The Edmonton Elks are set to release quarterback Taylor Cornelius according to TSN’s Farhan Lalji on Thursday. Cornelius was due a $100,000 bonus on January 15. However, the Elks still owe him $100,000 in guaranteed salary for the 2024 season due to the terms of the contract extension he signed during the 2022 season.
Taylor Cornelius is six foot five and weighs 230 pounds. The 28-year-old from Amarillo, Texas, completed 103 of 175 passes (59%) for 1,305 yards, five touchdowns, nine interceptions, 61 carries for 256 yards, and eight touchdowns in seven games for the Elks in 2023. He lost his starting job to Tre Ford.
The Elks signed Cornelius on February 9, 2021. He played three seasons in Edmonton completing 451 of 779 passes (58%) for 5,868 yards, 25 touchdowns, 31 interceptions, 153 carries for 907 yards, and 16 touchdowns in 44 games, of which 27 were starts.
Before Edmonton, Cornelius signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2019. In 2020, he played for the Tampa Bay Vipers (XFL) completing 78 of 123 (63.4%) for 858 yards, four touchdowns, and six interceptions in five games before the season ended due to the pandemic.
Collegiately, Cornelius played five seasons at Oklahoma State (2014-18) completing 303 for 509 (60%) for 4,198 yards, 32 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, 139 carries for 514 yards, and 12 touchdowns in 21 games for the Cowboys.
In the 2018 AutoZone Liberty Bowl, Cornelius completed 26 for 44 (59%) for 336 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions, leading the Cowboys to a 38-35 win on his way to being named the MVP. In addition, he was named two-time Second Team Academic All-Big 12.
