3 CFL players the 49ers should scout during the 2023 season

One of the best aspects of the CFL is how unique it is. For over 100 years, they haven’t fallen into a trap to become a minor league of the NFL. They consistently produce some top-tier athletes and it also provides some NFL cuts a chance to regain their confidence.

During the winter, the CFL lost a bit of star power when Toronto Argonauts quarterback Macleod Bethal-Thompson went to New Orleans to play in the USFL. Though he wasn’t destined for the CFL Hall of Fame, he was the guy who lead the Argos to a 2022 Grey Cup victory over the heavily favoured Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

To go along with MBT, former Saskatchewan Roughriders linebacker Darnell Sankey dipped to the USFL as well. Sankey has a good chance at cracking an NFL roster at some point. He’s a solid linebacker, can change the momentum of the game with a single hit, and is well liked wherever he goes.

The USFL provides a bit of a challenge for players north of the border. Teams might not want to send their scouts to Canada when there’s another league playing down the road. It also poses an issue with players wanting to play football closer to home. MBT is a prime example.

But the CFL has survived every version of the XFL, even with a weird announcement between the leagues when the XFL came back. They’re surviving through the Arena Football League, and will most certainly be just fine with the USFL. Heck, they even survived a US expansion when the Baltimore Stallions won the Grey Cup, the only US team to do so.

If you want to check out a CFL game, the league created a way for USA residents to watch with CFL+. Games will also be broadcast on CBS. You can view the CBS and CFL+ schedule here.

As the 2023 season gets started, here are just a few players the San Francisco 49ers will want to keep their eye on. Getting started with Calgary Stampeders punter, Cody Grace.

All CFL player stats are from the 2023 CFL Guide Book.