Courtesy: Buffalo Bills
The Toronto Argonauts are keeping close tabs on Canadian defensive linemen Luiji Vilain and Paris Shand, both of whom are currently NFL free agents.
“We have a couple of young guys in the pipeline in Luiji Vilian, who’s been touring the NFL for the last two years, and Paris Shand that was in last year’s draft out of LSU,” director of player personnel Jim Barker told 3DownNation.
“I’ve already called on Luiji and Paris, and they’re not ready to sign yet, but you never know when that’s going to change. They go to enough tryouts, and they say, ‘You know what? I need to play, I need to get on the field.’ That’s what we try to preach to them is you need while you’re young to get on the field and play. You need to show what you can do, and that’s what we’re hoping can happen with those guys.”
The Argonauts selected Vilain in the third round of the 2021 CFL Draft. Once a top-ranked high school recruit, the native of Ottawa, Ont., was coming off an unproductive collegiate career at the University of Michigan. The COVID-19 pandemic garnered him an extra year of NCAA eligibility, however, and Vilain took full advantage, transferring to Wake Forest University where he led the team with nine sacks to draw increased NFL interest.
The six-foot-four, 252-pound defender has since been a member of the Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, and Dallas Cowboys, dressing for five regular-season games and recording four total tackles. He has been a free agent since July when he was released by the Cowboys.
Shand was taken in the second round of the 2025 CFL Draft, though he ended up signing with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent. The six-foot-four, 268-pound defender attended training camp with the team but has been a free agent since he was waived near the end of August.
The native of Toronto played 49 collegiate games at the University of Arizona and Louisiana State University, recording 82 total tackles, 14.5 tackles for loss, nine sacks, three pass knockdowns, two forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery. He made nine starts with the Tigers over two seasons with the team.
“Both those guys, if you can get them, that’s going to change your ratio when you have (2025 CFL Draft pick) Jeremiah Ojo (already under contract),” said Barker. “Do you make that a Canadian spot? Those are the kind of decisions you can’t make (until they sign), but those are the kinds of things you discuss.”
The Toronto Argonauts finished third in the East Division standings in 2025 with a 5-13 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Franchise quarterback Chad Kelly was unable to play all season due to a fractured leg he suffered in the East Final the previous year, giving way to Nick Arbuckle, who threw for 4,370 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions to be named the team’s candidate for Most Outstanding Player.
The Argonauts ranked seventh in net offence, sixth in net defence, and seventh with a turnover differential of minus-eight. The club’s leading rusher was Spencer Brown with 314 yards, leading receiver was Dejon Brissett with 907 yards, and leading tackler was Cameron Judge with 79 tackles. Toronto ranked ninth in attendance with average crowds of 15,109, which was a 0.1 percent decrease from the previous year.