TSN.ca has you covered with all the latest news and reports from the opening day of CFL free agency.


 

Dean joins Ticats

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats announced Tuesday night that they have agreed to a deal with American linebacker Larry Dean.

Dean, 31, started 17 games for the Edmonton Eskimos at middle linebacker in 2019, registering 86 tackles and one sack.


 

Johnson heading west

Micah Johnson has a new home.

The Lions announced Tuesday night they have agreed to a one-year deal with the free agent defensive lineman. TSN's Farhan Lalji reports the deal is worth $200,000.

"We are thrilled to get a player of Micah’s calibre here with the BC Lions, β€œ said general manager Ed Hervey in a news release.

β€œHis track record as one of this league’s most dominant defensive players will make our entire team better."

Johnson spent last season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, recording four sacks and 26 tackles in 15 games. 

Prior to his time in Regina, Johnson spent six seasons with the Calgary Stampeders.


 

Bazzie, Roh join Argos 

The Toronto Argonauts have agreed to a deal with defensive end Alex Bazzie according to Farhan Lalji.

Bazzie spent the last two seasons in Edmonton with the Eskimos.

But the Argos weren't done adding to their defensive line as they have also agreed to a deal with Craig Roh, adds Lalji.


 

Johnson retiring

Running back Jeremiah Johnson has decided to retire, according to TSN's Farhan Lalji. 

Johnson has spent the last seven seasons in the CFL, playing for the Montreal Alouettes, BC Lions, Ottawa Redblacks and Toronto Argonauts.


 

Alouettes bring back Evans, sign Glass

The Montreal Alouettes announced they have re-signed defensive back Ciante Evans. After four seasons with the Calgary Stampeders, Evans spent last season with the Alouettes, recording 29 tackles and three interceptions in 13 games.

The Alouettes also added Tyquwan Glass, a defensive back who spent last year with the Edmonton Eskimos. Glass, who played for the Alouettes in 2018, finished last season with 29 tackles and three interceptions in 14 games.


 

Argos add WR Daniels

Free agent wide receiver DaVaris Daniels has agreed to a deal with the Toronto Argonauts, according to TSN's Farhan Lalji.

After three seasons with the Calgary Stampeders, Daniels spent last year with the Edmonton Eskimos. In 13 games, Daniels recorded 54 receptions for 738 yards and two touchdowns. The 27-year-old has 202 receptions for 3,113 yards and 22 touchdowns in 49 career games.

Lalji reported Daniels' deal is for two years and $200K in hard money per year, with $20K in incentives for the 2021 season. Lalji added Daniels' contract will put Derel Walker's contract at a much higher number.


 

Eskimos add former Argos RB Burks

The Edmonton Eskimos have added running back Brandon Burks, formerly of the Toronto Argonauts, according to TSN's Farhan Lalji. Burks joins Shaq Cooper and Jordan Robinson in the backfield and his addition makes signing Jeremiah Johnson a little less likely.


 

Lions land defensive lineman Tavai


 

Free agent notes

TSN Football Insider Dave Naylor reported neither the Hamilton Tiger-Cats nor the Ottawa Redblacks are in on linebacker Larry Dean while Farhan Lalji reported the Edmonton Eskimos are not in the mix for receivers DeVier Posey and DaVaris Daniels

 

 


 

Lions sign defensive end Casher

The Chris Casher signing is an interesting one. The BC Lions have a desperate need to upgrade their defensive line. He's only 26 and had seven sacks last year, but I'm told there are system limitations there. A one-year deal at a reasonable number makes me wonder what the Stampeders knew to let him go. - Farhan Lalji

 

Ticats sign Jackson, bring back Stephen

TSN Football Insider Dave Naylor reported the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have signed former Calgary Stampeders running back Don Jackson while Farhan Lalji added the team is bringing back Canadian defensive back Courtney Stephen.

In seven games for the Stampeders last season, Jackson had 58 carries for 246 yards and two touchdowns. Stephen, who spent the first six seasons of his CFL career with the Tiger-Cats, played last year with the Stampeders, finishing with five tackles in 15 games.


 

CFL All-Star Leonard lands with Stamps

The Calgary Stampeders have signed All-Star defensive back Richard Leonard, who spent the first three seasons of his CFL career with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Leonard was named a CFL All-Star after finishing with 55 tackles and four interceptions in 18 games with the Ticats last season. In three seasons with the Ticats, Leonard has recorded 178 tackles and 12 interceptions in 49 regular season games.


 

Redblacks add Canadian Coombs

The Ottawa Redblacks have signed Canadian running back Anthony Coombs, who played last season with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.


 

WR/KR Ryan signs with Eskimos


 

OL Bladek to Argonauts


 

Canadian Brescacin to Argonauts

TSN's Matthew Scianitti reported Canadian and former Calgary Stampeders receiver Juwan Brescacin is heading to the Toronto Argonauts.

Brescacin was limited to just four games last season, finishing with 11 receptions for 168 yards and three touchdowns. The 27-year-old has 69 receptions for 1,046 yards and six touchdowns over four seasons with the Stampeders.

 


 

Mincy signs with Eskimos

The Edmonton Eskimos announced they have signed defensive back Jonathon Mincy, who spent last year with Toronto Argonauts.


 

Unamba signing with Redblacks

Former Edmonton Eskimos cover linebacker Don Unamba is heading to the Ottawa Redblacks, according to TSN Football Insider Dave Naylor.

In 12 games for the Eskimos last season, Unamba finished with 43 tackles, six sacks and an interception. The 30-year-old has spent five seasons in the CFL split between the Eskimos, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Montreal Alouettes, Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers, recording 192 tackles, 11 sacks, and six interceptions.


 

Tuggle, Covington sign with Eskimos

TSN's Farhan Lalji reported linebacker Justin Tuggle and defensive back Anthony Covington have agreed to terms with the Edmonton Eskimos.

Tuggle spent last season with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, finishing with 80 tackles, one sack, and one interception in 18 games. Covington spent last season with the Toronto Argonauts, finishing with 37 tackles in 11 games.


 

DB Johnson to sign with Blue Bombers

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will address a need at defensive back by adding former Edmonton Eskimos DB Josh Johnson, per TSN Football Insider Dave Naylor.


 

Pfeffer to the Stampeders


 

Free agent notes from Farhan Lalji


 

Rainey headed back to BC

TSN's Davis Sanchez reported RB/KR Chris Rainey is heading back to the BC Lions.

 


 

Wynn stays in Hamilton

Hamilton Tiger-Cats digital host Louis Butko reported defensive tackle Dylan Wynn has agreed to a new deal with the team which will be announced soon.

Wynn was named a CFL All-Star last season after finishing with 44 tackles and 11 sacks in his first season in Hamilton. The 26-year-old, who spent the first two seasons of his CFL career with the Toronto Argonauts, has 108 tackles and 19 sacks in 44 career regular season games.

And Wynn had some fun with the announcement he's coming back to the Ticats.


 

Dozier to join Stamps

Postmedia's Danny Austin reported East Division All-Star and former Montreal Alouettes DB Branden Dozier is signing with the Calgary Stampeders.


Kilgore re-signs with Eskimos


 

Laing to the Redblacks

Canadian defensive lineman Cleyon Laing is going to the Ottawa Redblacks, according to TSN's Davis Sanchez, noting he is one of the best interior defensive linemen in the CFL, American or Canadian.

Laing has spent the past three seasons with the Toronto Argonauts, and finished last year with 27 tackles and seven sacks. The 29-year-old has 144 tackles and 33 sacks in 89 regular season games in the CFL over seven seasons, six spent with the Argos. Laing played one game with the Redblacks in 2016.


 

Linebacker market

TSN Football Insider Dave Naylor updated the linebacker market ahead of free agency opening at Noon et/9am pt.

The Edmonton Eskimos had interest in Solomon Elimimian, who re-signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, and may not close in on former Hamilton Tiger-Cats linebacker Justin Tuggle, according to Naylor, who added Eskimos linebacker Larry Dean may head east to the Tiger-Cats or Ottawa Redblacks. Dean played three seasons for the Tiger-Cats from 2016-18.

 


Elimimian re-signs with Roughriders

TSN's Farhan Lalji reported veteran linebacker Solomon Elimimian has re-signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, just hours before he was scheduled to hit free agency.

Elimimian had a strong first season in Saskatchewan last year, being named a West Division All-Star after recording 88 tackles and four sacks in 15 games.

The veteran linebacker spent the first nine seasons of his CFL career with the BC Lions. The 2014 Most Outstanding Player has 833 tackles, 33 sacks, and eight interceptions in 133 career games played.

TSN Football Insider Dave Naylor reported Elimimian's one-year deal will pay him $155K in hard money with incentives that could bring it up to $163.5K.


 

Stampeders notes


 

Redblacks re-sign Brown, Evans

The Ottawa Redblacks announced Tuesday morning they have re-signed pending free agents linebacker Kevin Brown and defensive back Randall Evans.

Brown had 42 tackles and an interception in 15 games for the Redblacks last season. Evans had 56 tackles in 17 games for the Redblacks last season.