Ryder Varga traded to Argos

[SammyGreene]

Acquiring Allen and his price tag may also suggest the Lions will be moving on from Chungh, Couture or perhaps both given they each made roughly $200,000 last season and are pending FAs. A cheaper option such as Tyler Packer could get an opportunity at guard or centre.

[Hambone]

While not directly related, other than in an OL sense, last year's 2nd round pick Theo Benedet has signed a futures contract with Da Bears. I don't consider that unexpected.

Yesterday was the first day NFL teams could sign players to futures deals which will be converted to standard contracts when the 2025 NFL operating season starts in March..........if the player doesn't get released before then.

https://3downnation.com/2025/01/06/chic ... -contract/

[SammyGreene]

Well if Varga’s development was being blocked by Hladik in BC he now has an even bigger hurdle in Toronto.

[media] [/media]

[Hambone]

The 2 trades the Argos just made could be a sign they don't plan to extend 2024's highest paid LB Winton McManis. By adding Judge and Varga along with existing depth they may be making a ratio change at LB.

[CrazyCanuck89]

The 2 trades the Argos just made could be a sign they don't plan to extend 2024's highest paid LB Winton McManis. By adding Judge and Varga along with existing depth they may be making a ratio change at LB.

If they resign Adeleke, they can go all Canadian at LB

SLB-Adeleke
MLB-Varga
WLB-Judge

[OV:54-40]

The 2 trades the Argos just made could be a sign they don't plan to extend 2024's highest paid LB Winton McManis. By adding Judge and Varga along with existing depth they may be making a ratio change at LB.

If they resign Adeleke, they can go all Canadian at LB

SLB-Adeleke
MLB-Varga
WLB-Judge

Yeah, I suppose they possibly could; with the likes of Cassar & Sopik as depth; they also signed Junior ball star Smith away from the Riders PR; and they have several other Canadian LBs on the roster (vet Harelimana and a couple of recent draft picks)

Something is up there - could they retain McManis and then what with all the Canuck LB talent?

I'll believe them starting 3 Canadian LBs when I see it though; they also have Canadian starters Metchie at safety & Robbie Smith at DE (both FAs they could lose possibly). I could see Adeleke demoted to back-up again (he did not start the season at S-OLB for reasons i could not grasp), or I guess he could move back to safety if Metchie flees.

Too many Canadian starters - oh the "ratio problem"

And BTW - new full-time DC Eiben was part of a mostly 3-4 defence look in the Argos 2004 GC win; McManis, Judge, Varga & Adeleke = pretty talnted LB corps. But i'll believe a 3-4 D in the CFL again when I see it. I'll bet McManis ends up in either Ottawa or the Hammer.

[don corleone]

There were rumours John Murphy was no longer with the Argos that I see were not true. I'm glad to see it as I think he is an excellent recruiter with a good eye for talent.

Could be Calgary backs up the covered wagon for McManis having not re-signed Micah Awe yet and now trading Judge. I'm looking forward to seeing how Bob Slowik builds his D and how he does. Landing Orimolade gives them one of the top pass rushers in the league which is usually a good start.

[Hambone]

There were rumours John Murphy was no longer with the Argos that I see were not true. I'm glad to see it as I think he is an excellent recruiter with a good eye for talent.

Could be Calgary backs up the covered wagon for McManis having not re-signed Micah Awe yet and now trading Judge. I'm looking forward to seeing how Bob Slowik builds his D and how he does. Landing Orimolade gives them one of the top pass rushers in the league which is usually a good start.

Wouldn't surprise me at all if Calgary takes a run at repatriating McManis or Thurman, maybe both if the want to move on from Awe who is also a pending FA. Argos have shaved two of their biggest bread earners and still have several key pending FAs to deal with such as Ceresna, Cage, Coxie, Brinkman, Metchie, McManis, Smith & MacKellar. The two trades have moved $450K out while bringing roughly $285K worth of 2025 contracts in.

[Toppy Vann]

Two BIG trades in the CFL in Varga out of BC for Dejon Allen and Orimolade out of Toronto for Cameron Judge of Calgary are just that - big ones for BC and Calgary.

Giving up Judge seems huge but rewarding for the DL.

BC getting Allen for the OL is similar despite Varga's contributions in the past.

Can't recall any big trades that mirror these two recently.

[Hambone]

Argos seem to be making.a habit of these deals. One year ago this coming Wednesday they sent Kurleigh Gittens Jr to EDM for Jake Ceresna.

[Toppy Vann]

Argos seem to be making.a habit of these deals. One year ago this coming Wednesday they sent Kurleigh Gittens Jr to EDM for Jake Ceresna.

Yes and we know how well that worked out for TORONTO.
I forgot that trade.

[Hambone]

I'll believe them starting 3 Canadian LBs when I see it though; they also have Canadian starters Metchie at safety & Robbie Smith at DE (both FAs they could lose possibly). I could see Adeleke demoted to back-up again (he did not start the season at S-OLB for reasons i could not grasp), or I guess he could move back to safety if Metchie flees.

Last year Adeleke spent the season opener on the PR then was moved to the 6G. Former Lion Quincy Mauger was the starting SAM for the first few games then he went on to the 6G replaced by Robert Priester at SAM. After Adeleke finished his 6 games on the 6G he wound up back on the PR for a game. Finally in the Argos 9th game he suited up as Priester's backup at SAM. That lasted 1 game as Mauger returned to serve as Priester's backup while Adeleke showed as Metchie's backup at Safety. A game or two later Mauger returned to the starting SAM spot while Priester shifted to boundary DB. Finally with 4 games to go and both Mauger and Priester out Adeleke drew in to start at SAM. Mauger's injury turned out to be season ending while Priester drew back in as Adeleke's backup in the Grey Cup.

Maybe Adeleke was a victim of myopic, dullard coaching but it appears to be simply a case of Argo staff feeling Mauger and Priester were better options at SAM?

[Hambone]

Argos seem to be making.a habit of these deals. One year ago this coming Wednesday they sent Kurleigh Gittens Jr to EDM for Jake Ceresna.

Yes and we know how well that worked out for TORONTO.
I forgot that trade.

Worked out good in that Ceresna wound up as an All-CFL defensive lineman on a GC winning team. Gittens wasn't chopped liver either leading the Elks with 85 receptions while his 847 yards were 2nd on the club only to Lewis. I think it was one of those win-win trades.

[OV:54-40]

I'll believe them starting 3 Canadian LBs when I see it though; they also have Canadian starters Metchie at safety & Robbie Smith at DE (both FAs they could lose possibly). I could see Adeleke demoted to back-up again (he did not start the season at S-OLB for reasons i could not grasp), or I guess he could move back to safety if Metchie flees.

Last year Adeleke spent the season opener on the PR then was moved to the 6G. Former Lion Quincy Mauger was the starting SAM for the first few games then he went on to the 6G replaced by Robert Priester at SAM. After Adeleke finished his 6 games on the 6G he wound up back on the PR for a game. Finally in the Argos 9th game he suited up as Priester's backup at SAM. That lasted 1 game as Mauger returned to serve as Priester's backup while Adeleke showed as Metchie's backup at Safety. A game or two later Mauger returned to the starting SAM spot while Priester shifted to boundary DB. Finally with 4 games to go and both Mauger and Priester out Adeleke drew in to start at SAM. Mauger's injury turned out to be season ending while Priester drew back in as Adeleke's backup in the Grey Cup.

Maybe Adeleke was a victim of myopic, dullard coaching but it appears to be simply a case of Argo staff feeling Mauger and Priester were better options at SAM?

Thanks for the diligent roster research, but I was well aware of those Argo roster moves.

Funny that Adeleke ended up the starter on the GC winning defence; as a proven, vet D player, some of us Argo fans were wondering out-loud why he was not getting a chance to play on the D right from the start of season; meanwhile, the mediocre at best Mauger got to play instead earlier in the season - well, he had the American passport and had started for another CFL team before, anyhow.

The Argos acquired "depth" linebacker Varga in that trade, so he might earn some D reps there; I seem to recall a poster here scoffing at the notion of him as a pretty decent LB prospect to replace the departed Jordan Williams on the Lions D.

[CrazyCanuck89]

The 2 trades the Argos just made could be a sign they don't plan to extend 2024's highest paid LB Winton McManis. By adding Judge and Varga along with existing depth they may be making a ratio change at LB.

If they resign Adeleke, they can go all Canadian at LB

SLB-Adeleke
MLB-Varga
WLB-Judge

Yeah, I suppose they possibly could; with the likes of Cassar & Sopik as depth; they also signed Junior ball star Smith away from the Riders PR; and they have several other Canadian LBs on the roster (vet Harelimana and a couple of recent draft picks)

Something is up there - could they retain McManis and then what with all the Canuck LB talent?

I'll believe them starting 3 Canadian LBs when I see it though; they also have Canadian starters Metchie at safety & Robbie Smith at DE (both FAs they could lose possibly). I could see Adeleke demoted to back-up again (he did not start the season at S-OLB for reasons i could not grasp), or I guess he could move back to safety if Metchie flees.

Too many Canadian starters - oh the "ratio problem"

And BTW - new full-time DC Eiben was part of a mostly 3-4 defence look in the Argos 2004 GC win; McManis, Judge, Varga & Adeleke = pretty talnted LB corps. But i'll believe a 3-4 D in the CFL again when I see it. I'll bet McManis ends up in either Ottawa or the Hammer.

No such thing as too many Canadians. I admire the Lions and Bombers for starting more than the 8, sometimes.