{"id":738472,"date":"2026-06-15T15:03:07","date_gmt":"2026-06-15T15:03:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/738472\/"},"modified":"2026-06-15T15:03:07","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T15:03:07","slug":"mmqb-has-alexander-ascended-to-the-highest-tier-of-cfl-quarterbacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/738472\/","title":{"rendered":"MMQB: Has Alexander ascended to the highest tier of CFL quarterbacks?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>We\u2019re watching something pretty special unfolding in Montreal.<\/p>\n<p>With another sparkling performance in Friday\u2019s 37-30 win over Toronto, Alouettes quarterback <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/davis-alexander\/165844\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Davis Alexander\">Davis Alexander<\/a> is now 13-0 as a starter in the regular season. And with his only loss coming in last year\u2019s 112th Grey Cup, Alexander is 15-1 overall.<\/p>\n<p>As Alexander continues to author one of the greatest starts to a career in recent memory, it\u2019s getting harder and harder to temper expectations. Sure, the sample size remains relatively small and Alexander has yet to start for an entire season, thanks mostly to a hamstring injury that limited him in 2025.<\/p>\n<p>But the more we watch Alexander thrive, the less that stuff matters. With what was accomplished last year and his start to 2026, things with Alexander have quickly gone from \u201cwait and see\u201d to \u201cwe see you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>RELATED<br \/>\u00bb <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/2026\/06\/12\/alouettes-rally-past-argonauts-for-second-straight-comeback-win\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Als rally past Argos for second straight comeback win<\/a><br \/>\u00bb <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/2026\/06\/12\/3-stats-that-defined-montreals-week-2-win-over-toronto\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">3 stats that defined Montreal\u2019s Week 2 win over Toronto<\/a><br \/>\u00bb\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/plus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-uw-rm-brl=\"PR\" data-uw-original-href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/plus\" aria-label=\"Sign up and watch CFL games on CFL+ for free - open in a new tab\" data-uw-rm-ext-link=\"\" data-uw-original->Sign up and watch CFL games on CFL+ for free<\/a><br \/>\u00bb\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/tickets\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-uw-rm-brl=\"PR\" data-uw-original-href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/tickets\" aria-label=\"Buy tickets for the 2026 CFL season - open in a new tab\" data-uw-rm-ext-link=\"\" data-uw-original->Buy tickets for the 2026 CFL season<\/a><br \/>\u00bb\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/newsletter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" aria-label=\"Subscribe to the CFL\u2019s newsletter for exclusive offers and league updates - open in a new tab\" data-uw-rm-ext-link=\"\" data-uw-rm-brl=\"PR\" data-uw-original-href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/newsletter\/\" data-uw-original->Subscribe to the CFL\u2019s newsletter for exclusive offers and league updates<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>In a very short period of time, Alexander has ascended to the highest tier of CFL quarterbacks. And that rise has happened faster than some thought, me included. In fact, as you\u2019ll see later on, Alexander wasn\u2019t listed among the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/2026\/04\/06\/mmqb-ranking-the-leagues-top-3-quarterbacks-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">three quarterbacks we identified in our preseason MMQB Positional Rankings<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>And while he finished just on the outside of that particular list, I\u2019m already rethinking where Alexander fits amongst the league\u2019s elite at his position.<\/p>\n<p>Friday saw Alexander throw for a career high 441 yards to go along with two touchdown passes as Montreal became this season\u2019s first 2-0 team. Through the first two weeks of 2026, Alexander leads the league with 777 yards and four touchdowns while completing 70.0 per cent of his passes and compiling a stellar 117.6 passer rating.<\/p>\n<p>Alexander\u2019s cumulative numbers en route to his 13-0 regular season mark are just as impressive. In those 13 starts, Alexander boasts a 71.1 per cent completion rate, 4,148 passing yards, and 20 touchdown passes against just five interceptions. That\u2019s an average of almost 320 yards per game with an interception rate of just 1.1 per cent.<\/p>\n<p>The start of Alexander\u2019s starting tenure has a lot of similarities to how <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/bo-levi-mitchell\/158222\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Bo Levi Mitchell\">Bo Levi Mitchell<\/a> began his career in Calgary. Both bided their time early behind veterans while shining in limited playing time. Both forced their team\u2019s hand perhaps a little earlier than anticipated. And much like Mitchell, Alexander brings a swagger and confidence that\u2019s both infectious and backed up by almost nothing but success.<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes it\u2019s prudent to be cautious with high praise early in a career. But with the level Alexander has played at with the Als, not talking about him in the same breath as Mitchell, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/nathan-rourke\/165740\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Nathan Rourke\">Nathan Rourke<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/trevor-harris\/156305\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Trevor Harris\">Trevor Harris<\/a> would just be stubborn.<\/p>\n<p>A SPECIAL FINISH<\/p>\n<p>Speaking of our MMQB Positional Rankings, it\u2019s time to complete the list for another year. And we\u2019re doing that by focusing on special teams.<\/p>\n<p>KICKER<\/p>\n<p>SEAN WHYTE | BC LIONS<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/sean-whyte\/136193\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Sean Whyte\">Sean Whyte<\/a> is coming off one of the best kicking seasons in league history. In fact, his 95.1 per cent accuracy rate last season is the second highest of all-time, behind only Lewis Ward\u2019s 98.1 per cent mark in 2018. But it\u2019s not like last year was an outlier for Whyte. Since joining his hometown Lions in 2022, Whyte has nailed 94.1 per cent of his field goals and entered this season as the second most accurate kicker in CFL history.<\/p>\n<p>2. Jos\u00e9 Maltos D\u00edaz | Montreal Alouettes. <br \/>3. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/lirim-hajrullahu\/160189\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Lirim Hajrullahu\">Lirim Hajrullahu<\/a> | Toronto Argonauts<\/p>\n<p>PUNTER<\/p>\n<p>MARK VASSETT | CALGARY STAMPEDERS<\/p>\n<p><img aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-2928194\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-2928194 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Mark_Vassett_2025_001.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2043\" height=\"1152\"  \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"caption-attachment-2928194\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Mark Vassett is in his second year in the CFL after being selected by Calgary in the 2025 CFL Global Draft (Adrien Bazinet\/CFL.ca)<\/p>\n<p>Talk about a great start to a career. Mark Vassett went from being selected by the Stamps in last year\u2019s CFL Global Draft to making his professional debut in Week 3 and hasn\u2019t looked back since. Vassett led the league in net punting average last season while pinning the opposition inside the 10-yard line seven times and recording just three singles. Along the way, Vassett was named an All-CFL punter in 2025.<\/p>\n<p>2. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/joseph-zema\/166173\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Joseph Zema\">Joseph Zema<\/a> | Montreal Alouettes<br \/> 3. John Haggerty | Toronto Argonauts<\/p>\n<p>RETURNER<\/p>\n<p>TREY VAVAL | WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Considering Trey Vaval was named to last year\u2019s All-CFL team and took home a pair of awards as Most Outstanding Rookie and Most Outstanding Special Teams Player, it would be hard to choose anyone but him here. Vaval led the league with 957 punt return yards last season while adding another 918 yards returning kicks and three total return touchdowns.<\/p>\n<p>2. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/players\/javon-leake\/165888\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Javon Leake\">Javon Leake<\/a> | Edmonton Elks<br \/>3. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cfl.ca\/?post_type=player&amp;p=888486164350\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" data-ga-category=\"Clicks - Article\" data-ga-action=\"article-player-link\" data-ga-opt-label=\"Janarion Grant\">Janarion Grant<\/a> | Toronto Argonauts<\/p>\n<p>And with the addition of special teams, here is the complete list of our 2026 rankings\u2026<\/p>\n<p>That was a lot of fun to put together and, as we already mentioned, I\u2019m already rethinking some of these with what we\u2019ve seen through the first two weeks of this season. As such, I can\u2019t wait to do it again in 2027.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"We\u2019re watching something pretty special unfolding in Montreal. With another sparkling performance in Friday\u2019s 37-30 win over Toronto,&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":738473,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[437],"tags":[49,48,521,522,520,82],"class_list":["post-738472","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cfl","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-canadian-football-league","tag-canadianfootballleague","tag-cfl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/738472","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=738472"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/738472\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/738473"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=738472"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=738472"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=738472"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}