Jets make a dream come true for ex-Argo Stiggers
Qwan’tez Stiggers thought his NFL dream ended nearly four years ago.
After his father died in a car accident in September 2020, Stiggers dealt with depression and dropped out of college. An emotional journey saw him return to football and — seemingly against all odds — he was selected in the fifth round of the NFL draft by the New York Jets on Saturday.
The cornerback, who grew up in the Atlanta area, was voted CFL rookie of the year with the Toronto Argonauts last season. He’s believed to be the first CFL player drafted by an NFL team without any college playing experience.
“I might not have gone the round I wanted to go in, but at the end of the day I love that the Jets selected me,” said Stiggers, picked 176th overall, in a video call with reporters before adding a message to the teams that passed on him.
“I’m going to make them pay,” he said. “They’re going to have to pay all year.”
The final day of the draft was a good one for prospects with Canadian connections. After Isaiah Adams of Ajax, an offensive lineman at Illinois, was taken in the third round by Arizona late Friday:
■ Windsor’s Theo Johnson, a sixfoot-five tight end, went to the New York Giants at No. 107. “He runs like a wide receiver,” said NFL Network draft guru Daniel Jeremiah. “I thought he aced the spring. From what we saw at the Senior Bowl, the all-star circuit, he was excellent there. Then the combine, pro day, you name it, that’s where he really upped his stock.”
■ The Detroit Lions took UBC tackle Giovanni Manu — who was born in Tonga but went to high school in Pitt Meadows, B.C. — at No. 126.
He’s the first UBC player drafted by an NFL team. Earlier this off-season, Detroit signed Canadian defensive lineman Mathieu Betts, the CFL’s top defensive player last season with the B.C. Lions.
■ At No. 194, the Cincinnati Bengals selected Arizona tight end Tanner McLachlan of Lethbridge, Alta. The six-foot-five, 244-pound McLachlan will join sophomore running back Chase Brown of London, Ont., on Cincinnati’s roster.
The Jets made Alabama defensive back Jaylen Key the 257th and final pick of the seven-round draft — known as Mr. Irrelevant.