Undrafted London, Ont. quarterback gets tryout with Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers

Laurier quarterback Taylor Elgersma is sacked by Western's Riley MacLeod during the first half of the OUA matchup between the Western Mustangs and the Laurier Golden Hawks at Alumni Stadium in London, Ont. on Saturday, October 21, 2023.THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Geoff Robins

Seven rounds of the NFL draft came and went this weekend and Taylor Elgersma didn’t hear his name called.

However, according to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, the London, Ont. native has earned rookie mini-camp tryouts with multiple teams including the Buffalo Bills and Green Bay Packers.

Justin Dunk of 3Down Nation who is a former OUA quarterback reports that he has received more than a dozen offers.

“Elgersma’s agents Fred Weinrauch and Craig Schaeffer are still pursuing an undrafted free agent contract for the Canuck QB. If he does not ink a UDFA agreement, he’ll try to earn a contract with Green Bay and Buffalo. The strong-armed signal caller went on a top 30 visit to Lambeau Field on Wednesday, April 16 while the Bills sent four staff members to his pro day in March,” wrote Dunk.

In an interview with CTV London prior to the draft, Elgersma said if he didn’t get drafted, he would hope to sign an undrafted free agent (UDFA) contract or get a mini-camp invite.

“Whenever I get whatever opportunity, try to make the most of it and, you know, hopefully, you know, also a CFL team takes me in the draft and I’ll be able to have, options on both sides of the border,” said Elgersma.He added after his time in the U.S. at showcases, he believes he belongs in the conversation with the other NFL prospects.

“There’s different paths that everyone’s going to take to get to these opportunities, but you have to be willing to really go chase those opportunities,” said Elgersma.

“Someone who’s ambitious and wants to go get after it and you’re good enough, you can open some pretty cool doors.”

The former Oakridge Oak and Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawk caught the attention of NFL teams after being invited to the Senior Bowl and then a pro day at the University of Buffalo which had scouts from 17 teams in attendance.

One Canadian quarterback was selected in seventh round by the San Francisco 49ers with the 227th pick.

Kurtis Rourke, University of Indiana, became the first Canadian QB chosen since Jesse Palmer in 2001.