Results of free agency frenzy
With dozens of CFL players changing uniforms since Feb. 12, we take a look at how each GM fared
Though the fates of quarterbacks Mike Reilly (going to B.C.), Bo Levi Mitchell (staying in Calgary) and Trevor Harris (signed by Edmonton) generated most of the buzz, a whopping 59 CFL free agents had changed addresses by Wednesday morning.
Most of the action was out west, in B.C., Calgary and Edmonton. Ed Hervey was the busiest general manager, signing 10 free agents and watching as 15 headed out the Lions’ revolving door. Calgary lost nine players from its Grey Cup championship roster, and added just one free agent, DB Courtney Stephen from Hamilton, while the Eskimos loaded up with nine free agents and had seven depart.
Here’s a look at how the nine CFL teams have emerged:
OTTAWA REDBLACKS
11-7, lost Grey Cup game
GM: Marcel Desjardins Released: WR Diontae Spencer Key extensions: QB Dominique Davis, DB Corey Tindal, WR Julian Feoli-gudino, OL Jason Lauzon-seguin, OL Nolan Macmillan, DL Danny Mason, DL Avery Ellis, DL Michael Klassen, DL Michael Wakefield, DB Jonathan Rose, DB Sherrod Baltimore, K Richie Leone
Needs (prior to free agency): quarterback, receiver, running back
Re-signed: WR Dominique
Rhymes
Pending: LB Chris Ackie, LB Kyries Hebert, OL Jon Gott Acquired: QB Jonathon Jennings, WR Ryan Lankford, WR Caleb Holley, LB Kevin Francis
Lost: QB Trevor Harris, WR Greg Ellingson and OT Sirvincent Rogers to Edmonton, RB William Powell and DL A.C. Leonard to Saskatchewan, DB Rico Murray to Hamilton
Thumbnail analysis: The starting quarterback that took the Redblacks to the Grey Cup game departed for Edmonton and Desjardins didn’t adequately replace him, so that’s a fail. The offence also lost a key receiver, starting running back and offensive tackle. Ouch. Desjardins did solidify the defensive line, and that’s a plus.
Roster management grade: D
HAMILTON TIGER-CATS 8-10, lost Eastern Final GMS: Shawn Burke and Drew Allemang
Released: OL Ryker Mathews Key extensions: RB Alex Green, RB Sean-thomas Erlington, RB Nikita Whitlock, WR Brandon Banks, WR Jalen Saunders, LB Simoni Lawrence, DB Delvin Breaux, LS Aaron Crawford Needs: Linebacker, secondary, offensive line
Re-signed: WR Shamawd Chambers, OL Mike Filer
Pending: QB Bryant Moniz, WR Chris Williams, WR Terrence Toliver, WR Felix Faubert-lussier, WR Terrell Sinkfield, K Lirim Hajrullahu
Acquired: DL Ja’gared Davis, DB Rico Murray, DL Justin Tuggle, WR Brian Jones, DB Tunde Adeleke
Lost: LB Larry Dean and DB Don Unamba to Edmonton, DB Courtney Stephen to Calgary, RB John White and LB Terrell Davis to B.C., RB Mercer Timmis to Toronto
Thumbnail analysis: The two-headed general managership came through its first free agency frenzy relatively unscathed. They took hits on defence but punched back with key extensions and signings. Roster management grade: B
MONTREAL ALOUETTES
5-13, missed playoffs
GM: Kavis Reed
Released: QB Drew Willy, DB Joe Burnett, DB Tevaughn Campbell, DL Faith Ekakitie, RB Lawrence Pittman, WR Josh Stanford
Key extensions: WR Ernest Jackson, WR Eugene Lewis, OL Kristian Matte, OL Tony Washington, LS Martin Bedard Needs: Receiver, running back, offensive line, defensive back Re-signed: DL John Bowman, WR Stephen Adekolu
Pending: LB Chip Cox, DL Gabriel Knapton, DB Jermaine Robinson, DB T.J. Heath, WR Adarius Bowman
Acquired: RB Jeremiah Johnson, WR Devier Posey, LB Bo Lokombo, DB Taylor Loffler, DB Patrick Levels, OL Spencer Wilson, FB Christophe Normand
Lost: LB Nicolas Boulay and OL Philippe Gagnon to Ottawa, LB DJ Lalama to Winnipeg Thumbnail analysis: The Als need help at almost every position, most urgently at receiver and on the O line. In that regard, Reed’s free agency work gets only a passing grade. Defence was solid last year and will be better with the addition of Loffler.
Roster management grade: C
TORONTO ARGONAUTS 4-14, missed playoffs
GM: Jim Popp
Key extensions: RB Brandon Burks, OL Ryan Bomben, LB Bear Woods, DB Abdul Kanneh, DB Alden Darby, LS Jake Reinhart
Needs: Quarterback, receiver, kicker
Re-signed: QB Dakota Prukop, DL Troy Davis, OL Jamal Campbell, OL William Campbell, OL Tyler Holmes, DL Cameron Walker
Pending: QB Ricky Ray, RB Travon Van, DB Ronnie Yell, LB Jeff Knox Jr.
Acquired: WR Derel Walker, DB Kevin Fogg, LB Micah Awe, DL Tobi Antigha, DL Cory Johnson, LB Ian Wild, RB Mercer Timmis, DL Shawn Lemon, RB Chris Rainey, RB Tyrell Sutton
Lost: WR Duron Carter to B.C., DL Justin Tuggle to Hamilton Thumbnail analysis: Popp threw tons of cash at QB Bo Levi Mitchell and still couldn’t sign him, so he spent a bunch of it on receiver Derel Walker, hoping the ex-eskimo can get something going with former teammate, QB James Franklin.
Roster management grade: C
CALGARY STAMPEDERS 13-5, won Grey Cup
GM: John Hufnagel
Released: WR Chris Matthews, WR Marken Michel, LB Alex Singleton, LB Jameer Thurman, DL James Vaughters
Key extensions: RB Terry Williams, WR Kamar Jorden, OL Shane Bergman, OL Brad Erdos, OL Ucambre Williams, DB Brandon Smith, DB Jamar Wall Needs: Quarterback, receiver, defensive line, linebacker Re-signed: QB Bo Levi Mitchell Pending: DB Emanuel Davis, DB Ciante Evans, WR Bakari Grant Acquired: DB Courtney Stephen Lost: WR Davaris Daniels to Edmonton, DL Ja’gared Davis and DB Tunde Adeleke to Hamilton, LB Maleki Harris and WR Lemar Durant to B.C., DL Micah Johnson to Saskatchewan, DB Patrick Levels and OL Spencer Wilson to Montreal, DB Troy Stoudermire to Ottawa
Thumbnail analysis: Hufnagel didn’t do much shopping in free agency, but he did re-sign his franchise QB to a four-year deal and that was just enough for a passing grade. He will basically have to rebuild the defence that won the Grey Cup.
Roster management grade: C
SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS 12-6, lost West Semifinal
GM: Jeremy O’day
Released: LB Sam Eguavoen, WR Kenny Shaw, WR Jordan Williams-lambert
Key extensions: DL Zack Evans, LB Sam Hurl, DB Mike Edem, DB Loucheiz Purifoy
Needs: Quarterback, offensive line, receiver
Re-signed: QB Zach Collaros, WR Naaman Roosevelt
Pending: QB Brandon Bridge, WR Devon Bailey, WR Rob Bagg, RB Cameron Marshall, DL Eddie Steele, OL Josiah St. John, DL Mic’hael Brooks
Acquired: DL Micah Johnson, RB William Powell, WR Manny Arceneaux, DL A.C. Leonard, WR Cory Watson, LB Dyshawn Davis, QB Cody Fajardo
Lost: DL Willie Jefferson to Winnipeg, DL Tobi Antigha and DL Cory Johnson to Toronto, WR Caleb Holley and LB Kevin Francis to Ottawa, WR Brian Jones to Hamilton
Thumbnail analysis: O’day couldn’t attract QB Bo Levi Mitchell with big money, so he quickly re-signed Collaros and added two potentially major offensive weapons in Arceneaux and Powell. And he did some really good work replacing Jefferson with Johnson, who was the subject of a bidding war.
Roster management grade: B
WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS 10-8, lost West Final
GM: Kyle Walters
Released: LB Ian Wild
Key extensions: FB Mike Miller, OL Stanley Bryant, OL Jermarcus Hardrick, DL Jackson Jeffcoat, LB Adam Bighill, DB Jeff Hecht, K Justin Medlock, LS Chad Rempel
Needs: Receiver, defensive line and secondary
Re-signed: WR Nic Demski Pending: WR Weston Dressler, RB Kienan Lafrance
Acquired: DL Willie Jefferson, DB DJ Lalama, DB Winston Rose Lost: DB Taylor Loffler to Montreal, LB Jovan Santos-knox to Edmonton, OL Sukh Chungh to B.C., DB Kevin Fogg to Toronto, WR Ryan Lankford to Ottawa Thumbnail analysis: Walters did tons of work prior to free agency, re-upping key pieces on both sides of the ball. Adding Jefferson to a defence that lost Santos-knox and Loffler was crucial. He also chased WR Derel Walker but lost out to Toronto and didn’t manage to find another deep threat on the market.
Roster management grade: C
B.C. LIONS
9-9, lost East Semifinal
GM: Ed Hervey
Released: K Ty Long
Key extensions: WR Bryan Burnham, OL Joel Figueroa, DL Odell Willis, DB T.J. Lee Needs: Quarterback, running back, kicker
Re-signed: DB Garry Peters, WR Shaq Johnson
Pending: QB Travis Lulay, OL Jovan Olafioye, DB Otha Foster, OL Cody Husband
Acquired: QB Mike Reilly, OL Sukh Chungh, DB Aaron Grymes, WR Duron Carter, DB Josh Woodman, DB Chris Edwards, LB Maleki Harris, WR Lemar Durant, RB John White, LB Terrell Davis Lost: QB Jonathon Jennings to Ottawa, QB Cody Fajardo, LB Dyshawn Davis, WR Manny Arceneaux and WR Cory Watson to Saskatchewan, RB Jeremiah Johnson, LB Bo Lokombo and WR Devier Posey to Montreal, RB Chris Rainey, DL Shawn Lemon, RB Tyrell Sutton and LB Micah Awe to Toronto, WR Ricky Collins Jr. and DB Anthony Orange to Edmonton, DB Winston Rose to Winnipeg
Thumbnail analysis: As Hervey said, the Lions stole from Peter to give to Mike, and the major cash outlay prompted a 15-player exodus, by far the largest in the league. But Hervey got his franchise QB, some protection for him and a couple of targets. Roster management grade: B
EDMONTON ESKIMOS
9-9, missed playoffs
GM: Brock Sunderland Released: WR Bryant Mitchell, WR Duke Williams, DL Jake Ceresna, DB Mercy Maston
Key extensions: FB Calvin Mccarty, WR Kenny Stafford, DL Kwaku Boateng, K Hugh O’neill, DB Forrest Hightower, LS Ryan King
Needs: Quarterback, receivers, linebackers, secondary Re-signed: OL Travis Bond Pending: QB Kevin Glenn, WR Vidal Hazelton, WR Sam Giguere, WR Jamill Smith, OL Justin Sorensen, RB Martese Jackson, DB Brandyn Thompson Acquired: QB Trevor Harris, WR Greg Ellingson, WR Ricky Collins Jr., WR Davaris Daniels, OL Sirvincent Rogers, LB Larry Dean, LB Jovan Santos-knox, DB Don Unamba, DB Anthony Orange
Lost: QB Mike Reilly, DB Chris Edwards, DB Aaron Grymes and DB Josh Woodman to B.C., WR Derel Walker to Toronto, FB Christophe Normand to Montreal, WR Nate Behar to Ottawa Thumbnail analysis: Because he knew well ahead of time Reilly was signing with B.C., Sunderland made Harris the priority, locked him up for two seasons and surrounded him with receiving help and blind-side protection. Sunderland also re-stocked a depleted LB corps and held steady in the secondary.
Roster management grade: A