Canadian linebacker Cameron Judge has signed a three-year contract with the Roughriders after the team selected the UCLA product second overall in the 2017 CFL draft.
The deal features some unique formatting which breaks the mould from standard draft pacts.
As one CFL agent put it: “Some of us have gotten brainwashed by the structure of previous draft deals. Judge’s deal features more housing money than normal and it’s refreshing to see a new take.”
Judge will make $82,500 in “guaranteed money” – $53,000 base salary, $17,500 signing bonus and $12,000 housing in 2017. Plus a $4,000 playtime bonus for playing one play, which will all but be secured, bringing the year one total to $86,500 with more playtime and performance bonuses available to be reached.
For year two, $73,000 base and $15,000 housing equals $88,000 “guaranteed money” with $2,000 more coming for playing one play in one game and $2,000 for nine games played.
Year three, $81,500 base and $15,000 housing for $96,500 “guaranteed money” with the same $2,000 and $2,000 playtime bonuses as year two.
In all, the total guaranteed money comes out to $267,000 with another $8,000 all but certain that pushes it to $275,000.
For comparison, No. 1 pick, Bombers defensive lineman Faith Ekakitie received $88,000 in “guaranteed money” year one.
Judge will make more in “guaranteed money” year one than what Saskatchewan’s No. 1 overall selection, offensive lineman Josiah St. John got after a lengthy holdout last year.
The 22-year-old received an invite to Houston Texans rookie mini-camp, but no contract offer came his way after it was completed.
Judge played in 47 games for UCLA over his Bruins career recording 46 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, two passes defended, one forced fumble and one interception while being a special teams captain and ace.
At UCLA’s pro day the 22-year-old measured six-foot-one and weighed 220-pounds then performed well running a 4.50 40-yard time, 6.69 3-cone, 10-foot, one-inch broad jump, 36.5-inch vertical leap and 19 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press. Those testing numbers clearly indicate Judge oozes athleticism.
