Storylines to Follow for Each CFL Team in 2024

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The 2024 CFL season is just around the corner. Each team will look to make themselves the top of the league and win the Grey Cup again. Each team has interesting things happening, and these storylines will develop over the season, giving us all things to talk about. That said, right before preseason starts on Monday, here are storylines to follow for each CFL team to follow in 2024.

B.C. LIONS: WIN IT ALL AT HOME

The B.C Lions will be a great team in 2024. Their roster is stacked with talent, and the Grey Cup is in B.C this year, which will add extra motivation to make it to the big game. It will be interesting to see how good this B.C Lions team will be in 2024, especially because they've been so close to a Grey Cup in past years. 

They will at least get to the Western Final, if not the Grey Cup.

 Brandon C. Williams of CFL.ca predicts that Vernon Adams Jr. will go over 5,000 yards this season, and it can happen with their insane receiving core. Overall, look for the Lions to be a great team in 2024.

CALGARY STAMPEDERS: PROVE THEM WRONG

The Stampeders have been pretty much unanimously been voted the worst team for 2024.

This doesn't mean that they will be the worst team in 2024, however.

The Stamps can make a case over getting themselves into 3rd place in the west like last year. With key free agent signing Demerio Houston, who was the league leader last season in interceptions with seven, the defence will have a big boost to their secondary.

The Stamps will have a lot of doubters to prove wrong in 2024, and prove to them all that they're still a unit to contend with.

EDMONTON ELKS: BE A CONTENDER

The Elks haven't really been the greatest team in the league for the past few seasons. Losses at home, losses away, losses pretty much everywhere you can think of. 

This season is looking up for the Elks, though.

Their first overall pick, Joel Dublanko, will be a welcome addition to the Elks linebacker core. McLeod Bethel-Thompson will be a great starting caliber quarterback, along with Tre Ford behind him to learn from a veteran presence. The Elks are projected to have a better record than last year, and they could be a playoff contender in 2024. 

They will definitely be one of the most interesting teams to watch in 2024.

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS: FREE AGENT FRENZY

WOW, did the Riders ever have a great free agency. I mean, they signed AJ Ouellette, Jermarcus Hardrick, Jameer Thurman, Malik Carney, and that's just naming a few. 

Now the real question is, can they translate to being a great unit together on the field?

Yes.

Training camp footage from the Riders has been inspiring for fans of the green and white. Fans who watch the practices live applauded for new head coach Corey Mace after some disciplinary action when a small fight broke out. Speaking of Corey Mace, he is generating hype all over Rider nation for this season. His new coaching staff looks like quite the upgrade over last year's, and he and his new staff can lead the Riders back to greatness in 2024.

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS: RETURN TO GREATNESS

Winnipeg's story has been an interesting one over the past few seasons. They've gone from back to back Grey Cup wins to back to back Grey Cup losses. 

The Bombers have a good opportunity to return to form, however.

Their roster, while old, is still one of the best in the CFL. With Brady Olivera committed to staying in Winnipeg for the foreseeable future, and a solid quarterback situation with Collaros and Streveler, look for the Bombers to make another push at a Grey Cup this year.

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS: THE RETURN OF BO

In the short time we saw him play for Hamilton last year, Bo-Levi Mitchell did not look great. 

That was last year.

From what we've seen at camp, Bo looks motivated and ready to play some great football for Hamilton. He has endorsed his successor, Taylor Powell quite a bit, and if Bo doesn't return the way we think he will, Taylor Powell will have learned from Bo-Levi Mitchell for two years, which can only help him become a better quarterback. Look for the TiCats quarterback situation to be interesting this year.

TORONTO ARGONAUTS: QUARTERBACK COMPETITION

Another quarterback related storyline is the Toronto Argonauts. 

After the Chad Kelly controversy, which lead to the starting pivot getting a nine-game suspension, multiple quarterbacks are in competition for the starting spot in the six.

 Cameron Dukes has the early head start on the starting job, but earlier today, it was announced that the Argos signed Nick Arbuckle, who may bring some good competition for Dukes. While there are other quarterbacks in the rotation, expect Dukes and Arbuckle to compete for the starting job for the first nine games.

OTTAWA REDBLACKS: ESCAPE PURGATORY

The Redblacks haven't been to the playoffs in FIVE YEARS.

With many disappointing seasons in the rearview mirror, the Redblacks want to forget all about them and move to greener pastures.

With free agent additions like Adarius Pickett and Dominique Rhymes, they'll look to compete to get into the playoffs. Their main competition will be the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, as it's almost impossible to go from last in your division to first in a year with a largely unchanged roster. However, it may be surprising to see how good the Redblacks will be in 2024. 

MONTREAL ALOUETTES: REPEAT

After the Cinderella story from last year's playoffs, the Als are going to look to prove that it wasn't a fluke.

They will have a tough season ahead of them to prove it.

They are now the ones to beat in the league. Everyone wants a shot at beating the Als. If we see them rise above competition like the Argos last year, then they will prove the doubters wrong for a second year in a row. However, if they can't resist the pressure, we may see them fall into a mediocre season. 

They have a controversy of their own as well with Shawn Lemon returning to practice after getting suspended and retiring. It will be interesting to see how that situation plays out. 

They will be an exciting team to watch in 2024.

By Bruce Chimirri-Olson