The BC Lions have traded quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. to the Calgary Stampeders on Tuesday in exchange for draft picks. BC will receive Calgary’s 2nd draft selection in the 2025 and 2026 CFL Draft. The 2 clubs will also swap 4th round picks in the upcoming CFL draft resulting in BC sliding back 3 spots in the 4th round.
The BC Lions receive:
Calgary’s 2025 2nd Round Pick (9th Overall)
Calgary’s 2025 4th Round Pick (29th Overall)
Calgary’s 2026 2nd Round Pick
The Calgary Stampeders receive:
Vernon Adams Jr.
BC’s 2025 4th Round Pick (32nd Overall)
Adams Jr. was the starting quarterback for the Lions heading into the 2024 season until his season was interrupted due to an injury in the 8th game of the season. He had a remarkable start to his season prior to a rough game in Winnipeg that saw him injured late in the game. He was on pace to have the third most passing yards in a CFL season after amassing 2,395 yards and 14 touchdowns with 5 interceptions over the first 7 games. These numbers were made even more impressive considering the high-pressure rate that was being allowed from opposing pass rushers over that span.
Shortly after the injury to Adams Jr., the Lions brought back Nathan Rourke following his NFL stint. Rourke was thrust into a starting role the same week that he signed with the team after 2 years away from the CFL. Rourke struggled to build continuity and after going 4 straight games without a touchdown the Lions went back to Vernon Adams Jr. as the starting quarterback.
In the final game of the season, he started again for BC in the final regular season game against Montreal and completed 26 of his 36 passes for 385 yards and 2 touchdowns with 2 interceptions. In the Lions’ loss to Saskatchewan in the Western Semi-Final, he completed 20 of his 33 passes for 317 yards and 2 touchdowns with 3 interceptions.
The Lions playoff loss was the second straight year in which the team’s offensive play-calling abandoned the run. In 2023’s Western Final loss to Winnipeg, they did not have a run play in the final 34 minutes of play despite the run having success. In the recent playoff loss, BC only handed the ball off to William Stanback 7 times. This helped to cultivate a scenario where too much was falling on the quarterback and Vernon Adams Jr. was trying to do too much in that game often forcing high-risk passes.
In Closing
The Calgary Stampeders received possibly the most valuable quarterback in the league in Vernon Adams Jr without having to spend a first-round pick. When he is at his best he has an incredible ability to mitigate the effect of pressure generated from the opponent’s pass rush using his mobility while keeping his vision downfield to find an open receiver.
BC fans would have liked to see more value come their way but with the Lions having a lot of salary going to quarterbacks Nathan Rourke and Vernon Adams Jr. they were not in a great negotiating position.
@JonathanClink on X
