If the old CFL adage suggests a team needs two quarterbacks to succeed over the course of an 18-game season, the Montreal Alouettes are twice as prepared. Maybe even three times. 

The Alouettes currently harbour as many as five QBs with both starting credentials and aspirations on their depth chart.

The team traded a first round draft pick to the BC Lions last week for the rights to Vernon Adams - showing how highly they think of the former Eastern Washington and Oregon star - adding him to a mix that already includes four QBs with starting experience in Montreal. 

Adams joins league veteran Kevin Glenn, Canadian Brandon Bridge, who started the Als’ regular-season finale last year, and Rakeem Cato and Jonathan Crompton - both of whom held terms as Montreal's “quarterback of the future”, all vying to start the season behind centre for the Larks.

As far as training camp battles go, this could be one of the most interesting. 

Adams, who signed a three-year contract with the team Sunday, comes to Montreal after a successful year in the PAC-12. Despite putting up huge numbers at Eastern Washington before replacing Heisman winner Marcus Mariota at Oregon, Adams failed to get drafted into the NFL or latch on after tryouts with Seattle and Washington earlier this off-season. The 23-year-old has the stats and game film to earn a shot in the NFL, but evidently not the required height. At a shade under 5'11, Adams hopes to turn a successful stint in the CFL, where height isn't nearly the concern, into another NFL shot next off-season. But if he's to become the next Warren Moon or Doug Flutie, he'll first have to earn starts over a cast of QBs with more experience north of the border. 

That cast is of course led by Glenn; when there's a QB controversy in the CFL, Glenn is almost always near. The 36-year-old joined the Als from Saskatchewan via a midseason trade, and wound up starting three games for the team down the stretch. In those three starts, Glenn completed 67 percent of his passes for nine touchdowns to 10 interceptions.

After prolonged stints as the starter in Winnipeg and Hamilton early in his career, Glenn has since taken on the reputation as a super-backup, joining teams as a safety net at the position to safeguard against both injury and ineffectiveness. Despite joining each of his last four teams (Calgary, BC, Saskatchewan, and now Montreal) in a capacity other than fulltime starter, Glenn became relied upon at all those stops to start significant portions of the regular season, and as was the case with Stampeders tenure, the playoffs as well.

Glenn was brought in last year to deal with a series of late-season injuries at the position; prior to that, Cato was on his way to establishing himself as the Als’ starting QB. The 24-year-old signed with the Alouettes ahead of last year and climbed his way up the depth chart to start a team-high 10 games at the position. In those 10 starts (plus two relief appearances), the Marshall product threw for 2,167 yards and nine touchdowns to nine interceptions with a 69 per cent completion percentage.

Cato’s chances to ensconce himself behind centre in Montreal were hampered by numerous injuries last year; his battle this year will be against both the several other QBs on the roster and any potential growing reputation he’s injury prone and not to be relied upon.

Before Cato there was Crompton, at one time holding the mantle of potential Anthony Calvillo replacement. Crompton kindled Als’ fans hopes when he was behind centre for an 8-2 run to close out the 2014 regular season, and subsequent East Division Semifinal win. But on closer inspection, Crompton wasn’t the key cog he was given credit for at the time – he averaged just 221 passing yards and 1.1 touchowns per game during the run – and his follow up act last year fell flat – 27-62 for 329 yards and three touchdowns to five interceptions in three starts.

And the final quarterback on the Als roster to start a game last year is Bridge, Canada’s great hope at the position. Montreal used a fourth round draft pick on Bridge and spent the whole season suggesting the South Alabama product was more than a gimmick because of his passport, he was a legitimate starting candidate.

After some spot duty throughout the year, Bridge got his big chance in the Als’ regular season finale, showing up to the tune of 21/30, 220 yards and two touchdowns to zero interceptions in a loss to the Roughriders. The reviews were largely positive for Bridge’s rookie season in the CFL and even with the added talent to Montreal’s QB depth chart, the 24-year-old should remain a genuine contender for playing time this season.

Rounding out the team’s robust QB depth chart are a few interesting flyers with no prior CFL experience. Leading the way is former Clemson Tigers star Tajh Boyd. Boyd put up huge college numbers and led the Tigers to two Bowl wins before getting drafted by the New York Jets in the sixth-round in ’13. The 25-year-old may be remembered for featuring in a number of Heisman Watches before ultimately falling off as a candidate the year Johnny Manziel took home the coveted award (2012).

And finally are two Canadian University products, Drew Burko from Saskatchewan, and Jimmy Underdahl from Calgary.