The latest Edmonton Elks free agent signing I spoke with was offensive lineman Jordan Murray, who came over with Brendan Bordner from the Hamilton Tiger Cats. He has ideal size for the position. I’ve seen him listed at 6-foot-9, 325 pounds and 6-foot-8, 300 pounds, both absolutely monstrous for the position, especially if you can couple that size with the footwork underneath you. To my eye (not that there’s much of a differential), he’s probably about 6-foot-9, 300-ish. I was curious to ask him similar questions I asked Bordner – what coming over with him was like, does he feel like he can steal a job, etc. And of course he has the same situation as far as relationship with Ed from his time in Hamilton.
ME: What goes into the decision, why Edmonton, how much does the relationship with Ed factor in?
JORDAN: The relationship with Ed and the staff, it plays a big role. Another thing was just a fresh start in general. A new opportunity to come in and compete and earn everything that I need to play, you know.
ME: When you watch a guy like Martez Ivey, you know, good 2024 season, not the best 2025 season, do you come here with the mindset of, that’s a job I can take? Like, he underperformed, I can go and I can be that guy?
JORDAN: So, I watched a lot of film throughout the year. We have to watch film, you know, in office, but outside the office, I’m watching film all the time. And I respect the hell out of Martez Ivey. I respect pretty much every tackle in this league. I respect their play. They have pros and cons. We all have pros and cons to our play. But Ivey, I thought his play, I didn’t think his play was subpar. But when it comes to my perspective and my mentality about coming into a team, I think, you know, I can do what I need to do to win that spot, regardless of what spot it is. Left, right, whatever it is, I’m going to do what I need to do to win that spot.
ME: I talked to Brendan about this a little bit as well. You guys, obviously, together in Hamilton, I know late in the season, he goes out, you come in. Both of you coming here, is that something you guys talk about? Is that something that just happens? And then, naturally, you both being here, what’s that kind of like for you?
JORDAN: Yeah, I think that’s something that just happened. No, I don’t think. That is something that just happened. We didn’t discuss anything. I think it’s unique because we were in the position of competition last year. And this time around, I feel like we can be more cohesive, work together. We’ll see how the parts play out. That’s, you know, not my decision to see what they do with other people. But I’m just excited to come in every day and earn it. And, you know, Bordner is my guy. And so are all the other guys that I play alongside. And I’m excited to, you know, make this whole team, you know, my guys.
ME: Do you prefer run blocking or pass pro?
JORDAN: I love pass protection. Like I love pass protection. I love, you know, everything about it, to be honest. I love the run game as well. You get to impose your will, be dominant, use this huge frame and just, you know, force, mass times acceleration, all that good stuff. Physics and all that. But no, I love pass pro, man. I wouldn’t say anything negative about it, man. It’s a challenge, especially when the defence knows the pass is coming. But that makes it even more fun.
ME: Who’s the toughest edge rusher to go up against? Was it Malik?
JORDAN: I haven’t been up against Malik in a game-time scenario. I haven’t played against him in a while. I know I’ve practised against him a lot. He’s a really good player. You know, I had a couple guys at the top of my list. I think Flo (Folarin Orimolade) and (Clarence) Hicks are some challenging defenders that I’m excited to go against this year, man. I’m excited to put it on film, you know, stopping those guys from getting to the quarterback.
ME: For Elks fans who maybe, you know, sometimes people don’t pay as much attention to the o-line just because of how it is, if there was something you wanted to say to them, like, this is my best attribute, watch out for this. What would you kind of pinpoint?
JORDAN: I don’t like to boast too much, man. I’m the largest person on the field at all times. So it’s hard to miss when I do good things or bad things. So I would say just my dedication to the next play.
