Yikes! Lions 2024 potential free agents

[Toppy Vann]

Naylor and Lalji on winners todate in FA with Farhan suggesting the lack of Hamilton re-signing a lot of their team is the Betts pursuit so maybe if Betts weren't NFL bound, BC might still have lost :


https://www.tsn.ca/cfl/video/~2864732

[Toppy Vann]

3Down Nation:

2024 CFL free agency tracker: every move around the league
By 3Down Staff -February 12, 2024

CFL free agency officially opens at 12:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, February 13, providing renewed hope for every franchise.

https://3downnation.com/2024/02/12/2024 ... he-league/

[B.C.FAN]

Farhan Lalji says he’s confirmed that Mathieu Betts will sign a futures contract with the Detroit Lions.

[SammyGreene]

Farhan Lalji says he’s confirmed that Mathieu Betts will sign a futures contract with the Detroit Lions.

Ouch! Second straight year we lose our top Canadian and a MOP winner to an NFL team. That is extremely hard to overcome when you are trying to chase down the Bombers.

Lions surely must have known this was a strong possibility when they released Woody Baron on Friday anyways. That's a lot of cap room from two 2023 defensive starters that has been freed up.

[Toppy Vann]

3 Down on Betts:

Detroit Lions sign CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player, Canadian DL Mathieu Betts
By Justin Dunk -February 13, 2024

The B.C. Lions and Hamilton Tiger-Cats had lucrative offers — around $300,000 — on the table for Betts who could have become the CFL’s highest-paid defensive player. However, he wants to take his NFL shot while it’s available.

Dunk suggests Betts has a chance to make the team given where they are at now in that position. A lot can happen to change that but I assume this situation appealed to the Betts camp of advisors and Betts himself. It doesn't always work as hoped as Nathan Rourke found out in his first year but each situation is unique and despite it not playing out for Rourke, he got paid better than being settled here in Vancouver.

Given Betts' history and advisors it's unlikely he's naive about the challenges.

https://3downnation.com/2024/02/13/detr ... ieu-betts/

[Hambone]

Priorities I see are the following and not necessarily in order:

Starting DB for boundary HB or field CB
Backup QB with CFL experience
NAT WR to provide depth behind Cottoy and McInnis

[B.C.FAN]

Calgary has confirmed the signings of the top QB on the market, Matthew Shiltz, and all-star CB Demerio Houston, who gave up the winning TD in the Grey Cup.

[B.C.FAN]

Farhan Lalji says QB Dakota Prukop has agreed to terms with the Lions.
https://x.com/farhanlaljitsn/status/175 ... gGjb_94D6A

[Hambone]

Dunk reporting that NAT WR Jake Harty has signed with BC.

https://3downnation.com/2024/02/13/b-c- ... ake-harty/

[B.C.FAN]

Saskatchewan has officially signed DB Jalon Edwards-Cooper, so it appears the Lions didn’t use their cap space to match the Riders’ offer. JEC is a big upgrade over Nic Marshall.
https://3downnation.com/2024/02/13/offi ... ds-cooper/

[cromartie]

Farhan Lalji says he’s confirmed that Mathieu Betts will sign a futures contract with the Detroit Lions.

Ooof. Some guys just never learn.

[don corleone]

Farhan Lalji says QB Dakota Prukop has agreed to terms with the Lions.
https://x.com/farhanlaljitsn/status/175 ... gGjb_94D6A

I think signing Prukop will turn out well.

[SammyGreene]

Saskatchewan has officially signed DB Jalon Edwards-Cooper, so it appears the Lions didn’t use their cap space to match the Riders’ offer. JEC is a big upgrade over Nic Marshall.
https://3downnation.com/2024/02/13/offi ... ds-cooper/

Absolutely baffling they didn’t see his value beyond his entry level deal. Three years developing then let him walk.

[Toppy Vann]

Sad to the Lions unable to keep Jalen Edwards-Cooper who replaces gun toting Nic Marshall who assumably is tied up for the next while back home in Georgia.


Three potential game changing signings in the West:


1." 1:33 p.m. EST — After scoring their first return touchdown in eons at the end of the regular season, the Edmonton Elks are bound to have a lot more after confirming the addition of Most Outstanding Special Teams Player Javon Leake."

2. AJ Ouellette in Saskatchewan

3. Not part of Free Agency but replacing Dru Brown who was an FA, Chris Streveler in Winnipeg will no doubt be packaged into their offense as WPG play 3 QBs in games.

[Hambone]

Farhan Lalji says he’s confirmed that Mathieu Betts will sign a futures contract with the Detroit Lions.

Ooof. Some guys just never learn.

Everything to gain, nothing to lose. I understand odds are not tilted in his favour but if he doesn't make their PS he'll have 9 CFL teams tripping over themselves to make him the highest paid CFL DE.

Make the 53 this year and he makes USD$795K (CDN$1.1M)
Make the PS this year and he makes USD$225K (CDN$306K)
Signs in the CFL now for probably $275K to absolute max of $300K.

He might not make it beyond rookie mini-camps in which case he's still able to fully collect on the CFL money. Worst case scenario is if he makes it all the way to final NFL cuts and fails to make the 53 or be offered a PS spot. Then he stands to lose out on 2/3 of CFL money for 2024. He comes out slightly ahead of the game if he lands a PS spot and of course might only be 1 injury away from turning PS money into game cheques. Betts spent time with Chicago before coming to Edmonton so obviously NFL has been on his mind since he came out of college. This is last crack at it. I don't blame him one bit for going for it. If he doesn't make it he can at least finish his career knowing he gave it a shot as opposed to wondering what if?