Former CFL All-Star OL Derek Dennis joins XFL’s New York Guardians

Photo Scott Grant / CFLPhotoArchive.com

Former Calgary Stampeders’ offensive lineman Derek Dennis is going to have a New York state of mind.

The former Most Outstanding Offensive lineman signed with the XFL last week and sources are telling 3DownNation that Dennis has been added by the New York Guardians.

Dennis joins receiver Armanti Edwards and S.J. Green in the XFL who are with Dallas and Tampa Bay, respectively.

The 31-year-old started 16 games for the Calgary Stampeders in 2019 and played 72 career games in the Canadian Football League. He was a CFL all-star in 2016 and earned West Division all-star honours in 2016, 2018 and 2019.

Four of Dennis’ five seasons north of the border were spent in Cowtown while the other he played in Saskatchewan. The former Rider was the highest-paid American offensive lineman in the CFL during the 2017 season.

He made over $180,000 that year, which was due to rise to the high $180,000 range in the final two years of his original three-year agreement with Saskatchewan. But Dennis was cut loose shortly after the free agent period started in 2018. The six-foot-three, 348-pound Dennis rejoined the Stamps and won a Grey Cup the following November.

The Temple University product went unselected in the 2012 NFL draft, however, inked an undrafted free agent contract with the Miami Dolphins. Dennis was released by the club in July and it was shown on HBO’s Hard Knocks.

The New England Patriots signed Dennis one week later, but he was released by the Pats at the end of training camp. Dennis spent time on the Chicago Bears and Carolina Panthers’ practice squads prior to putting pen to paper with the Stampeders in September 2015. His career NFL earnings were $120,600.