Outside linebacker tied for sack lead last season

Zach Gershman

WhenElliott Brownwas playing football in another country, the destination on his mind was the United States.

Sometimes, that passion to reach the NFL frustrated players in the Canadian Football League.

"I was serious every day, and some guys didn't like it, but I took everything super serious because I had to be prepared for where I'm at now," the outside linebacker said. "Some people treated practice and the game different. They like to have a little more fun.

"I was on a mission."

Brown's persistence landed him on the Cardinals' radar. After two seasons in the CFL with the Edmonton Elks, Brown inked a 2025 deal with the Cardinals.

Persistence is important, but Brown's intensity separates the 6-foot-4 edge rusher from others in Canada.

"I knew that as long as I had my abilities, I'll end up here at some point," he said. "The schemes a lot different up there, but (pass rushing) was my job. You want a guy who can put a quarterback in the dirt. They came and got me, and that's what I did."

Edge rusher is a spot NFL teams can find players in Canada. Cameron Wake -- whom the Cardinals once looked into signing before he went on to a stellar career with the Dolphins -- is the best example. The team has mined Canadian players in the past, although none have stuck.

Brown finished tied for the most sacks in the CFL with eight during the 2024 campaign. He also ended the season with 44 tackles and earned West Division All-Star honors. Prior to the CFL, Brown attended the University of Virginia.

His arrival to the Valley is another aspect of the Cardinals' growing relationship with Canada, and a testament to the growth of the sport on a global scale. The Cardinals drafted Canadian-born Isaiah Adams last season, and this past offseason, added the country as one of its newest international markets.

The CFL is a pass-first league. Instead of four downs, there are three downs to pick up a first, so teams are forced to throw the football early and often. The speed of the game is also much faster than the NFL.

Coach Jonathan Gannon and defensive coordinator Nick Rallis utilize their outside linebackers in a multitude of ways. At times, through various scheme designs and disguises, linebackers drop back into coverage, something Brown didn't do a lot of in Edmonton.

"He definitely has a skill set and to start out, mentally, what we ask those guys to do, I don't want to say it's difficult, but there's some rules that they got to know which was a little different for him," Gannon said. "But he's taken to the coaching, and he's really improved with that part of his game."

While Brown won't solely rush the passer, that experience in the CFL could serve him well as the Cardinals get set to kick off training camp. Last season, the Cardinals ranked in the bottom 10 in pressure rate and total pressures, although Brown is fighting for a job in a newly-rebuilt and loaded room that includes Josh Sweat, Zaven Collins, BJ Ojulari, Baron Browning, Xavier Thomas and draft pick Jordan Burch.

When Brown walks into State Farm Stadium for camp, it won't be his first time in the venue. Brown trained in Arizona during the CFL offseason, which takes place during the NFL season. In 2023, he attended a few Cardinals games as a fan. Each time there was a substitution, Brown joked that he'd raise his hand and hoped he'd get subbed in.

But the next time, it won't be as a spectator. It will be part of his mission.

"I'm here for a reason," Brown said. "As long as I'm performing my purpose and putting the QB in the dirt and perform well on special teams, I'm excited about doing that and making plays."