February 7, 2016

Free Agent Dream Team: Dunk makes his picks

Rogerio Barbosa/Montreal Alouettes

TORONTO — We know this year’s pending free agent crop is pretty good, but how good?

There’s still some time for players to sign new contracts before 12pm at Feb. 9, when those without a contract become free to move around — but as it stands, some of the CFL’s brightest stars are on track to become free to go anywhere.

In what could be one of the most memorable free agent periods ever, we had CFL.ca’s Justin Dunk build an all-star team out of pending free agents. The result highlights some of the top talent available, including from a Canadian content perspective as 11 out of 24 starters hold a national passport.

Argos breakout star in 2015 quarterback Trevor Harris leads the charge under centre with his all-Canadian backfield of Andrew Harris and Jerome Messam, while national Matt Norman holds down the O-line under centre with Josh Bourke at left tackle to protect the blind side.

It’s possible no part of the team is more star-studded than the defensive line, where Ted Laurent and Cleyon Laing anchor a powerful front that would cause headaches for any offensive line in the league. With Tristan Okpalaugo and Justin Capicciotti, each with 23 sacks apiece over the last two seasons, coming off the ends, it’s hard to imagine a more dominant pass rush than this one.

All in all, nine players on the depth chart were named Division All-Stars in 2015, five of those being named CFL All-Stars. Meanwhile, every team but Winnipeg has at least one player on the list while the Argos lead the way with five players on the team.

Here’s how the team shakes out:

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There are too many good free agents to include all of them and already some debate has been heard. Jovon Johnson was an East Division All-Star at cornerback but was edged out by Hamilton’s Courtney Stephen and Montreal’s up-and-coming Mitchell White, a player Dunk considers underrated heading into this year’s free agent crop.

Travis Lulay, Bryan Hall and Corey Watman are other players listed in the top 15 of CFL.ca’s Top 30 Free Agents that didn’t make Dunk’s all-FA team, while the biggest surprise absence may be the quick and diminutive Ryan Smith, the 24-year-old who broke out last season with 991 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.

While Jermaine Gabriel was initially the starting safety, he signed an extension with the Argos on Friday and was replaced by Esks safety Ryan Hinds.

With that, we ask you two questions: 1) What changes would you make to Dunk’s all-FA team, and 2) How would an all-FA team fare against current existing CFL teams?

Free agency starts on Feb. 9 at 12pm ET (click here for the full updated list of pending free agents).