MMQB: The biggest stories of the off-season so far

Pat Steinberg

CFL.ca

@Fan960Steinberg

Does it suddenly seem like ages ago the Montreal Alouettes were winning the 110th Grey Cup, or is that just me?

Despite being a few weeks away from Free Agency and four months out from the 2024 CFL Draft, it feels like we’ve already had an entire off-season’s worth of news this winter. And believe me: I’m not complaining.

From blockbuster trades to significant coaching hires, here are the biggest stories of the offseason…with more to come.

Reshaping the REDBLACKS

General manager Shawn Burke was busy last week. And when he was all done wheeling and dealing, the REDBLACKS looked like a completely different team, and that starts at quarterback. Ottawa acquired the rights to prized free agent pivot Dru Brown in a trade with Winnipeg, sending a fifth-round pick the other way.

The REDBLACKS now have until February 13 to agree to terms with their presumed number one going forward. Brown is thought by many to be the league’s best “next one” candidate after three seasons with the Bombers, including a stellar 2023. Last year saw Brown start two games and throw for 983 yards to go along with nine touchdowns and no interceptions.

And on the same day, Ottawa appeared to make their first major splash in free agency. Because he was released by the Lions, game breaking receiver Dominque Rhymes was eligible to sign elsewhere before the league-wide market opens in a few weeks. The team hasn’t officially announced the signing yet but it was reported by TSN’s Farhan Lalji that the REDBLACKS wasted no time bringing Rhymes home on a big money deal, reuniting him with the team where everything started in 2017.

New eras begin

The league’s two off-season coaching vacancies were filled rather quickly, starting with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Riders hired Corey Mace in late November, completing a rocket ship journey to the top of the coaching ranks. Starting his coaching career in 2016, Mace has gone from a position coach to coordinator and now head coach in less than a decade. He also feels like the perfect fit for a Saskatchewan team dead set on returning to the playoffs.

About a week later, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats named Scott Milanovich the 27th head coach in franchise history. After time south of the border with Jacksonville and Indianapolis, Milanovich returned to the CFL in May as a senior assistant coach with the Ticats before taking over as offensive coordinator a few months later. Milanovich was a hot name in the coaching rumour mill, so locking him in is a nice get for Hamilton.

Chris Jones isn’t messing around

Jones has made some massive waves so far this winter. Edmonton’s head coach and general manager shocked most of the league when he signed former Argos quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson to a monster contract after one year spent with USFL New Orleans. It was a massive move by Jones who knows the Elks need to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2019.

Bethel-Thompson, who led Toronto to the 109th Grey Cup, instantly stabilizes Edmonton’s quarterback situation. We’re talking about a guy who has gone over 4,000 yards passing on two occasions and led the league in that category in 2022. The move also moves Canadian standout Tre Ford to number two on the depth chart, which is fascinating knowing how he helped turned the Elks around in the second half of last season.

But Jones wasn’t done. Last week saw the Elks complete an old-fashioned blockbuster when they acquired receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr. from Toronto in exchange for defensive lineman Jake Ceresna. Adding Gittens makes a ton of sense knowing he had his two best seasons with Bethel-Thompson throwing him the ball, including going over 1,100 yards in 2022.

Big name uncertainty

We’re used to seeing multiple big names populate the CFL.ca free agent tracker every year. But just over three weeks from the market opening, it feels like more huge names remain unsigned than normal. That includes 21 of our list of the top 30 free agents, including eight of the top ten and the entirety of the top four.

Winnipeg needs to figure out huge raises for running back Brady Oliveira (#1) and receiver Dalton Schoen (#4), with both having an argument to be the highest paid player at their position. Also without a contract is Hamilton’s Tim White (#3) who just happened to lead the league with 1,269 receiving yards last year.

Still unsigned on the defensive side, BC’s Mathieu Betts (#2) is coming off a monster season where he set a record for sacks by a Canadian with 18 en route to being named Most Outstanding Defensive Player. And don’t forget Micah Awe (#9) who’s first season with the Stampeders saw him finish on top of the league with 134 defensive tackles.

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