Sunday marks the final day of action in the 2024 NFL regular season and a major milestone for CFL players looking to transition south of the border.
Beginning on Monday, January 6, all 32 NFL franchises can begin signing current CFL players to futures contracts. While these players are not eligible to participate in the playoffs this year, it is an early opportunity to add pieces for the 2025 campaign.
The CFL’s annual NFL workout window opened on November 18 and at least 19 players have taken advantage thus far. Though players under contract in the three-down league can continue to visit NFL teams until the signing window closes on February 11 at 12:01 p.m. EST, most of those who impressed will make their landing spot official in the coming days.
Participating in a bevy of workouts is no guarantee that you’ll sign a contract, as recent examples like Samuel Emilus and Kian Schaffer-Baker can attest. On the flip side, sometimes it only takes one stop to find the perfect fit. However, examining the number of teams visited by each player can provide a rough indication of the level of interest in their services and help predict whether they’ll be stateside next year.
Here is every CFL player to have worked out with an NFL team this offseason, sorted by the number of tryouts.
* indicates National player | ^ indicates Global player
Photo: Timothy Matwey/3DownNation. All rights reserved.
P Jake Julien, Edmonton Elks* (6): Denver Broncos, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets, New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings 2024 stats: 18 games played, 107 punts, 4,318 net yards (40.0 average), 5,773 gross yards (54.0 average), 8 inside the ten, 15 rouges scored
REC Makai Polk, Toronto Argonauts (5): Las Vegas Raiders, Buffalo Bills, Denver Broncos, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers 2024 stats: 17 games played, 61 receptions, 1,024 yards, 5 touchdowns
P Nik Constantinou, Hamilton Tiger-Cats^ (5): Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Giants, Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos, Baltimore Ravens 2024 stats: 18 games played, 102 punts, 3,756 net yards (36.8 average), 4,803 gross yards (47.1 average), 5 inside the ten, 6 rouges scored
DT Ralph Holley, Toronto Argonauts (5): Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers 2024 stats: 16 games played, 22 defensive tackles, 8 sacks, 1 forced fumble
Photo: Michael Scraper/3DownNation. All rights reserved.
DB Tyrell Ford, Winnipeg Blue Bombers* (4): Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, Buffalo Bills, New Orleans Saints 2024 stats: 18 games played, 51 defensive tackles, 4 special teams tackles, 12 pass knockdowns, 7 interceptions
REC Ajou Ajou, Saskatchewan Roughriders* (3): Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos 2024 stats: 12 games played, 20 receptions, 307 yards, two touchdowns
LB Michael Ayers, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2): New York Jets, Denver Broncos 2024 stats: 17 games played, 11 defensive tackles, 17 special teams tackles, 1 sack, 1 interception, 1 touchdown
Photo courtesy: Scott Grant/CFLPhotoArchive.com
LB Davion Taylor, Ottawa Redblacks (2): Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers 2024 stats: 17 games played, 39 defensive tackles, 12 special teams tackles, 3 sacks, 3 forced fumbles
REC Ontaria Wilson, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1): New York Jets 2024 stats: 18 games played, 71 receptions, 1,026 yards, 3 touchdowns
DE Brandon Barlow, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1): Denver Broncos 2024 stats: 18 games played, 40 defensive tackles, five sacks, one forced fumble
LB A.J. Allen, Saskatchewan Roughriders* (1): Denver Broncos 2024 stats: 18 games played, 7 defensive tackles, 22 special teams tackles, 1 interception, 1 touchdown