3 Key Points

• Qwan’tez Stiggers, a standout defensive back for the Toronto Argonauts, is aiming for the 2024 NFL Draft.
• While under contract with the Argonauts, Stiggers has received permission to participate in NFL pre-draft activities.
• The Argonauts are showing a willingness to support Stiggers’ transition to the NFL, reflecting a cooperative stance from the CFL organization.

Argonauts’ Qwan’tez Stiggers Pursues NFL Ambitions

Despite his active contract with the Toronto Argonauts that extends through the upcoming season, Qwan’tez Stiggers, the six-foot, 198-pound defensive back, is setting his sights on the NFL. He declared for the 2024 NFL Draft but cannot engage with NFL teams until meeting a three-year-out-of-high-school requirement. The Argonauts, led by general manager Mike ‘Pinball’ Clemons, appear supportive of Stiggers’ aspirations, signaling the possibility of granting him the flexibility to transition to the NFL.

This will be one of the most unique stories of the 2024 #NFLDraft cycle.

Stiggers, who never played college football, when from an arena league to the @TorontoArgos, won CFL Rookie of the Year, and has real interest from almost all 32 teams.

Because he never went through a… https://t.co/7WUGesA9Fk

— Eric Galko (@EricGalko) January 17, 2024

Stiggers’ Unique Path to CFL Stardom

Stiggers’ route to professional football was unconventional, as he did not play at the Division I college level due to academic hurdles and the cancelation of his supposed DII season caused by the pandemic. Turning hardship into opportunity, Stiggers impressed in the Fan Controlled Football League and subsequently secured a contract with the Argonauts. With 53 defensive tackles and five interceptions in his first CFL season, his performance as boundary cornerback was instrumental, earning him the recognition as the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie.

NFL Interest in Stiggers and Argonauts’ Stance

The Toronto Argonauts have already facilitated Stiggers’ next steps, with general manager Clemons seeking guidance from the CFL on how to proceed with his unique situation. Several NFL general managers have shown interest in Stiggers, who is represented by veteran NFL agent Fred Lyles south of the border. Lyles has praised the Argonauts for their cooperation and support of Stiggers’ NFL endeavors, including permission for pre-draft workouts such as the East-West Shrine Bowl.

While Qwan’tez Stiggers remains bound to the Toronto Argonauts for the time being, his next season seems to be taking shape beyond the Canadian field. His trajectory points to the NFL in 2024, symbolizing a potential shift from the CFL’s double blue to the ranks of the NFL elite.