2021 CFL free agency

[Belize City Lion]

So IF Ottawa releases Arbuckle today, who might get burned in all this is Toronto. Nichols will sign in Ottawa for less than Arbuckle was going to make, while Toronto won't have the SMS room to sign Arbuckle.

Not sure about the Argos not having SMS room. They were trying to get Nichols to take a hair cut and currently have no QBs under contract for 2021.

They must have at least $500K available in QB budget for a starter and backup. If they don't then Pinball and Murphy have badly mismanaged their cap.

The Argos offered a contract in December that was a 40% reduction on the $345K he was due in hard money for each of the next two years. That's hardly a "hair cut". Maybe they were just trying to squeeze Nichols into taking a big pay cut, considering he's not exactly an "elite" CFL QB and there were not going to be many options for him elsewhere?

[Hambone]

Love the Lokombo reunion. Now lets see some DL action.

I don't know what Rick Campbell's intentions are with Lokombo and Guzylak-Messam. They're both versatile. One could easily start at WILL and the other at safety. The Lions still have pending free agent linebackers Adam Konar, Jordan Herdman-Reed, Mitch Barnett and Kevin Haynes unsigned.

I don't know why the DL has been neglected so far apart from the re-signing of Darius Allen and J.R. Tavai. The Lions have 7 others unsigned, including most of Ed Hervey's prized FA acquisitions last year.

It is a bit puzzling. Maybe the FA window thing plays a role. Campbell and McEvoy can start gauging interest in other FAs while still having ability to retain their own at the end of it all. There are a couple of interesting pending FAs from other teams but the list is short. Currently 23 DT and DE still listed as pending FAs. 7 are Lions; Matt Boesen, Ryan Brown, Chris Casher, Micah Johnson, Claudell Louis, Jonathan Newsome and NAT depth DL Cameron Walker.

Of the rest:
NO THANKS DEPT:
Alex Bazzie - One trick pony. Has to beat the tackle with speed. If the tackle can engage him right away he's done on that play.

DEPTH ONLY:
Ettore Latanzio - Born and raised in Ottawa. Played CIS in Ottawa and pro only in Ottawa. 30 now. Can't see him being interested in moving far from nation's capital. Most like Ottawa again or retire. At worst Plan B would be another East club.

GEEZER DEPT:
John Bowman - too ancient. IF he plays again it will be in Montreal. Otherwise retirement.
Charleston Hughes - ancient like Bowman. Still has posted great numbers but numbers have faded after Labour Day each of the last 2 seasons. 37 now with 18 months off. Asking far too much money for a guy on the downside and unlikely to produce like he did in previous years.
Almondo Sewell - has been reliable and durable throughout his career. 34 now. Might be able to squeeze another productive year out of him. He and Manny seemed to be good buds, not that that matters anymore but perhaps means he has other buddies on BC. Both spent quite a bit of time together in Lions Den in Ottawa in 2017.
Adrian Tracy - productive in Hamilton but getting up there now. Turns 34 in April.

NO OPINION or TOO SMALL OF A BODY OF WORK:
Stefan Charles - finally came to CFL after late in 2019 after bouncing around NFL and AAF for 6-1/2 years. 32 going on 33 now.
Jeremy Faulk - played 2 games for Riders in 2019. 6'2" 305. 27 now
Javon Rolland-Jones - played 4 games for Alouettes in 2019. 6'4" 244. 24 now.

WORTHY OF CONSIDERATION:
Woody Barron - played and started all 18 for Larks in 2018 and 2019. 6'1" 270. 27 now.
Cordarro Law - injury history concerns but definitely if Argos don't get pen to paper by Feb 9th.
Drake Nevis - prototypical tackle on Bombers 2019 GC team.
Steven Richardson - Nevis backup who got some injury starts for Bombers in 2019. Also prototypical tackle. Only 24.
Justin Tuggle - is he a LB or rush end? 6'3" 247. Listed as DL in FA Tracker but LB on EFC roster. 80 tackles with Hamilton in 2019 says LB.
Michael Wakefield - 6'3" 268. Just turned 27 earlier this month. I don't know much about him but he has started 34 of the 39 games he's suited up for in Ottawa since joining them in 2017.

Overall I think I'd put higher priority on getting Casher, Johnson and Brown re-signed before looking at the rest.

[Hambone]

So IF Ottawa releases Arbuckle today, who might get burned in all this is Toronto. Nichols will sign in Ottawa for less than Arbuckle was going to make, while Toronto won't have the SMS room to sign Arbuckle.

Not sure about the Argos not having SMS room. They were trying to get Nichols to take a hair cut and currently have no QBs under contract for 2021.

They must have at least $500K available in QB budget for a starter and backup. If they don't then Pinball and Murphy have badly mismanaged their cap.

The Argos offered a contract in December that was a 40% reduction on the $345K he was due in hard money for each of the next two years. That's hardly a "hair cut". Maybe they were just trying to squeeze Nichols into taking a big pay cut, considering he's not exactly an "elite" CFL QB and there were not going to be many options for him elsewhere?

I guess maybe we'll find out soon enough if the numbers get leaked. I suspect both signed for money much closer to what they were turning down from their old clubs than the money their old contracts were calling for.

Nichols has already signed with Ottawa who immediately released Arbuckle who has in turn already signed with the Argos.

https://3downnation.com/2021/01/31/vete ... redblacks/
https://3downnation.com/2021/01/31/argo ... -arbuckle/

[B.C.FAN]

It was a purrfect situation for a QB swap. Nichols is reunited with his old OC Paul LaPolice as head coach in Ottawa while Arbuckle is reunited with his old QB coach Ryan Dinwiddie as head coach in Toronto. Both can hit the ground running with their new teams.

[Hambone]

I'm still a bit nervous of the combination of rookie HC and almost-rookie QB the Argos will run with. There will be struggles but if they can get through 2021 in reasonably good shape showing progress as the season unfolds it could bode well for the long run in Hogtown.

[OV - 54:40]

Love the Lokombo reunion. Now lets see some DL action.

I don't know what Rick Campbell's intentions are with Lokombo and Guzylak-Messam. They're both versatile. One could easily start at WILL and the other at safety. The Lions still have pending free agent linebackers Adam Konar, Jordan Herdman-Reed, Mitch Barnett and Kevin Haynes unsigned.

I don't know why the DL has been neglected so far apart from the re-signing of Darius Allen and J.R. Tavai. The Lions have 7 others unsigned, including most of Ed Hervey's prized FA acquisitions last year.

It is a bit puzzling. Maybe the FA window thing plays a role. Campbell and McEvoy can start gauging interest in other FAs while still having ability to retain their own at the end of it all. There are a couple of interesting pending FAs from other teams but the list is short. Currently 23 DT and DE still listed as pending FAs. 7 are Lions; Matt Boesen, Ryan Brown, Chris Casher, Micah Johnson, Claudell Louis, Jonathan Newsome and NAT depth DL Cameron Walker.

Of the rest:
NO THANKS DEPT:
Alex Bazzie - One trick pony. Has to beat the tackle with speed. If the tackle can engage him right away he's done on that play.

DEPTH ONLY:
Ettore Latanzio - Born and raised in Ottawa. Played CIS in Ottawa and pro only in Ottawa. 30 now. Can't see him being interested in moving far from nation's capital. Most like Ottawa again or retire. At worst Plan B would be another East club.

GEEZER DEPT:
John Bowman - too ancient. IF he plays again it will be in Montreal. Otherwise retirement.
Charleston Hughes - ancient like Bowman. Still has posted great numbers but numbers have faded after Labour Day each of the last 2 seasons. 37 now with 18 months off. Asking far too much money for a guy on the downside and unlikely to produce like he did in previous years.
Almondo Sewell - has been reliable and durable throughout his career. 34 now. Might be able to squeeze another productive year out of him. He and Manny seemed to be good buds, not that that matters anymore but perhaps means he has other buddies on BC. Both spent quite a bit of time together in Lions Den in Ottawa in 2017.
Adrian Tracy - productive in Hamilton but getting up there now. Turns 34 in April.

NO OPINION or TOO SMALL OF A BODY OF WORK:
Stefan Charles - finally came to CFL after late in 2019 after bouncing around NFL and AAF for 6-1/2 years. 32 going on 33 now.
Jeremy Faulk - played 2 games for Riders in 2019. 6'2" 305. 27 now
Javon Rolland-Jones - played 4 games for Alouettes in 2019. 6'4" 244. 24 now.

WORTHY OF CONSIDERATION:
Woody Barron - played and started all 18 for Larks in 2018 and 2019. 6'1" 270. 27 now.
Cordarro Law - injury history concerns but definitely if Argos don't get pen to paper by Feb 9th.
Drake Nevis - prototypical tackle on Bombers 2019 GC team.
Steven Richardson - Nevis backup who got some injury starts for Bombers in 2019. Also prototypical tackle. Only 24.
Justin Tuggle - is he a LB or rush end? 6'3" 247. Listed as DL in FA Tracker but LB on EFC roster. 80 tackles with Hamilton in 2019 says LB.
Michael Wakefield - 6'3" 268. Just turned 27 earlier this month. I don't know much about him but he has started 34 of the 39 games he's suited up for in Ottawa since joining them in 2017.

Overall I think I'd put higher priority on getting Casher, Johnson and Brown re-signed before looking at the rest.

Yeah - might be best to stick with the above 3.

Sewell would be a fascinating get if it was a GC bound team and a DT was the one big need.

Law is a good DE IMO ; not sure if he would be real costly ? Adrian Tracy is a good DE too.

Stef Charles is interesting - does he still have desire / gas in the tank, and is he really more of an NFL big-body DT type over an effective CFL DT ?

Tuggle has been pretty well strictly a CFL LB (and pretty average there IMO)

Wakefield was mostly average at best with Ottawa IMO, but the Campbell connection might count ?


Still say the draft is an option for a potential impact D-Lineman - DEs Joseph or Stevens (Maine - did not play last season) or maybe big Diallo (1st team all Mac last season)

[Murdoch]

I don't disagree on your theory on the half dozen catches. However what does make the difference with Burnham is those catches tend to be game altering difference makers in the final result. That is much more than nothing.

"Nothing" for Bryan Burnham to do, as in more than capable and seemingly in a routine manner. He is not an average guy.

[Murdoch]

With Randy Richards now in Edm I am predicting Marcel Desjardin will sign Sir Vincent in Ottawa. Matt Nichols will be happy if he does.

[Gridiron Ernie]

O.K. Here we go now... up-and-coming star Chris Casher has re-signed with us, here's hoping a couple of the other big D-line signings of last year follow.
https://3downnation.com/2021/02/01/defe ... b-c-lions/

[Hambone]

More excellent news. Moj made a comment today after the Burnham announcement about how it seems the Lions are taking care of the defense by firming up the back end first and moving forward. Pretty much have the back 8 locked down and appear to be moving on the DL now.

After that the most gaping areas needing to be addressed are tailback and a kicker. Gut feel is Castillo will be back if he can't find an NFL offer. Looking more and more like we'll be in pretty good shape when free agency opens next Tuesday.

[OV - 54:40]

More excellent news. Moj made a comment today after the Burnham announcement about how it seems the Lions are taking care of the defense by firming up the back end first and moving forward. Pretty much have the back 8 locked down and appear to be moving on the DL now.

After that the most gaping areas needing to be addressed are tailback and a kicker. Gut feel is Castillo will be back if he can't find an NFL offer. Looking more and more like we'll be in pretty good shape when free agency opens next Tuesday.

How does the back 8 shape up?

Be huge to get Castillo, IMO.

[Murdoch]

Am I mistaken or do the Lions appear to be spending a bit more freely this year.

Bo Lokombo was a nice addition.

[Murdoch]

Bombers letting Micah Awe go makes me think they will target Sol E. It would be a very good move imo.

[Hambone]

Am I mistaken or do the Lions appear to be spending a bit more freely this year.

I wouldn't use the term "spending freely". Maybe signing more players but for less money than they previously made. What's giving the perception of heavy spending is the simple fact there were more pending free agents than there's ever been before. Therefore more to be taken care of before free agency.

As we know teams have negotiated with many players to reduce salaries. Reilly and Chungh alone represent close to $300K in cap savings. The tell tale DELETE FROM ACTIVE/ADD TO transactions hint that Robinson, Peters, Chungh, Mathews, Lee, Steward, Godber and Durant all have redone their contracts. Robinson may have earned a small raise given he was still on his first contract likely calling for the now $65K min. It's safe to assume the rest all took downward adjustments or restructuring that would help them net similar after-tax money while buying the club some cap space.

The Lions have now extended 22 of their original 41 pending FAs plus added Cioffi, Sayles and Lokombo from outside. Amongst the 22 internal signings there weren't many raises handed out. Maybe some of the players coming off their rookie deals saw a raise but it's safe to assume the veterans signed for the same or less than their previous deals called for. The 22 the Lions have extended is similar to what several other teams have done. Ottawa has extended 38 and Edmonton 30. Toronto is at the bottom with only 12 extended but they had only 24 pending FAs to begin with. Everybody else is in the 20 to 24 range.

From CFL.ca Free Agency Tracker some free agency numbers that show the impact of 1 year deals:
2021: CFL 354 - Lions 42
2020: CFL 281 - Lions 31
2019: CFL 324 - Lions 38 - this was the first year when the 1 year impact kicked in.
2018: CFL 219 - Lions 22
2017: CFL 226 - Lions 24

The number of their own FAs already extended in 2021 is equal to the total number BC typically had to deal with exiting the season only a few years ago. The number of pending FAs BC had this offseason is nearly double what they had in 2018.

[OV - 54:40]

Bombers letting Micah Awe go makes me think they will target Sol E. It would be a very good move imo.

Cept they still have Bighill, plus recently re-signed Kyrie Wilson (who plays Will OLB ?- and is pretty average / over-rated IMO), so where would Sol-E fit in there ?