As the Hamilton Tiger-Cats prepare to try to improve several areas of their team through the 2025 CFL draft, they continue to look for potential solutions to their defensive woes through free agency. For the majority of the CFL free-agency period, the Tiger-Cats have continued to secure potential players who would be able to improve their performance on the defensive side of the ball during the 2025 CFL season. Last week, the Tiger-Cats signed CFL veteran defensive back Branden Dozier. However, the Tiger-Cats continue to add as many potential playmakers as possible before training camp begins.
According to the CFL Transactions list, the Tiger-Cat’s most recent roster additions are American defensive tackle Marquise Copeland and National defensive back Gaddiel Kazadl from the Saint Clair Saints of the CJFL. Copeland joins the Tiger-Cats roster after enjoying a 5-year stint with the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL from 2019 until 2023. Kazadl comes to the CFL directly from playing the last two seasons in the CJFL, which is an unusual path for a prospective CFL prospect to take onto a CFL team’s roster.
From the LA Rams to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The 6’2″, 287-pound defensive tackle Marquise Copeland is rare in the CFL due to his extensive experience playing in the NFL with the Rams. During his time in Los Angeles, Copeland played in 26 games and recorded 22 solo tackles, 21 assists, and one quarterback sack. Based on Copeland’s NFL experience, Copeland could come into the CFL and become a solid run-stopping defensive lineman for the Tiger-Cats.
Copeland played college football at the University of Cincinnati from 2015 until 2018. He played 47 games for the Bearcats and recorded 79 solo tackles, 108 assists, and 8.5 quarterback sacks. The former Bearcat has the potential to establish himself as a defensive line force in Canada.
The Path Less Traveled from the CJFL to the CFL
In contrast with Copeland’s wealth of professional football experience, London, Ontario native Gaddiel Kazadl is a National defensive back who has a raw skill set that needs to develop those skills into a professional skill set. The 6’1″, 190-pound Kazadl played for the Saint Clair Saints at the CJFL level for two seasons. In 2023, Kazadl played in seven games for the Saints, recorded 14 tackles and six assists, including two tackles for loss, and recovered a fumble. Kazadl also played for the Saints during the 2024 season. He once again played in seven games and registered 14 tackles, five assists, an interception, three pass deflections, and blocked a kick.
For more football content check out Football Scientific
Follow me on X: @AaronSauter7
