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The NFL’s cousins to the north, the CFL (Canadian Football League) have to play in the shadows of the sports behemoth both in talent and earnings. However, the highest-paid CFL players of 2025 still do relatively well compared to the league average of $73,200.
Nathan Rourke is the highest-paid CFL player of 2025. He plays quarterback for the B.C. Lions and earns $455,666 yearly. Rourke’s popularity in Canada and his play when he was last with the Lions in 2022 justify the top salary.
He signed for the Lions last August after getting cut by the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons.
Chad Kelly comes in second, raking in $449,000 a year. He’s the nephew of Buffalo Bills legend Jim Kelly and won the 2023 Most Outstanding Player award for the CFL.
Third on the list is Zach Collaros of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He signed his deal for $438,000 with the Blue Bombers in 2022. Collaros posted career-highs in 2023 in passing yards and average yards per completion.
Vernon Adams Jr. holds the fourth spot on the highest-paid CFL players list. He earns a salary of $339,450 with the Calgary Stampeders. Adams Jr. was recently traded to the Stampeders to boost their chances of lifting the Grey Cup this season.
The fifth highest-paid CFL player is another quarterback, Trevor Harris of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. After signing a one-year extension, Harris will earn $299,781 this year.
Unsurprisingly, quarterbacks dominate the highest-paid CFL players list.
Considered one of the toughest positions to play in sports, nine quarterbacks are among the top 25 highest-paid players. This includes the top seven highest earners.
Out of the top 25 highest-paid players in the CFL, 76% play on the offense. Only six players made the list from the defensive side of the ball.
Linebackers are the lowest-earning position. Only Wynton McManis cracked the top 25, but he’s only 20th and doesn’t earn over $200,000.
Ranking The Highest-Paid Canadian Football League Players
Here is the entire list of the top 25 highest-paid CFL players of 2025 by salary. All amounts have been converted from CAD (Canadian dollars) to USD. The list was compiled using data from the CFL and 3downnation.
- Updated: April 22, 2025
| Rank | Player | Position | Team | Total Compensation |
| 1 | Nathan Rourke | Quarterback | B.C. Lions | $455,666 |
| 2 | Chad Kelly | Quarterback | Toronto Argonauts | $449,000 |
| 3 | Zach Collaros | Quarterback | Winnipeg Blue Bombers | $438,000 |
| 4 | Vernon Adams Jr. | Quarterback | Calgary Stampeders | $339,450 |
| 5 | Trevor Harris | Quarterback | Saskatchewan Roughriders | $299,781 |
| 6 | Dru Brown | Quarterback | Ottawa Redblacks | $259,931 |
| 7 | Bo Levi Mitchell | Quarterback | Hamilton Tiger-Cats | $236,374 |
| 8 | Kenny Lawler | Wide Receiver | Hamilton Tiger-Cats | $202,356 |
| T-9 | Ryan Hunter | Offensive Lineman | Toronto Argonauts | $197,100 |
| T-9 | Robbie Smith | Defensive Lineman | Edmonton Elks | $197,100 |
| T-11 | Mathieu Betts | Defensive Lineman | B.C. Lions | $189,800 |
| T-11 | Drew Desjarlais | Offensive Lineman | Ottawa Redblacks | $189,800 |
| 13 | Davis Alexander | Quarterback | Montreal Alouettes | $188,340 |
| 14 | Tre Ford | Quarterback | Edmonton Elks | $187,610 |
| 15 | Justin McInnis | Wide Receiver | B.C. Lions | $181,250 |
| 16 | Brady Oliveira | Running Back | Winnipeg Blue Bombers | $175,200 |
| 17 | Jake Ceresna | Defensive Lineman | Edmonton Elks | $171,550 |
| T-18 | Folarin Orimolade | Defensive Lineman | Calgary Stampeders | $167,900 |
| T-18 | Tyrell Ford | Defensive Back | Edmonton Elks | $167,900 |
| 20 | Wynton McManis | Linebacker | Toronto Argonauts | $167,535 |
| T-21 | Mark Korte | Offensive Lineman | Edmonton Elks | $164,250 |
| T-21 | Justin Hardy | Wide Receiver | Ottawa Redblacks | $164,250 |
| T-21 | Nic Demski | Wide Receiver | Winnipeg Blue Bombers | $164,250 |
| 24 | Tim White | Wide Receiver | Hamilton Tiger-Cats | $164,104 |
| 25 | Eugene Lewis | Wide Receiver | Ottawa Redblacks | $162,790 |
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