Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
TORONTO — Darian Durant, Matt Nichols and Kevin Glenn will be pretty popular come Valentine’s Day if they haven’t inked new deals with their current teams.
Free agency starts on Feb. 14 and while Durant and Nichols have already drummed up plenty of talk, Glenn is also a serviceable backup that can provide quality starts when needed.
However, those looking for a match at quarterback don’t necessarily have to turn to one of those three. With 10 pending free agent quarterbacks in the second week of December, we look at ‘the other seven’:
Jeff Mathews
Team: HAM | Age: 25
Jeff Mathews could have a bright future but first needs an opportunity (Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca)
The Ticats and Kent Austin saw something in Jeff Mathews when he arrived as a 23-year-old in 2015. That hasn’t come to fruition, yet, but throughout 206 career passing attempts over two seasons, the Camarillo, Calif. native has at least shown promising glimpses.
Unfortunately for Mathews, the team’s quarterback hierarchy has likely been settled: Zach Collaros will be healthy to start 2017 and isn’t going anywhere, while Jeremiah Masoli has earned the No. 2 spot.
The 6-foot-4, 221-pound Mathews has a sturdy frame, has the arm, is young enough and in two years has picked up enough experience to make him a legitimate prospect with upside.
Even if the Ticats would like to keep him, he’s no longer a secret.
Danny O’Brien
Team: OTT | Age: 26
After falling down the Ottawa depth chart, where will Danny O’Brien fit in 2017? (Larry MacDougal/CFL.ca)
Similar to Mathews, O’Brien’s time as an understudy in the nation’s capital could be running out, although that could depend on what Henry Burris decides to do.
It appears that 26-year-old Brock Jensen has overtaken O’Brien on the depth chart, dropping the latter to fourth in Rick Campbell’s pecking order.
With two touchdowns and seven interceptions through three CFL seasons, O’Brien won’t be one of the more talked about pivots in free agency.
Dan LeFevour
Team: TOR | Age: 29
Dan LeFevour made the most of his three starts with the Argos in 2016 (The Canadian Press)
LeFevour couldn’t take the job and run with it for the Argos after Ricky Ray was hurt, but the 29-year-old may have rejuvenated his pro football career with what he showed in starts vs. Hamilton and Winnipeg.
While some are talking about LeFevour’s heart and his ability to inspire his teammates, he also showed the ability to improvise and make the best of a worst situation.
For a backup quarterback with some upside and four years of CFL experience, look no further than LeFevour.
Jacory Harris
Team: HAM | Age: 26
Jacory Harris will look to work his way back from a season-ending injury (Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca)
An emergency starter late in 2015, Jacory Harris lost his 2016 season due to injury. Harris was very much a part of the Ticats’ plans but it’s a full house in Hamilton, where Collaros and Masoli have the top two spots locked down.
The 6-foot-4 Miami Hurricane has athleticism and upside and would be best served as a developmental third-string quarterback — perhaps back in Hamilton.
Dominique Davis (UPDATE: Re-signed with Winnipeg)
Team: WPG | Age: 27
Dominique Davis has one career start under his belt but has played well in pre-season (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
Davis has failed to make major ripples early on in his CFL career but could be worth a flier as a developmental quarterback.
A 6-foot-3, 215-pound pivot, Davis has just 25 career attempts next to his name but has shown well in any pre-season opportunities.
A return to Winnipeg makes sense here but he’ll get a shot in camp elsewhere if needed.
Mitchell Gale
Team: SSK | Age: 26
With so many quarterbacks in Regina, will Mitchell Gale figure into the Riders’ plans? (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
Acquired from the Argos in the Shawn Lemon trade, some painted Gale as the Riders’ quarterback of the future when he stepped in for an injured Darian Durant and helped the Riders win their first game of the season.
Gale, 26, helped the Riders earn another win later on in the year against Hamilton — this time in relief for Durant late in the fourth quarter.
The four-year veteran certainly has some moxie and might have some upside, but we may not see it in Regina where the Riders have a multitude of young pivots on the roster.
Thomas DeMarco
Team: EDM | Age: 27
Thomas DeMarco could be a solid depth signing for a team in need (The Canadian Press)
Once a potential understudy to Henry Burris in Ottawa, DeMarco hasn’t gotten meaningful playing time since filling in for an injured Travis Lulay in BC back in 2013.
Will he ever be more than a third-string option? Opportunities are hard to come by in the CFL but if he finds himself in the right situation, the tool set is there for success.
DeMarco would be a good option for teams in need of depth and some competition at quarterback.
