Ferguson: Imagining potential free agency fits

Marshall Ferguson

CFL.ca

@TSN_Marsh

Each year CFL rosters evolve. Your best players are prioritized, the core value players get brought back and then you go hunting.

When I build out my list of pending free agents each December, my mind always begins to wander. I start thinking about who would work best in a certain situation, how this player would fit into a team’s salary cap structure and which big time name that we all assume is going to stay put just might flip a switch and jump at the chance for some new scenery in 2023.

With that in mind, here are some matches I think could help tell the story of free agency in 2023.

BC LIONS

NOTABLE
REC Kenny Lawler

With Bryan Burnham gone, one of the first names that comes to mind as a replacement is Kenny Lawler, who signed for big money in Edmonton last year after being offered a substantial amount by BC. The pairing of Lawler’s deep ball acrobatics with Vernon Adams Jr.’s vertical tendencies could be electric paired with Dominique Rhymes and Keon Hatcher, amongst others.

UNLIKELY
OL Derek Dennis

I see Derek Dennis as a Stampeder from here on out, but if Joel Figueroa were to head elsewhere in free agency, this would create an interesting fit for the Stamps’ top tackle.

LOCK
RB James Butler

How could you possibly not sign this man to an extension? James Butler looked like he was playing at twice the speed of everyone around him through various points of 2022 and battled through an ankle injury in the Western Semi-Final.

PERSONAL REQUEST
RB Andrew Harris

A full circle closing of the book as Andrew Harris returns back to where it all began to give the Lions some veteran leadership to steady the room through the loss of Nathan Rourke to the NFL?

EDMONTON ELKS

NOTABLE
DL Malik Carney

The new Lorenzo Mauldin IV, Hamilton scouts and develops defensive line play well and Malik Carney is due for his chance to start and show what he really has. Geroy Simon and Chris Jones will unquestionably have Carney on their radar should Hamilton not make a deal before February 14.

UNLIKELY
REC Duke Williams

Not a great fit, but after an off year maybe Jones and co. get Duke Williams at a slight discount and give quarterback Taylor Cornelius a vertical threat, should Lawler leave.

LOCK
REC Derel Walker

Derel Walker is going to get his touches, make his plays and continue to rack up seasons served in green and gold. Walker is clearly an Edmonton guy for life in his third trip around the Commonwealth sun.

PERSONAL REQUEST
LB Kameron Kelly

I have a hard time seeing Hamilton part with Kameron Kelly, but he just feels like a Chris Jones type player. He’s athletic, young, and has upside, length and can play multiple positions.

CALGARY STAMPEDERS

NOTABLE
REC Nic Demski

Does Nic Demski stay in Winnipeg or decide to test the free agency waters? (Christian Bender/CFL.ca)

Jake Maier is not going to sling it all over the place like Bo Levi Mitchell based on his first couple of seasons, but he can pick you apart with the intermediate throws when supported by a creative run game. What better marriage (other than Collaros in Winnipeg) than Nic Demski in Calgary?

UNLIKELY
QB Cody Fajardo

Should Dane Evans get moved to Saskatchewan, Cody Fajardo is likely looking at a backup role. I don’t see Tommy Stevens as a true number two, but the Stamps could make sense as a soft landing spot for Fajardo to work in amongst the Calgary culture and make the most of his opportunities.

LOCK
DL Shawn Lemon

Much like James Butler in BC, you just can’t let this guy go after how he excelled in 2022. Age be damned, pay the man on a one-year deal and hope he does it all over again.

PERSONAL REQUEST
REC DaVaris Daniels

After years away in Edmonton and Toronto, DaVaris Daniels fits nicely with Maier’s mentality and would be brought up to speed quickly on a system he understands well from his time as both a Stamp and Argo.

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS

NOTABLE
OL Philip Blake

The Riders need strength, veteran presence and positional versatility. Add in his time with Saskatchewan in the past and Philip Blake is the most logical fit for what ails the Riders.

UNLIKELY
DL Ja’Gared Davis

Kevin Sousa/CFL.ca

I’m not sure Saskatchewan needs, or even wants, Ja’Gared Davis but they should think about picking him up based solely on his Midas touch when it comes to reaching Grey Cups.

LOCK
DL Pete Robertson

Pete Robertson is sensational, athletic and fundamentally sound. He was the most important member, when healthy, of that Riders front and it would be strange to see him let go.

PERSONAL REQUEST
OL Hunter Steward

More lineman, please. Don’t stop signing and spending on them until the answer is found. Hunter Steward fits the bill as a skilled Canadian who has seen it all.

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

NOTABLE
RET Janarion Grant

As explosive and smooth as any return man in the league, Janarion Grant has to stay in Winnipeg or he’ll make them pay with a game-changing play, the same way he boosts the Bombers win probabilities every time he touches the ball.

UNLIKELY
REC Shaq Evans

Shaq Evans needs a change of scenery and the Bombers could be just what the doctor ordered. I’m not sure of his pure fit here, but I could see his production returning to his breakout season in Saskatchewan and he’d certainly spice up Labour Day Weekend.

LOCK:
REC Greg Ellingson

He loves Collaros, and he should. They were meant to play football together.

PERSONAL REQUEST
DL Micah Johnson

This would be chaos, but as my mind wanders through this article creation process I had to laugh at how ridiculous Willie Jefferson and Jackson Jeffcoat would be with Micah Johnson eating up multiple players inside.

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS

NOTABLE
OL Jamal Campbell

After a solid career in Toronto and a year away in Saskatchewan, the Ticats have to keep shiny new signing Bo Levi Mitchell as clean as possible in 2022 and Jamal Campbell could really help that effort.

UNLIKELY
REC Kurleigh Gittens Jr.

I don’t see it happening, the even crazier pairing would be Ottawa after Kurleigh’s breakout season, but Hamilton needs better production from Canadian receivers and the lure of Mitchell as huddle leader might be enough to interest the former Laurier Golden Hawk slightly West.

LOCK
DL Julian Howsare

Chris Tanouye/CFL.ca

He doesn’t say a lot, and he doesn’t have to. His play speaks for itself and Hamilton has a new star at defensive end who they must bring back.

PERSONAL REQUEST
REC Kamar Jorden

The Jorden-Mitchell marriage can’t end like that right?! The connection was once elite, but struggled in 2022. What if Hamilton got Kamar Jorden at a value price in 2023 and turned back the clock with a Stamps duo that so often haunted them?

TORONTO ARGONAUTS

NOTABLE
RB A.J. Ouellette

While the Argos don’t run it enough for this to be a big impact, A.J. Ouellette’s influence down the stretch was unquestioned and he could be a steadying force regardless of post-championship turnover for the Double Blue.

UNLIKELY
REC Eugene Lewis

It sounds like Geno is going to hit the open market on February 14. If Kurleigh and DaVaris Daniels were to leave as potentially postured earlier, would Toronto make THE splash of 2023 Free Agency and take the Alouettes top man?

LOCK
DB Royce Metchie

I can’t imagine Toronto trading away an elite linebacker like Cameron Judge for just one year of Royce Metchie and not bring him back. Judge has already signed an extension in Calgary and Toronto needs to do the same here.

PERSONAL REQUEST
DL Kwaku Boateng

I fully expect Boateng to return in Ottawa coming off a really unfortunate season-ending injury, but Robbie Smith has opened the door in Toronto to adding quality rush ends with Canadian passports and Kwaku Boateng makes sense here in a healthy rotation.

OTTAWA REDBLACKS

NOTABLE
DL Thomas Costigan

Thomas Costigan flashed on tape in Edmonton and Montreal last season, especially on special teams which could draw the eye of new head coach Bob Dyce while also adding some edge pressure opposite Mauldin.

UNLIKELY
RB Walter Fletcher

Where will Walter Fletcher play in 2023? (Kevin Sousa/CFL.ca)

I’m not sure Ottawa wants to build out the offence from running back, but Walter Fletcher is arguably the most exciting player available at the position with huge upside. If the Montreal exodus occurs with Geno Lewis looking elsewhere, I wonder if the REDBLACKS front office would make him an offer he can’t refuse.

LOCK
LB Avery Williams

Tackling machine. This isn’t complicated. He runs the middle of that defence and should continue to do so.

PERSONAL REQUEST
QB Dane Evans

Masoli and Evans part 2? Why not. Dane Evans is arguably an upgrade from either Caleb Evans or Nick Arbuckle and the QB room chemistry could really help get Dane back on his feet after, most likely, being shown the door in Hamilton.

MONTREAL ALOUETTES

NOTABLE
LB Chris Edwards

Patrick Levels left for Ottawa after a noisy 2021 season. Could Montreal fit Chris Edwards into the nest alongside Tyrice Beverette and others to form a truly formidable linebacking group?

UNLIKELY
DB Jumal Rolle

I can’t see Hamilton letting him go, but a true lock down corner with Jumal Rolle’s size would be a huge asset to Montreal’s defence.

LOCK
QB Trevor Harris

Is Trevor Harris going to be a Montreal Alouette in 2023 or will he take his talents elsewhere? (Kevin Sousa/CFL.ca)

Jason Maas is the head coach and the offence is setup for Trevor to pick people apart. He’ll sign an extension sooner than later unless the Alouettes get wild and want Evans or Fajardo, which would come out of nowhere.

PERSONAL REQUEST
LB Frankie Griffin

One of the more underrated linebackers ascending through the CFL’s ranks, Frankie Griffin is a tackles for loss monster and could compliment recently extended Tyrice Beverette very nicely for the Als regardless of whether or not Adarius Pickett signs an extension.

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