Larry MacDougal/Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
Welcome to the 2020 All-Free Agent team.
This is a little different than an All-Star team as I like to write out a starting lineup based on a few criteria that goes a little further than just who was the best in 2019.
I’m looking for a lineup that has the proper seven Canadian starter ratio, a roster with a lot more youth than veteran savvy because if you’re investing in free agents, age has to be a factor.
Let’s start on the offensive line where you have a mix of solid young Canadian talent with some veteran American tackles.
2020 FREE AGENCY
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Protecting the pivot
LT – Stanley Bryant – You need to protect your quarterback’s blind side, how about the left tackle that has been nominated out of the West as a top offensive lineman for the last three years, winning the league title twice.
LG – David Beard – The Eskimos top offensive lineman in 2019 can play guard or centre. At 26 years old, if a team is looking to get an upgrade and get someone who is turning into one of the better interior linemen, it won’t get much better in this free-agent class.
C – Sean McEwen – Another 26-year old Canadian offensive lineman who has become the Argonauts’ key cog in the centre of their offensive line. He’s smart, strong and already has a pedigree as a top centre in the CFL.
RG – Nolan MacMillan – MacMillan has only known Ottawa as their first-ever draft pick in 2013. A player that can help improve your interior that also comes with a load of championship experience during his time in Ottawa.
RT – Jermarcus Hardrick – The Winnipeg bookends would complete my offensive line here as well. Hardrick is big, strong and can overpower an opponent. His motor also runs for all 60 minutes. A high energy impact tackle.
Calgary Stampeders quarterback Nick Arbuckle leads the team out of the tunnel. (Arthur Ward/CFL.ca)
QB – Nick Arbuckle – Yes there are plenty of veteran quarterbacks in this class that have won a lot of games with Jeremiah Masoli, Matt Nichols and Zach Collaros. However, they also come with some injury baggage, where Arbuckle is a 26-year old who has got to learn from some of the best coaches in the league, including being in a QB room with Bo Levi Mitchell. Give me the future QB in free agency.
RB – William Stanback – The 25-year old is just getting started it would appear and while there is NFL interest, I’d be lining up to get this multi-dimensional back. He has shown the ability to do all three RB responsibilities well in run, catch and block.
WR – Shaq Evans – The Roughriders deep threat is a great weapon to have in the wide open CFL. He can run the short quick slant and then beat you deep on a pump fake the next play. A breakout season in 2019 shows Evans has what it takes to be a top target in the CFL.
WR – Reggie Begelton – Another receiver who had a breakout year in 2019 with over 1,400 yards as
Calgary’s go-to receiver. Begelton made big plays but was also a clutch second down target for both Mitchell and Arbuckle. Anybody hoping to jump-start their air attack should look West for emerging talent.
WR – Bralon Addison – A utility type player who had a 1,000-yard season but also added 36 carries for an average of 6.1 yards per carry and over 200-yards. Addison’s intrigue to put him anywhere on any given play leaves offensive coordinators daydreaming a defensive coordinators nightmares. I want to see what more he can do in 2020.
WR – Dominique Rhymes – I could have gone with Eugene Lewis or S.J. Green or Derel Walker but Rhymes is an intriguing player. At 26-years old and on an offence that struggled, Rhymes hit 1,000-yards and is a big 6’4 target that quarterbacks love having around. In a better offensive attack, I’d be a GM wondering what more could he do.
WR – Shaq Johnson/Juwan Brescacin – I’m flipping the coin with these two Canadian receivers. Both have a high watermark close to 600-yards in their career but I feel both have more to offer. Pick one and you’d be a happy general manager trying to get some production from your national receiver.
Now let’s turn our attention to the defensive side of the ball:
Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive lineman Willie Jefferson celebrates a stop against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 107th Grey Cup presented by Shaw. (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)
DE – Willie Jefferson – D’UH!!!!!! The 2019 CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player is a difference-maker. He’s a headache for offensive lineman and quarterbacks. One play he’ll fly by a tackle, the next he’s 3-yards off the line of scrimmage knocking down a pass or picking it off. The high price is worth it for a playmaker like Jefferson.
DT – Dylan Wynn – One of my favourite lineman to watch the last couple of seasons. Hamilton was smart to get him out of Toronto and anybody would be a smart manager trying to invest in a tackle who needs to be double-teamed on every play.
DT – Jake Thomas – I know, I know, I know … what about Ted Laurent and Cleyon Laing as starting Canadian defensive tackle. Sure, you can go with the obvious but I think you get almost as much with a cheaper price tag with Jake Thomas. Maybe the most underrated defensive lineman in the league, as well.
DE – Ja’Gared Davis – He was good in Calgary. He was great in Hamilton this past season with 13 sacks. Davis continues to develop off the edge in the CFL and while he’ll turn 30 next season, he’s got plenty left in the tank. I think he’s just getting started and could be the man to unseat his former mentor Charleston Hughes as the sack king after four straight years at the top.
Working our way through the defence there are a lot of options at linebacker in free agency.
WLB – Cameron Judge – The West nominee for top Canadian proved he can indeed be an impact player after being drafted second overall three years ago by the Riders. Judge had a career year, not just making tackles but sacks, forced fumbles, knockdowns and interceptions. He can also slide into the middle of the defence if it’s absolutely necessary.
MLB – Larry Dean – The Edmonton Eskimos didn’t regret their investment in the middle of their defence when bringing Dean over from Hamilton. He was sixth in tackles in the top three in tackles for loss.
SLB – Derrick Moncrief – This could have easily been a Riders sweep at linebacker as Solomon Elimimian is 1b to Larry Dean’s 1a. Moncrief was another player who continued to grow in his third year in Saskatchewan. The Riders snuck him back at safety and moved him around the defence because he has a body type and is an athlete who can take on plenty of responsibilities.
DB’s are plentiful in this free-agent class but I can only pick five
DB – Winston Rose – I’ll take the easy way out and pick the interception leader first. He has plenty of good years left but needs to find a home. Three seasons and three teams for Rose and Ottawa and B.C. have to be kicking themselves for letting him go after struggling in the defensive backfield this season.
DB – DaShaun Amos – Amos stepped in to replace some key veterans in Calgary and showed well with five interceptions. He’s only 25-years old and could become a premier halfback to take on some of the top receivers in the league.
DB – Richard Leonard – One of the many playmakers on Hamilton’s defence can take on all comers coming from the slot receiver spot in the league. He came back a bit after a down year in 2018 but turned into a defensive back with some veteran savvy after three years of experience starting.
DB – Nick Marshall – I still don’t think Nick Marshall has even gotten close to his full potential as a defensive back yet. Marshall didn’t play the position for a few years in college as he was a star quarterback for Auburn. Now that he’s shifted back to the position in his pro career, he’s showing it was the right decision to switch to the defensive ball when he joined the pro ranks in 2016.
S – Tunde Adeleke – Another sound free agent signing that turned out for Hamilton, bringing him in from Calgary. And thanks to the one-year deal trend in the CFL, another CFL team could upgrade a national spot in their starting defence if necessary. He’s also only 24-years old and has more learning to do.
Special teams matter too!!!!
K – Lewis Ward – When a guy can kick 69 straight field goals without a miss. Yeah, you should probably look into him if you need a new kicker.
P – Richie Leone – Second in the CFL in punting average and #1 in net punting. Again, no brainer should you need a punter.
Return – Frankie Williams – The 2019 Special Teams Player of the Year can not only help you out in the return game but he almost made my list as a defensive back, holding down the field side corner spot so well in Hamilton this year.
LS – Louis-Phillippe Bourassa – The CFLPA All-Star long snapper is a free agent but there are a few out there this off-season, including Jorgen Hus and Martin Bedard.
