With the regular season wrapping up in the National Football League on Sunday, teams can begin planning for next season. (Even the squads who made the playoffs).
Starting on Monday, NFL teams are eligible to sign non-roster players to future contracts.
A pair of players from the Canadian Football League (CFL) expected to take advantage of this opportunity this month are Saskatchewan Roughriders wide receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker and BC Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke.
According to 3downnation, Schaffer-Baker has worked out with NFL teams following the conclusion of the Roughriders 2022 regular season. The Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Las Vegas Raiders, Minnesota Vikings, Denver Broncos and New England Patriots have been reported to have worked out Schaffer-Baker.
In his second season with the green and white, the Canadian enjoyed a breakthrough year. He hauled in 68 receptions for 960 yards with five touchdowns.
Schaffer-Baker’s 2023 CFL rights belong to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Last year Brayden Lenius signed with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons. Lenius attempted to make the Falcons a tight end. He was released in the summer and would sign back in Saskatchewan in August.
Like Schaffer-Baker, Rourke has attracted plenty of NFL interest with several workouts. On Monday, it was reported the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian in 2022 worked out with the Kansas City Chiefs.
According to TSN’s Farhan Lalji, the BC QB has a couple more lined up this week and then we could see an announcement.
I do not expect Rourke to sign on Jan 9 (the first day players are eligible to sign futures deals). He has a few more workouts scheduled for next week, starting Monday. I’d expect some clarity by the end of next week. @CFLonTSN #BCLions https://t.co/PUypxfS5MG
— Farhan Lalji (@FarhanLaljiTSN) January 6, 2023
Winnipeg Blue Bomber receiver Dalton Schoen and Toronto Argos wide receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr. are among a group of other CFL players that worked out for NFL teams this offseason.
CFL free agency begins on February 14.
