The Toronto Argonauts have signed three players for the 2026 season, including top 2025 CFL Draft prospect Paris Shand.
Shand was selected by the Toronto Argonauts in the second round, 19th overall, during the 2025 CFL draft. However, he initially signed with the Buffalo Bills as an NFL undrafted free agent, attending training camp with the team.
The Toronto native was waived by the Bills as part of final roster cuts in August. He has remained a free agent since, working out with the Cleveland Browns in September, but not receiving a contract offer. He was briefly added to the roster of the UFL’s Columbus Aviators earlier this offseason, but was removed later that week.
Shand finished his collegiate career with two seasons at Louisiana State University, starting nine games in 2024. He made 41 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, four sacks, and three pass knockdowns over 25 games with the Tigers.
The six-foot-four, 268-pound pass rusher transferred from the University of Arizona, where he recorded 41 total tackles, six tackles for loss, five sacks, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery over 24 games.
Shand ran the 40-yard dash in 4.82 seconds at his pro day in 2025, along with a 7.06-second three-cone drill and a 4.52-second short shuttle. He also repped 225 pounds 17 times on the bench press and posted a 33.5-inch vertical jump and a nine-foot, seven-inch broad jump.
Also signed by the Argonauts were American defensive back Akili Arnold and American running back Elijah Young.
Arnold concluded his college career at the University of Southern California in 2024, where he tallied 60 tackles, one interception, and two pass deflections in 12 games for the Trojans. The six-foot, 200-pound defender spent his first five seasons of college football at Oregon State University, where he would record 150 tackles, three interceptions, 10 pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery in 50 games.
Young spent two seasons at Western Kentucky University, where he rushed 305 times for 1,357 yards and six touchdowns. The five-foot-10, 185-pound back transferred from the University of Missouri, where he ran for 333 yards and one score in 28 games. The Tennessee native split training camp between the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills in 2025.
The Toronto Argonauts finished third in the East Division standings in 2025 with a 5-13 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Franchise quarterback Chad Kelly was unable to play all season due to a fractured leg he suffered in the East Final the previous year, giving way to Nick Arbuckle, who threw for 4,370 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions to be named the team’s candidate for Most Outstanding Player.
The Argonauts ranked seventh in net offence, sixth in net defence, and seventh with a turnover differential of minus-eight. The club’s leading rusher was Spencer Brown with 314 yards, the leading receiver was Dejon Brissett with 907 yards, and the leading tackler was Cameron Judge with 79 tackles. Toronto ranked ninth in attendance with average crowds of 15,109, which was a 0.1 percent decrease from the previous year.
