On Tuesday, the Miami Dolphins announced the signing of former CFL quarterback Chris Streveler. Streveler won the 107th Grey Cup in 2019 as a member of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, becoming a fan favorite along the way. Since then, he has found his way onto a few NFL rosters, with the next stop being in South Florida.
Streveler began his NFL journey in 2020, when he signed with the Arizona Cardinals. In the final regular season game against the Los Angeles Rams, he started in place of an injured Kyler Murray, throwing for 105 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Heading into 2021, the Cardinals added veteran quarterback Colt McCoy to their roster, who ended up winning the backup job.
Despite being demoted to a third-string role, Streveler still saw some action last season, completing 6 of 9 passes for 36 yards. In November, he was released to make room for the newly-acquired Trace McSorley. There was some speculation that Streveler would return to Canada for another Grey Cup run, but he opted to stay in the U.S. and sign with the Baltimore Ravens.
Many thought Streveler would be a great fit in Baltimore, given that they have two very mobile quarterbacks in Lamar Jackson and Tyler Huntley. However, he didn’t see the field once, and never had his contract renewed. The Dolphins may be just as interesting of a fit, though, as their backup quarterback in 2021 (Jacoby Brissett) had a similar role to Streveler’s in Arizona. Brissett often appeared in short-down situations for quarterback sneaks, a smart option used in some offenses to prevent injuring the starter.
While Streveler likely wants to be more than just a runner, little has been seen from him at the NFL level so far. Miami’s current QB1, Tua Tagovailoa, has been criticized by both fans and analysts for his play style, which may have prompted the front office to bring in some competition. It’s an uphill battle for Streveler nonetheless, but another opportunity for him to get preseason reps shouldn’t be overlooked.
This is not the first CFL player Miami has signed, either. A few weeks ago, the team added former Ottawa Redblacks receiver/returner DeVonte Dedmon. The John Agro Special Teams Award winner has an opportunity to catch passes from Streveler once training camp begins in a few months (assuming both stick around for that long).
Streveler is continuing to find his way at the highest level of pro football, but if there’s one guarantee, it’s that CFL fans (especially in Winnipeg) will continue to support him on his journey.
