Since winning the Grey Cup in 2011, the BC Lions have failed to reach the big dance, going 0-5 in the West Final and 4-10 overall in the postseason.
That history reared its ugly head again in the 2025 playoffs, with the Lions giving up the lead to the eventual Grey Cup champion Saskatchewan Roughriders with 11 seconds remaining in the West Final.
It feels like their time is coming, however, especially with Victoria, B.C. native Nathan Rourke slinging the rock. The team has already done some shopping, has retained most of its talent, and even extended that franchise quarterback, so let’s see where they stand.
The Free Agency Communication Window, in which teams can openly speak with any clubs pending free agents, opens Feb.1 at 12 p.m. ET and closes Feb.8 at 12 p.m. ET. The official CFL free agency period opens Feb.10 at 12 p.m. ET.
Pending Free Agents
* = Canadian
QB Chase Brice
QB Jeremiah Masoli
WR Ayden Eberhardt
OT Jarrell Broxton
OG David Foucault*
C/OG Andrew Peirson*
LB Adam Auclair*
LB Maxime Rouyer
HB T.J. Lee
HB/CB Jalon Edwards-Cooper
LS Kyle Nelson*
The Lions have shortened their pending free agent list in recent days, bringing back running back James Butler (through 2027) and right tackle Dejon Allen (through 2026). The team now has the most players under contract (83) due to bringing a ton of Americans in already, as well as retaining a lot of their own talent.
A couple of big names remain unsigned and look like they will at least make it to the window, however, in receiver Ayden Eberhardt, and arguably the best player available in the entire free agent class, Jarrell Broxton.
“Some of these guys are going to have to go to the window and see what their value is,” Lions general manager Ryan Rigmaiden said to The Province’s Steve Ewen on B.C.’s remaining free-agent crew.
“I think every player wants to be back, but it has to make sense. Some players are going to get higher offers from other teams. That’s just the reality of football. Do I want to come back and continue to build what we’ve been building here, or do I want to chase some money on the open market? That’s a personal decision for each player.”
Offence
Even if Broxton and Eberhardt depart, which is very possible, this offence is still lethal.
Last year’s group set records, with the team’s 8.04 yards per play the highest in CFL history. The team also averaged an outstanding 430.2 net yards per game, almost 50 more than the second-place Roughriders.
Despite coming up one play short of making the Grey Cup, it was a successful first season for head coach and offensive coordinator Buck Pierce. He and Rourke seemed to be on the same page from Week 5 onward, as the 27-year-old arguably put up the best season by a Canadian quarterback ever.
Rourke set records for the most passing yards (5,290), completions (352), and 300-yard plus games (12) by a Canadian pivot in a single season, claiming the Most Outstanding Player and Canadian awards in the process.
The pair were joined by a laundry list of talented weapons, as All-CFL receivers Keon Hatcher Sr. and Justin McInnis led the charge.
Hatcher had a particularly strong season, as the 31-year-old led the league in receiving yards with 1,688. That was the best mark in nearly a decade, coming close to Adarius Bowman’s 1,761-yard mark for the then Edmonton Eskimos in 2016. Hatcher and the Lions agreed on a two-year deal earlier this off-season.
BC also brought back James Butler on a two-year deal, as the running back bounced back in 2025 after missing games in 2024 with an injury. The 30-year-old averaged career highs in rushing yards (1,213), touchdowns (11), and yards per carry (5.3) and was a big part of the offence’s success.
Between complimentary weapons in Canadian Jevon Cottoy, American Stanley Berryhill, backup running back Zander Horvath, and a gaggle of Americans at the skill positions, they could be prepared to lose an Eberhardt who “many” teams have interest in, per a source.
Up front, the elephant in the room is what will happen with All-CFL left tackle Jarrell Broxton. The 32-year-old is the best pass protector in the league, with his 2.7 pressure rate allowed leading all tackles over the last two seasons (min 600 pass block snaps).
Broxton was a major reason for turning around BC’s offensive line in 2025, as the team allowed the fewest sacks (20) after allowing the most as a unit in 2024 (43). Every team could use a Broxton, making it easy to see a path where Broxton doesn’t return, especially with teams that are more desperate for an upgrade and potentially have more money.
After recently signing 2023 Most Outstanding Lineman Dejon Allen – who missed most of 2025 with a torn bicep – to a one-year contract extension, as well as having the experienced Chris Schleuger and other Americans under contract, they could be somewhat prepared to lose Broxton as well.
On the interior, centre Michael Couture and guards Anu Una and Tyler Packer, as well as recent draft picks Connor Klassen and Alex Berwick, hold down the Canadian rotation.
Kory Woodruff, whose 2.7 pressure rate allowed was the second best among all interior linemen in 2025, signed an extension through 2027 earlier this offseason and should man the left guard spot.
Overall, it was an offence that was explosive in 2025, putting up the most big plays by far (63), while also being elite on second down, converting at the highest rate (52.6 per cent), but it was the defence’s turnaround late in the year that helped propel this team forward.
Defence
This unit was inconsistent and struggled for the first two-thirds of 2025. However, the unit was fantastic over the final six weeks of the regular season after making some additions.
The defence only allowed 23.5 points (allowed 29.8 through the first 12 games) and 341.0 net offence per game (allowed 356.2 through the first 12 games), which were some of the lowest totals in the league over that stretch as the team went undefeated (6-0).
Fast forward to now, and the team has already gone shopping, swapping in Casey Sayles for DeWayne Hendrix up front and Darnell Sankey for Micah Awe in the middle of the linebacking core. Both veterans have received multiple-time divisional All-CFL nods and should add great play and leadership to help take this defence to new heights.
Where this defence makes its hay is up front, however, as BC features an impeccable defensive line that features multiple disruptors.
It starts with the two-time and reigning Most Outstanding Defensive Player Mathieu Betts, who led the CFL in sacks (15), was second in pressures (70), fourth in pressure rate (13.4), and second in tackles amongst linemen (42).
Nose tackle Jonah Tavai was unleashed last year and was fantastic, as the 25-year-old racked up 26 tackles and five sacks from the interior (fifth among tackles), while also posting a 10.5 per cent pressure rate (second among tackles).
When you add late-season addition Levi Bell on the other edge, who performed well, this front can cause a lot of issues for opposing offences. In 2025, the defence led in sacks (45), forced fumbles (17), and was third in tackles for loss (34). Mike Benevides, who, per a source, will return as defensive coordinator for the second straight season, would certainly like to be near the top of those categories once again.
As of now, the team appears to be ready to start five Canadians offensively, meaning the last three starting spots would have to be made up on defence. And with seven Canucks currently under contract at linebacker, the weak-side position will likely be the spot. Ben Hladik is the likely candidate, after opting to stay in BC for two more years this off-season.
The questions on the defence come on the back end, however, and there are even more now after Robert Carter Jr. opted to take his talents south of the border.
The defence as a whole was pretty good at not allowing big plays, only giving up 42 (third-fewest), but 31 of those came through the air, as BC allowed the second-most big-time completions. The team was also bad on second down, primarily a passing down, allowing the second-best conversion rate against (49.6).
Multiple-time All-CFL member Garry Peters is back on a one-year deal, which takes care of boundary corner, while the hard-hitting Deontai Williams and Ronald Kent Jr. remain under contract at nickel and strong side halfback, respectively.
At safety, Canadian second-year Jackson Findlay will look to build on his tremendous run of play to close the season, when he made four interceptions and 26 tackles after stepping in for the injured Cristophe Beaulieu, who was also fantastic in his second season before injuring his knee in September.
Those are the spots that are more than likely taken care of, likely leaving a couple of spots up for grabs. Veterans like T.J. Lee – who aided in the late turnaround with his addition – and Jalon Edwards-Cooper are pending free agents, but the team has brought in double-digit Americans to help fill the voids.
Finding a couple of starters out of that bunch might be the way the team goes, but if there was one position the Lions could/should target this period, outside of retaining Broxton and Eberhardt, it would be bringing in some impact, veteran help to the DB room.
