The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have made no progress getting Canadian quarterback Taylor Elgersma under contract, which appears to have them feeling discouraged.
“It’s a tough one. I talked to his (CFL) agent who is a Canadian guy, and then they have an American guy (for the NFL). They’re still trying, they’re still holding out hope that there’s an NFL contract … and there’s still the UFL, so they’re figuring it out. There is zero clarity,” general manager Kyle Walters recently told the media via videoconference.
“The longer it goes, from my standpoint, I guess the worse it feels that he’ll be in Winnipeg. I guess I was hoping come February 1, if there’s no futures (NFL) contract, that he’d jump at the opportunity to sign a Blue Bomber contract, but that has not been the case. They’re still sorting things out and hoping that there’s some NFL interest on their behalf and if there is, then he gets some workouts, and maybe he gets into a camp, I think is their ideal plan.”
The 23-year-old passer was a second-round pick in the 2025 CFL Draft out of Wilfrid Laurier University, where he won the Hec Crighton Trophy as the top player in all of U Sports football. He’d impressed at the Senior Bowl, becoming one of few U Sports players ever invited to the premier showcase game for NFL prospects, and signed a contract with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in May.
The native of London, Ont. dressed for three preseason games with the Packers and completed 16-of-23 passes for 166 yards and one touchdown. He was waived near the end of August but requested a meeting with head coach Matt LaFleur to inquire about how he could improve. LaFleur obliged and Elgersma felt it was a productive meeting, saying he was “very appreciative” of the feedback he received.
The six-foot-five, 227-pound passer has remained a free agent since his release from Green Bay, despite recent reports that he’d signed with the UFL’s Birmingham Stallions. Though the Stallions claimed Elgersma’s rights through the UFL draft, he would need to obtain a U.S. work permit in order to play in the league.
Elgersma has garnered NFL interest over the past few months, working out for the San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, and Miami Dolphins, though it doesn’t appear he’s been offered another contract. For what it’s worth, Elgersma recently indicated that he doesn’t see the Blue Bombers as some type of backup plan.
“Winnipeg’s not a backup for anything. I have great respect for the culture of that locker room and for what the CFL is,” he recently told 3DownNation. “I’ve said all along throughout the draft process when I was interviewed by teams that my goal is to be a pro quarterback and that’s ultimately what my dream has always been — to make a living playing the game I love. I don’t think of Winnipeg as a backup at all.”
The Blue Bombers didn’t make any additions at quarterback in free agency, sticking with incumbents Zach Collaros, Terry Wilson, and Chase Artopoeus.
Wilson has attempted only 12 regular-season passes over two CFL seasons, while Artopoeus has never taken a meaningful snap. Chris Streveler, who suffered a torn in ACL in October, wasn’t retained and has yet to confirm whether or not he intends to return to the CFL. He’s currently a free agent.
The Blue Bombers also added two CFL rookies in Bryce Perkins and Payton Thorne. Perkins has six years of professional football experience and a UFL MVP award, while Thorne started 48 games at Michigan State and Auburn and was mentored by longtime CFL quarterback Kent Austin.
Walters seems pleased with the group of young passers currently under contract, though he warned that Collaros will need to practice more following the hiring of Tommy Condell as offensive coordinator, leaving fewer reps for the others.
“We’re cautiously optimistic with the group behind Zach that one of them is going to step up. It’s just so challenging — and you’re gonna see it this year with a new offensive coordinator — where Zach’s going to have to take a ton of the reps with all the different personnel, so Zach’s going to have to take more reps than usual with Tommy, with the new receivers, which means the second, third, fourth guys (at quarterback) are going to be limited with how many reps they get,” said Walters.
“You get two preseason games, so for these young quarterbacks, not just here but around the league, when you get your opportunity, you’ve got to take it and show that you can make a play. I’m excited (to see) one or two of them step up in training camp and show the coaches that that they’re the guy that deserves to take the reps and be behind Zach.”
There are several veteran quarterbacks currently available on the free agent market, including Streveler, McLeod Bethel-Thompson, Jeremiah Masoli, Caleb Evans, Shea Patterson, and Tyrie Adams. It doesn’t seem like Winnipeg will consider signing any of them until they get clarity on whether or not Elgersma will be in training camp.
“I sure would like to wait on the Taylor Elgersma (issue) to figure itself out,” said Walters. “Once that is decided one way or another, then we’ll potentially look at a guy with a little more experience than the guys we have, but nothing imminent that we’re going to go out and sign one of these guys until Taylor’s situation is sorted out.”
