February 9 is Free Agency Day in the CFL and TSN.ca has you covered. Here we preview each team heading into free agency, taking a look at their top needs and pending free agents ahead of the market opening.
BC Lions
Team Needs heading into Free Agency |
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Defensive backs |
Pass rushing defensive linemen |
Offensive line depth |
Possibly a Canadian receiver |
Top Pending Free Agents
1. Andrew Harris, RB, National. Harris very quietly had another solid season in 2015 and was named a league All-Star. He added 484 yards and two touchdowns as a receiver.
2. Alex Hoffman-Ellis, LB, International. Hoffman-Ellis had a productive first full season with the Lions, registering 57 tackles and three interceptions.
3. Khreem Smith, DE, International. Smith has been a consistent pass rusher in his five seasons with the Lions. While he couldn’t match his career-high 11 sacks set in 2014, his six QB takedowns proved his consistency.
4. Travis Lulay, QB, International. The former Most Outstanding Player is fully expected to re-sign with the Lions prior to Tuesday as Jonathon Jennings’ backup.
Additional Notes
Calgary Stampeders
Team Needs heading into Free Agency |
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Running back |
Special teams help |
Offensive line |
Wide receiver |
Long snapper |
Top Pending Free Agents
1. Jeff Fuller, WR, International. With Eric Rogers already having signed in the NFL, letting Fuller, who had 47 receptions for 619 yards and three touchdowns last year, walk would leave a hole at receiver.
2. Keon Raymond, DB, International. Raymond proved he still has some gas left in the tank with a 41-tackle, two-sack, four-interception season last year.
3. Jerome Messam, RB, National. Messam is one of two Canadian running backs, alongside Andrew Harris, that could be signed as a starter. With Cornish retired, Messam would fill in to the Stamps’ ratio.
4. Karl McCartney, LB, National. McCartney will be desirable to a team looking for special teams help with a national designation.
5. Randy Chevrier, LS, National. The Stamps’ long-time long snapper wants to play another year.
Edmonton Eskimos
Team Needs heading into Free Agency |
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Linebackers |
Receivers, both Nationals and Internationals |
Defensive backs |
Possibly defensive linemen |
Top Pending Free Agents
1. Shamawd Chambers, WR, National. Chambers missed the majority of last season to injury, but came up big in the postseason and was named Most Outstanding Canadian in the 103rd Grey Cup.
2. Aaron Grymes, DB, International. Grymes put together his second straight solid season with the Eskimos which led to a league All-Star nod and reported interest south of the border from the NFL.
3. JC Sherritt, LB, International. Sherritt is three years removed from his monster 130-tackle sophomore season, but he did play a full slate of games for the first time since that 2012 campaign last year.
4. Otha Foster, LB, International. The versatile Foster followed up his strong rookie season in 2014 with an even better one last year.
5. Don Oramasionwu, DL, National. Oramasionwu returned last year from missing almost all of 2014 to put up decent numbers in 12 games played. Oramasionwu hasn't played a full 18 games in his career, but shows talent when he's on the field.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Team Needs heading into Free Agency |
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Sign national DT Ted Laurent |
Keep Canadian content strong on defence |
Maintain talent on defensive line |
Re-sign Justin Medlock |
Add depth to offensive line |
Top Pending Free Agents
1) Ted Laurent, DL, National. The most sought-after Canadian in Free Agency. The best Canadian defensive lineman. Maybe the league's best defensive lineman. Was exploring possible NFL interests, but this is Hamilton's top priority.
2) Emmanuel Davis, DB, International. Got his interceptions in bunches, but definitely always noticeable in Hamilton's secondary
3) Courtney Stephen, DB, International. Hard-working Canadian DB. Always helps Hamilton's ratio. He was exploring NFL interests.
4) Justin Medlock, K, International. Next to Swayze Waters, who kicks better in the terrible wind of Tim Hortons Field? And Medlock is near automatic from long distances.
5) Bryan Hall, DL, International. Hall and Laurent made each other better. Few defensive tackle pairings penetrated offensive lines better than Hall and Laurent.
Other notables: Frederic Plesius, LB, National; Taylor Reed, LB, International; Andy Fantuz, WR, National; Justin Hickman, DE, International
Additional Notes
Montreal Alouettes
Team Needs heading into Free Agency |
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Quarterback -- starting and backup |
Younger receivers |
Canadian depth at every position (especially on defence and at receiver) |
Depth in secondary |
Depth on offensive line |
Top Pending Free Agents
1) Winston Venable, LB, International. Set career-highs in tackles, sacks and forced fumbles. He made sure the Als linebacking corps didn't suffer after Bear Woods suffered a season-ending injury.
2) Josh Bourke, OL, National. After Anthony Calvillo and Ben Cahoon, no player has stronger links to the Als organization, or has been more important than Bourke.
3) Dominique Ellis, DB, International. Handled increased workload (played 10 more games than 2014) in 2015 well.
4) Sam Giguere, WR, National. I don't know if Giguere has ever really met the high expectations set for him throughout his career. But he had a decent 2015.
5) Jonathan Hefney, DB, International. Hefney was pretty reliable in 2016.
Other notables: Jerald Brown, DB, International
Additional Notes
Ottawa Redblacks
Team Needs heading into Free Agency |
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Depth at running back |
More size in their secondary |
Depth at QB (AND YOUTH) |
(Cheap) depth at receiver |
Depth on the offensive line |
Top Pending Free Agents
1) Justin Capicciotti, DL, National. One of the most effective Canadian defensive ends. But, do the RedBlacks have the money to keep him?
2) Keith Shologan, DL, National. Always reliable, Shologan set a career-high with seven sacks in 2015; so do the RedBlacks have enough money available to bring back this veteran Canadian?
3) Jovon Johnson, DB, International. The 2011 defensive player of the year experienced a renaissance in 2015. Could he do it again in 2016?
4) Jeremiah Johnson, RB, International. A foot injury late in 2015 ruined the best form of Johnson's CFL career.
6) Thomas DeMarco, QB, International. In Ottawa, DeMarco never really had a chance to duplicate the production he had when he deputized for Travis Lulay in BC in 2013.
Other notables: Marcus Henry, WR, International
Saskatchewan Roughriders
For international players, expect the Riders to target defenders. They need linebackers and defensive backs. There isn't a lot of experience in secondary.Tyree Hollins is their most CFL experienced international DB with just one year under his belt. Jeff Knox Jr. and Jake Doughty would be their only impact international linebackers, with only one year experience.
There will also be arguments the Riders should get another experienced quarterback with back-to-back season-ending injuries to Darian Durant. - Notes from Lee Jones
Team Needs heading into Free Agency |
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Defensive backs |
Linebackers |
Running back |
Starting Canadian defensive tackle |
Starter or depth at safety |
Top Pending Free Agents
1. Ryan Smith, WR, International. Smith led the team in receiving yards last year.
2. Dylan Ainsworth, DL, National. He's a young Canadian that was a leader on special teams last year.
3. Alex Hall, DE, International. Hall had seven sacks last year.
4. Xavier Fulton, OL, International. The team's blind side tackle.
5. Chris Getzlaf, WR, National. He's a Canadian receiver on back end of his career.
Toronto Argonauts
Team Needs heading into Free Agency |
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QB depth |
Canadian receiver depth |
Re-siging Swayze Waters |
Comprehensive improvements to their defence, especially secondary (American and Canadian). |
Improving their offensive line |
Top Pending Free Agents
1) Cleyon Laing DL, National. Plenty of NFL interest. Always a strong ratio buster, and could develop into TOP Canadian/ Most Oustanding defensive player... if he stops committing personal fouls.
2) Trevor Harris, QB International. Was top MOP candidate before succumbing to late season pressure, likely because of Ricky Ray's return.
3) Swayze Waters, K, International. Best. Kicker. In. The. League... when healthy.
4) Jeff Keeping, C, National. Longtime Argo. He and Chris Van Zeyl are most consistent pieces on Toronto's Oline.
5) Chad Owens, WR/KR, International. With so much hype surrounding Diontae Spencer (a younger version of Chad Owens, in a lot of ways) Are the Argos ready to move on from 2012 MOP?
Other notables: Euclid Cummings, DL, International; Tristan Okpalaugo, DL, International; Curtis Steele, ST/KR/RB, International
Additional Notes
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Team Needs heading into Free Agency |
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Offensive playmaking help |
Defensive line |
Kicker (if possible) |
Top Pending Free Agents
1. Nick Moore, WR, International. Moore was a big target last time he was a free agent, two years ago. He finished 2015 with a strong stat line, recording 76 receptions for 899 yards and four touchdowns.
2. Demond Washington, DB, International. Washington had another solid season for the Bombers last year, his fourth in Winnipeg, recording 67 tackles and a career-high three interceptions.
3. Lirim Hajrullahu, K, National. Hajrullahu won’t generate the interest of a Swayze Waters or Justin Medlock, but he does have the Canadian passport. After a strong 2014, Hajrullahu’s performance dipped last year.
4. Graig Newman, DB, National. Newman came over from the Roughriders last season to play in 10 games on defence for the Blue Bombers.
Additional Notes
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With notes from Matthew Scianitti, Lee Jones, Gary Lawless, and Farhan Lalji