Free agency is right around the corner. It’s the most exciting time of the whole offseason. Teams have to make tough choices on who to keep around and who to let go. Here’s one free agent for every CFL team that is a must-keep.
BC LIONS: MATHIEU BETTS
Starting on the west coast, we find the league leader in sacks. 18 sacks for Betts over the regular season is 5 more than any other defensive lineman in the league. He was named a CFL All-Star in 2023, as well as a west division All-Star title and the Most Outstanding Defensive Player award for 2023. Last season was a breakout year for Betts, and he should have many more years like it to come.
EDMONTON ELKS: A.C. LEONARD
Right behind Betts in total sacks is the second defensive lineman on this list. Leonard is a stud in the CFL. After his tenure with the Riders ended in 2022, he went to greener and golder pastures in Edmonton. He made an impressive impact on the Elks defence, notching 12 sacks. For a team with so many young guys like the Elks, Leonard is a guy you build around.
CALGARY STAMPEDERS: MICAH AWE
Continuing our defensive trend, Awe is the kind of guy you want playing with you, not against you. Awe lead the league in tackles last season with 140, 17 more than anyone else. He had a rough time with penalties last year, but if he can play it clean, he will continue to be a cornerstone of the Stamps defence.
SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS: JAMAL MORROW
The Riders have tons of must-signs, most notably Shawn Bane Jr, who had a breakout season in 2023, and Larry Dean, who almost never missed a tackle last season. However, Jamal Morrow brings the core of the team together with his positive attitude, commitment to the community, and pure skill. I would like to see all of these free agents back in 2024, but JMO is on top of my list.
WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS: BRADY OLIVERA
The league leader in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. Brady Olivera should come as a surprise to no one as the biggest re-signing that needs to happen. He is working out for NFL teams south of the border, so if the Bombers want to keep him in Bombertown, they’re going to need to pay him big, which may cause problems with keeping the rest of the roster around.
HAMILTON TIGER-CATS: STAVROS KATSANTONIS
Yes, Katsantonis has already re-signed with Hamilton. And that was a great move to get him re-signed as early as possible. He had a standout year in 2023, tied for second in the CFL for interceptions with 5. He was a lockdown corner all of last year, and bringing him back is the first good move by the Ticats this offseason.
TORONTO ARGONAUTS: A.J. OULETTE
Oulette made an impression with his massive arms, scary eye black and majestic hair. He made an even bigger impression with his huge 2023 campaign. A centrepiece of the Argos offensive attack, Oulette rushed for 1,009 yards on the season. He should be on the top of the Argos re-signing list, with Andrew Harris presumably retiring after posting a picture to instagram of him hanging up his cleats.
OTTAWA REDBLACKS: LORENZO MAULDIN IV
Lorenzo Mauldin IV is one of, if not the best defensive lineman on the Redblacks. Winning All-Star and Most Outstanding Defensive Player accolades in 2022, Mauldin will look to improve on that in 2024, hopefully back with the red and black. He notched only 5 sacks in 2023, but also collected 5 tackles for loss.
MONTREAL ALOUETTES: CODY FAJARDO
Another player who has already re-signed to their respective team, the Grey Cup MVP deserves the praise he’s getting in Montreal. The 31-year-old had a huge bounceback season after going 6-12 with the Riders in 2022. Fajardo will be with the Als through 2025, and in that time, he hopes to win another Grey Cup.
By Bruce Chimirri-Olson
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