Two of the most interesting picks in the 2015 CFL Canadian College Draft don't technically count as Canadians and likely won't be in the league for the long term. Those would be quarterbacks Brandon Bridge (taken by Montreal in the fourth round, 31st overall) and Andrew Buckley (taken by Calgary in the seventh round with the final pick of the draft, 62nd overall), and although they're both Canadian, they don't count thanks to the CFL's bizarre ratio rule that has three nationalities; Canadian, American, and "quarterback." Thus, having Canadian quarterbacks on the roster has no ratio benefit for teams. If you're Canadian at any other position, it helps your case to stay in the CFL. If you're a Canadian quarterback, the current rules mean that you have next to no chance at remaining in the CFL for the long haul.

Bridge in particular is a phenemonal prospect, one who attended the full NFL combine and had tryout opportunities in that league, and there are other good potential Canadian quarterback options out there, including Buckley, Jordan Yantz (who signed with Winnipeg after the draft) and Cayman Shutter. Unless the CFL and the CFLPA come to their senses and change the ratio rule, though, it seems highly likely these guys, no matter how good they are, will follow the route of Canadian quarterbacks before them and either fall out of the league or be converted to a different position. It's funny that Canadian quarterbacks are even eligible for the draft, as they're not considered Canadians at any time after that unless they switch positions. That's a missed opportunity for the CFL to gain some phenomenal athletes at their natural position (and improve the profile of the draft along the way), and it's one that could be easily remedied with a simple fix.



This is especially a shame in Bridge's case, as he might be the best Canadian quarterback prospect to come along in some time. He did well at South Alabama (NCAA Division I FCS), and he impressed both at the NFL combine and at his pro day. Many thought he'd be taken in the NFL draft, and although he wasn't, he had several post-draft offers and wound up going to minicamp with the Dallas Cowboys. He has one of the most powerful arms we've seen in the CFL in quite a while. Of course, Bridge has his flaws too; his footwork isn't all that polished yet, and his accuracy could use some work. Still, he might have more of a shot than any Canadian in recent memory of being a capable CFL starter. The question is just if he'll get the chance.

Some would argue that if Bridge is such a good prospect, he'd get a chance anyway, but that's not always the case in the CFL, and it's particularly not necessarily the case in Montreal right now. Bridge is incredibly talented, but he's a project, and CFL teams historically haven't had a lot of times for projects at quarterback, especially if their starter isn't firmly established. That's certainly the case in Montreal; incumbent Jonathon Crompton had some bright moments last year, but his accuracy needs a lot of work, and he's certainly not someone the team can indisputably count on. Recently-acquired backup Dan LeFevour seems to be in good position to step into the spotlight if Crompton struggles, which is all well and good, but that means at least two of the Alouettes' quarterback spots are accounted for heading into the season. At the moment, the other options are John Skelton and Tanner Marsh, and this is where things get difficult for Bridge. He arguably has much more upside than either of those two players, but Marsh is a CFL veteran at this point and Skelton is an NFL veteran; they're both much more polished, and likely more ready to immediately step in if needed. Thus, it could be difficult for Montreal to find space to keep Bridge around and develop him, especially when you consider that they receive no roster benefit from doing so.

How could this be remedied? Some have argued for every CFL team to be mandated to carry a Canadian quarterback, but that's a problematic approach; while there are probably enough good Canadian quarterbacks out there to fill nine slots (especially if you only take a few each year and then develop them for several years), forcing teams to build their rosters a certain way is never a good idea. Instead, the league should consider the evolution of Canadians at non-traditional "skill positions" we've seen over the years. Running backs were historically American, but teams like Calgary and B.C. have developed great Canadian backs like Jon Cornish and Andrew Harris (and found capable Canadian backups to cover them), and they've been rewarded for doing so with a looser ratio, letting them start Americans elsewhere. That's not quotaism, as Cornish was named not just the league's top Canadian, but its top player (and Canada's top overall athlete) in 2013; he may not have received that shot if Calgary wasn't rewarded for developing a Canadian player, though. Similarly, consider what teams like Edmonton have done with Canadian defensive backs. There are Canadians out there who can play any position in the CFL, and at every other position, they're rewarded for that. At quarterback, that isn't the case.

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