggers, who battled severe personal obstacles early in life and was ultimately signed by the Toronto Argonauts.
Following a strong showing at a preseason combine-like tryout held in Guelph, Ontario in 2023, Stiggers made the starting lineup and was a standout DB for the duration of the season. He went on to get drafted by the Jets in 2024. Stiggers, whose story serves as a testament to personal goals and resilience, is now a regular on special teams with the Jets, having appeared in 14 games this past season.
Stiggers will be given every opportunity to start at cornerback in 2025. Other examples include Alex Singleton of the Denver Broncos and Brandon Zylstra of the Carolina Panthers, as well as the Detroit Lions. Both of whom built their careers by way of the CFL after starring in college.
Whether it is his size and physical metrics, the fact that he comes from a smaller school, or both, linebacker Connor Shay appears to be overlooked by NFL teams. CFL reps have the University of Wyoming defensive spark plug as the top available player for the 75-player draft. Shay qualifies for “National” status, which is a valuable commodity for CFL teams, as each team must carry a predetermined number of “Canadian” players.
The formula of this rule is somewhat unclear, but it works to Shay’s advantage to have some Canadian roots. Despite being California-born, Shay holds the National designation, as his father was born in Prince Edward Island. This status, combined with his player evaluation, makes it all but certain that the Calgary Stampeders will take him at number one.
Shay was dominant at his position with Wyoming in 2024, recording 45 solo tackles in the 12 games that he started. He then put up jaw-dropping totals at the Wyoming Pro Day camp. The six-foot-one, 230-pound linebacker ran a 4.5 40-yard dash and recorded a vertical jump just shy of 40 inches. The defensive standout who is set to graduate from the same school that also produced All-Pro Buffalo Bills QB Josh Allen will undoubtedly get some looks from most NFL teams. His physical size will likely be the primary concern that prevents his name from being called this weekend in Green Bay.
The ceiling on University of Wyoming linebacker Connor Shay appears to be high. He has gone from serving mainly on special teams in his first two college seasons to being widely known in the Mountain West Conference as a leader and playmaker on the defensive side of the ball. The pathway back towards the NFL is often unorthodox for some players. Maybe Connor Shay will be the next to have his name called in the CFL draft, only to rise towards eventual NFL stardom later on.
If you love sports, download Stadium Rant from the Apple App Store and join one of the fastest-growing social sports communities. Be sure to follow us on socials too — you can find all our profiles on our Linktree.
