The CFL required teams to publicly release their negotiation lists for the first time in 2025. It’s an odd process, but the short of it is: the league allows teams to essentially draft a list of up to 45 players who are either unsigned, in college or playing in another professional league — including the NFL.
The Patriots had several familiar names show up on the lists, with the two current members being rookie wide receiver Efton Chism III (BC Lions) and rookie quarterback Ben Wooldridge (Calgary Stampeders). New England also saw some old friends, like
quarterbacks Malik Cunningham (Edmonton Elks) and Ian Book (Winnipeg Blue Bombers), wide receiver JaQuae Jackson (BC), defensive linemen Tashawn Bower (BC) and William Bradley-King (Ottawa RedBlacks), cornerback Azizi Hearn (Edmonton) and safety AJ Thomas (Calgary).
What does this all mean?
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The CFL can’t force any of these guys to give up on their dreams, move to a different country and play what essentially amounts to a different sports, so it’s not like anyone should worry about guys getting poached. It’s just an alternate option for those who want an opportunity to play in a bigger role.
Chism, 23, should have every opportunity to crack the roster this summer at One Patriot Place. New England is notoriously open to keeping younger, less established players at that position, and the kid can play.
Wooldridge, 25, is a different story entirely. The Patriots don’t have much room for a developmental quarterback on the active roster, and while it’s nice having someone with size and athleticism on the practice squad, it might make more sense for him to test his luck getting legitimate playing time in the CFL.
We won’t see any of this come to a head any time soon, but it’s something to keep in the back of your mind when roster cuts are made in late August.
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