Can CFL players go to the NFL? 3 CFL players in the NFL for the 2022 Season

Players from the Canadian Football League (CFL) can go to the National Football League (NFL) with minimal effort. This has been possible since 2020. That year, the CFL Players Association struck an agreement with the CFL that will allow any player to opt out of their contracts.

This agreement was reached to ensure players can explore other opportunities if they believe it's in their best interest. The rule was made before the 2020 Canadian Football League season and has remained effective.

Here are three notable former CFL players that appeared in the recently concluded 2022 NFL season.

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#1 Erik Harris, Safety, Atlanta Falcons

Erik Harris was a decent prospect in college, even though nothing suggested that he would be drafted into the league in the 2013 NFL Draft. That was the case, and the Pennsylvania native signed a Canadian Football League contract with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

He starred for the Tiger-Cats for three seasons, where he switched between the linebacker and halfback positions. He moved to the National Football League and transitioned to the free safety position. The 32-year-old eventually got signed by the then-Oakland Raiders, where he became a crucial clog in their system.

Erik Harris played for the Atlanta Falcons in the 2022 NFL season and put up a solid stat line of 13 total tackles in 14 starts. He has played for three franchises in his seven-year NFL career.

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#2 Tevaughn Campbell, Cornerback, Jacksonville Jaguars

Tevaughn Campbell was born and raised in Scarborough, Ontario, Canada. So, it's only natural that he had his first professional football experience up North. He schooled at the University of Regina in Saskatchewan and then spent several years in the CFL.

Campbell appeared for several decent Canadian Football League sides before he made the move overseas to the National Football League, in 2019.

He had his NFL orientation as a member of the New York Jets and Los Angeles Chargers practice squads, before signing for the Chargers' primary team in 2020.

Since making the main roster, he hadn't looked back. Tevaughn Campbell had an average 2022 NFL season in his new team, Jacksonville Jaguars, putting up a stat line of three total tackles in five games played.

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#3 Brandon Zylstra, Wide Receiver, Carolina Panthers

Truth be told, Brandon Zylstra was always too good for the CFL, as the University of Arizona product was an all-star in his two seasons in that league. He put up a monster stat line of 134 receptions, 2,195 yards, and eight touchdowns in the CFL before the NFL came calling.

Zylstra joined the Minnesota Vikings for the 2018 NFL season, where he was primarily a reserve option for the side. Hence, he hardly got any action on the Gridiron.

He moved to the Carolina Panthers in 2019, where he has since put up a stat line of 30 receptions, 414 yards, and one touchdown, in 38 appearances.