The Toronto Argonauts acquired defensive lineman Andrew Chatfield Jr. from the Ottawa Redblacks on Monday for defensive back Craig James.
Andrew Chatfield Jr. is six foot two and weighs 254 pounds. The 26-year-old from Plantations, Florida, went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft and attended the Kansas City Chiefs rookie minicamp. The Ottawa Redblacks signed Chatfield Jr. on September 4, 2024. He dressed for one regular season game and spent the rest of the year on the practice squad. The Redblacks released him on October 18, 2024, and they re-signed him on December 2, 2024.
Collegiately, Chatfield Jr. played three seasons at Florida (2018-20) making 19 tackles (5 solos, 14 assists), 5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, and one pass breakup in 23 games for the Gators. Then, he transferred to Oregon State (2022-23). In 2022, he made 20 tackles (10 solos, 10 assists), 2.5 tackles for loss, one sack, and one forced fumble in 12 games. In the SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl against the Florida Gators, he made two tackles and one sack.
In his final season in 2023, Chatfield Jr. made 28 tackles (17 solos, 11 assists), 9.5 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, two interceptions for 32 yards, four pass breakups, and two forced fumbles in 13 games. He was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week on November 6, 2023, after making three tackles (3 solos), three tackles for loss, three sacks, one forced fumble, and two pass breakups against Colorado.
Craig James is five foot ten and weighs 195 pounds. The 28-year-old from Springfield, Illinois, signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent on May 7, 2018. In 2018, he made seven tackles (7 solos) in four preseason games. He dressed for three regular season games and spent most of the 2018 season on the practice squad. In 2019, he made four tackles (4 solos) and one pass breakup. The Vikings released him on August 31, 2019.
The Philadelphia Eagles signed James on September 3, 2019. James played two seasons in Philadelphia making 17 tackles (14 solos, 3 assists), one pass breakup, and one fumble recovery in 18 games. For the next two seasons, James suffered a shoulder injury and was placed on the COVID list. The Eagles released him on July 18, 2022.
The New York Jets signed James on July 21, 2022. He spent most of the season on the practice squad. In 2023, James made one tackle (1 solo) in two games. The Jets released him on November 28, 2023. The Detroit Lions signed James on December 21, 2023. He was placed on injured reserve and was released on June 12, 2024. The Toronto Argonauts signed James on January 6, 2025.
Collegiately, James played two seasons at Minnesota (2014-15) making 12 tackles (5 solos, 7 assists), three pass breakups, and 27 punt returns for 122 yards in 17 games for the Golden Gophers. Then, he transferred to Southern Illinois (2016-17) making 67 tackles (50 solos, 17 assists), one tackle for loss, five interceptions for 62 yards, one touchdown, 25 pass breakups, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, and 21 punt returns for 159 yards in 20 games for the Salukis. He was named to the MVFC All-Newcomer Team in 2017.
