The 2024 NFL Draft class features dozens of players with intriguing storylines and several who've taken fascinating journeys to get to the point where they are now. But of all of the paths taken to the pros, cornerback Qwan'Tez Stiggers might have the rarest of all.
Stiggers comes to the NFL by way of its Canadian sister, the CFL, this spring after the young cornerback enjoyed a banner year for the Toronto Argonauts in 2023. Stiggers' performance earned him the league's Most Outstanding Rookie Award after playing in 16 games and pulling in 5 interceptions in his first season. (Interesting Chiefs-related note: former KC wideout Dalton Schoen won the award in 2023.)
Qwan'tez Stiggers is making the rounds with numerous pre-draft visits before month's end.
Before playing in the CFL, Stiggers had only played at the high school level at his home in Atlanta and then in a small indoor football league called Fan Control Football for which Stiggers had tried out and made before being discovered by a CFL scout.
Following a successful first campaign in the CFL, teams in the National Football League took notice and he was allowed to play in the annual Shrine Game with other pro hopefuls. Now he's ready to be drafted into the NFL without having played an ounce of college football.
Stiggers is very busy these days. He's already earned visits with the Kansas City Chiefs and Arizona Cardinals so far and he's spending this week with the Buffalo Bills and Indianapolis Colts. He also has planned visits with the Denver Broncos, New York Jets, Detroit Lions, Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens, and Minnesota Vikings.
Given his production last season for the Argos, it makes sense why teams would want a glimpse for themselves of what Stiggers might bring. For the Chiefs, Stiggers would likely slide in next to Nic Jones, Keith Taylor, Ekow Boye-Doe, and Kelvin Joseph to compete for special teams responsibilities and preseason reps and let the competition sort things out from there.