Redblacks could look a lot different

Get ready for plenty of new faces in the Ottawa Redblacks 2017 lineup.

With CFL free agency beginning today at noon, the Redblacks will look to dip into the pool of about 200 available players, while losing as many as 17 players from their Grey Cup roster of 2016.

Will the Redblacks be players in free agency?

“Absolutely,” said GM Marcel Desjardins, “in hopes of having somebody be in the same ballpark as we are, with respect to what we believe their value is. If it’s not there, it’s no different than any of our own guys — not being on the same page — and we move on.

“These things are all moving at the same time, you’re juggling multiple pieces.

“If I have to overpay somewhere, it compromises another position.”

With the Redblacks already without defensive backs Mitchell White, Jeff Richards and Forrest Hightower (all of whom signed with NFL teams), it looks like allstar defensive back Abdul Kanneh will test free agency.

Among those expected to flee are: starting receivers Ernest Jackson and Chris Williams, offensive linemen J’Micheal Deane and Nolan MacMillan, running backs Kienan Lafrance and Travon Van, and defensive lineman Moton Hopkins.

Desjardins said about talks with Jackson: “They came back (last week) with the ballpark figure they were looking for and I said I didn’t see us doing that. I’d say it’s remote” that he’s signed before free agency begins.

In the case of Williams and defensive back John Boyett, there are still questions of health after ACL injuries forced both out of the lineup in 2016. The Redblacks could circle back later.

“We’d love to have them both back,” Desjardins said.

In many of the other cases, it’s about the money. Some have asked for whopping raises. The Redblacks are trying to stay within a $5.15-million salary cap budget.

“The starters and the Canadians are always a priority, but the reality, based on some of the information we’ve been given by the player or the agent, is we’re not going down that path,” Desjardins said.

“It’s a business for us, it’s a business for them. As much as we’d love to have as many of these guys back as possible, the reality is the cap only goes up so much and there isn’t enough money for everybody. That’s as simple as I can put it.”