On September 9th, all nine CFL teams revealed ten players from their negotiation lists. The negotiation list is made up of players that are in college, the NFL, an alternative league, or free agency. If a players’ name is on a team’s list, that means the team is interested in them. However, it doesn’t mean they’re guaranteed to get signed. Players can sit on a negotiation list for years before any type of deal is completed, and some will never appear on a CFL roster at all. The leading reason for the existence of the negotiation list has to do with the salary cap, but most of the details remain within league circles. 

Negotiation Lists

Key:

FA = Free agent

Italics = College player

Standard text = NFL or alt. league player

BC Lions:

Matt Corral (QB, Mississippi)

Ben DiNucci (QB, Dallas Cowboys)

Max Duggan (QB, Texas Christian)

Feleipe Franks (QB, Atlanta Falcons)

Grayson McCall (QB, Coastal Carolina)

EJ Perry (QB, Brown)

Jaxon Player (DL, Tulsa)

Carson Strong (QB, Nevada)

Cameron Ward (QB, Incarnate Word)

Bryce Young (QB, Alabama)

Calgary Stampeders:

Rashod Berry (DL, FA)

Jake Browning (QB, Cincinnati Bengals)

Reggie Davis (WR, FA)

Keelan Doss (WR, Atlanta Falcons)

Jacob Haener (QB, Fresno State)

Jeff Holland (DL, FA)

Pita Taumoepenu (DL, FA)

Skylar Thompson (QB, Kansas State)

Kerrith Whyte (RB, FA)

TJ Yeldon (RB, FA)

Edmonton Elks:

Matt Barkley (QB, Tennessee Titans)

Peter Guerriero (RB, FA)

De’Quan Hampton (WR/TE, FA)

Brett Hundley (QB, Indianapolis Colts)

Bryce Perkins (QB, Los Angeles Rams)

Spencer Sanders (QB, Oklahoma State)

Taylor Upshaw (DL, Michigan)

Binjimen Victor (WR, Baltimore Ravens)

Nsimba Webster (WR, Chicago Bears)

Shane Zylstra (WR/TE, FA)

Hamilton Tiger-Cats:

Anthony Brown (QB, Oregon)

Tavien Feaster (RB, FA)

Vosean Joseph (LB, FA)

McKenzie Milton (QB, Florida State)

Jalen Morton (QB, FA)

Jamie Newman (QB, FA)

Shawn Poindexter (WR, FA)

Delontae Scott (DL, FA)

Jordan Ta’amu (QB, FA)

JoJo Ward (WR, FA)

Montreal Alouettes:

Jack Abraham (QB, Mississippi State)

Manasseh Bailey (WR, FA)

Sean Clifford (QB, Penn State)

Christian DiLauro (OL, FA)

Daniel Smith (QB, Villanova)

Lance Lenoir (WR, FA)

Chris Miller (DB, FA)

Damion Ratley (WR, FA)

Tommy Stevens (QB/TE, FA)

Elijah Sullivan (LB, FA)

Ottawa Redblacks:

Eric Dungey (QB, FA)

Justin Hardy (WR, FA)

Devlin Hodges (QB, FA)

DeShone Kizer (QB, FA)

Eric Schmid (QB, Sam Houston State)

Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi (WR, Arizona Rattlers)

Jaelen Strong (WR, FA)

Dorian Thompson-Robinson (QB, UCLA)

De’Lance Turner (RB, FA)

Terrance Williams (WR, Massachusetts Pirates)

Saskatchewan Roughriders:

Jacob Dolegala (QB, FA)

Reggie Gilbert (DL, FA)

Darius Jackson (RB, FA)

Martinas Rankin (OL, FA)

Tegray Scales (LB, FA)

Darrius Shepherd (WR, FA)

Tuzar Skipper (DL, FA)

Alex Taylor (OL, FA)

Mike Weber (RB, FA)

Eddie Yarbrough (DL, FA)

Toronto Argonauts:

Javon Leake (RB, FA)

Ledarius Mack (DL, FA)

Cole McDonald (QB, FA)

Jachai Polite (DL, FA)

Michael Pratt (QB, Tulane)

Shedeur Sanders (QB, Jackson State)

Bo Scarbrough (RB, FA)

Zach Smith (QB, Tulsa)

Grant Wells (QB, Marshall)

Bailey Zappe (QB, Western Kentucky)

Winnipeg Blue Bombers:

Aviante Collins (OL, Dallas Cowboys)

Kendall Donnerson (DL, FA)

Sharif Finch (DL, FA)

Tae Hayes (DB, FA)

Alex McGough (QB, FA)

Manny Patterson (DB, FA)

Donald Payne (DL, FA)

RJ Prince (OL, FA)

Desmond Ridder (QB, Cincinnati)

JoJo Wicker (DL, FA)

Notable Players

QB Bryce Young (List: Lions)

Young is currently the starting quarterback at the University of Alabama, a school with arguably the best NCAA Division I football program. While Young is likely to make it to the NFL, he’s only a sophomore, and a lot could change before he declares for the draft. 

QB Jordan Ta’amu (List: Tiger-Cats)

XFL fans will be familiar with Ta’amu’s name, as he was the starting quarterback for the St. Louis BattleHawks in 2020. After the XFL season was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ta’amu signed with the Kansas City Chiefs. He spent time on their practice squad, and later signed with the Detroit Lions.

QB DeShone Kizer (List: Redblacks)

Kizer was a second-round draft pick by the Cleveland Browns in 2017 after three years at Notre Dame. He started 15 games for the Browns during his rookie season, but did not win any of them. He also led the NFL in interceptions. Kizer was traded to the Green Bay Packers prior to the 2018 season, becoming a backup to Aaron Rodgers. He joined the Oakland Raiders in 2019, and was a part of the Tennessee Titans practice squad in 2020. Kizer’s chances at making an NFL comeback are slim to none, and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him in the CFL soon.

WR Damon Sheehy-Guiseppi (List: Redblacks)

Guiseppi has had an incredible journey to professional football, which the details of can be found here. After being cut by the Cleveland Browns in 2019, Guiseppi was a part of various alternative leagues, including the XFL, Spring League, and FCF (Fan Controlled Football). He is now in the Indoor Football League as a member of the Arizona Rattlers. The CFL is a great option for Guiseppi, and could give him the best shot at making it back to the NFL. 

QB Shedeur Sanders (List: Argonauts)

Shedeur Sanders has a few years of college ahead of him before he’s eligible to go pro, but his name is still one to look out for. He’s the son of NFL Hall-of-Famer Deion Sanders, who is also Shedeur’s head coach at Jackson State University.