Potential Lions 2025 free agent list

[Toppy Vann]

I doubt BC would be interested in Boris Bede but he's released now.

There was no way Elks were paying a 35 year old Kicker a bonus of $28,000 as he seemed off at times last year both statistically and in on field decisions versus the 2023 season with the Argos.




https://3downnation.com/2025/01/28/edmo ... ter-bonus/

[Hambone]

Elks also have 2024 draft pick (31st overall) placekicker Vincent Blanchard and Calgary 2023 draft pick (51st overall) Campbell Fair under contract. Campbell handled both duties in his final year at U of Ottawa but was better as a punter. My guess is they will bring a 2nd punter to camp to compete with Fair. What Edmonton will miss is Bede's best-in-CFL kickoff abilities.

As for any BC interest in Bede I can't see why. Whyte is already locked up to handle FGs. Bede's KO leg would be nice but he's only average as a punter and also counts as an American, just like Flintoft. For his first half dozen seasons when he handled all chores Bede was consistently in the 44 yard ave range. Flintoft is regularly in the 47 range. So pick your poison. Bede's about +3 yds on KOs over Flintoft and Flintoft is proven to be +3 yds on punts. However there's more punts than KOs over a season.

Curious to see if BC moves on from Flintoft rolls the dice with Meyer.

[don corleone]

Guessing something is going to happen at center with so many top rated guys yet to be re-signed.

David Beard appears to be headed for FA despite interest in Hamilton to keep him. Do the Elks move Mark Korte and pay up for Beard? Who does Hamilton go after if they lose Beard? Could be the reason Michael Couture is still where he is. Sean McEwen may just be waiting for the numbers but could also be on the move.

Lions may be good with Tyler Packer but would still need someone behind him.

[SammyGreene]

Guessing something is going to happen at center with so many top rated guys yet to be re-signed.

David Beard appears to be headed for FA despite interest in Hamilton to keep him. Do the Elks move Mark Korte and pay up for Beard? Who does Hamilton go after if they lose Beard? Could be the reason Michael Couture is still where he is. Sean McEwen may just be waiting for the numbers but could also be on the move.

Lions may be good with Tyler Packer but would still need someone behind him.

Seems to me the strategy is to see what offers come the way of your high-paying FAs during the negotiation window then you can either match or come close to it. That's what Kyle Walters did with Oliveria last year after big offers from BC and Hamilton. Especially this year with an apparent price adjustment coming for the top end receivers. Probably why McInnis, Lewis, Lawler, Schoen remain unsigned. Same may apply to the centres although still no clue whether the Lions intend to move on from Couture or think they can re-sign him at a discounted price.

[B.C.FAN]

The Lions re-signed Andrew Peirson, who has been used mostly as a backup centre/guard. That leaves their options open to re-sign Couture or commit to Packer at centre. I don’t know if McEwen would be an upgrade. He would probably be more expensive.

[Hambone]

It's interesting how the dynamics of free agency work. I think some players might use the communications window less as a bargaining ploy and more just to verify that what their current club is offering is what their market value is. I don't think players are simply chasing the highest offer. Most if they have their druthers would be happy to stay where they are unless they have personal reasons to relocate. In other words they would take less, within reason, to stay.

Given how things work a courting team can't just go out and try to push the market up for the player's old team because their offers are binding. The 3 centers mentioned provide an example. Team A can't go out making big offers on all 3 because all have the right to accept those offers. They could find themselves with 3 high priced centers. Teams have to be sincerely wanting the player(s) they make offers to.

Finally the team holding the pending FAs rights can make a final offer armed with the details any other teams have offered. In the end it's the player who ultimately has to decide on which offer he wants to accept and it doesn't have to be the highest offer.q

[Hambone]

The Lions re-signed Andrew Peirson, who has been used mostly as a backup centre/guard. That leaves their options open to re-sign Couture or commit to Packer at centre. I don’t know if McEwen would be an upgrade. He would probably be more expensive.

McEwen is the one most likely to stay where he is if it's up to him. He was born and raised in Calgary, played college ball with the Dinos and has now been with the Stamps since signing in free agency in Feb 2020. Beard may have a strong desire to return to Edmonton. Just like McEwen and Couture were born, raised and played college in the CFL cities they play in Beard was born, raised and played college in Edmonton. He was enjoying playing for the Elks until Jones unceremoniously shipped him off to Hamilton for Jesse Gibbon and an exchange of picks. What would stop Edmonton's interest is that they have Mark Korte holding down the center position. However they could look at either Beard or Korte shifting to guard where 36 year old David Foucault is a pending FA.

[don corleone]

With Packer and Pierson Lions would have 2 game fellows that just might be the answer or they could be the ones going after Beard as I don't see Edmonton moving on from Korte nor have the room to have both.

Agree it seems likely McEwen is back in Calgary with just the details to be worked out but unlikely to be at a discount imo.

Couture might be better off to go for a one year deal close to the range he is now in if he wants to stay I believe he would get that from another team if he does leave.

The guy I forgot about was George Una who could earn a spot. Not saying now or never but he should be ready.

[Hambone]

Thanks to a bonus Couture earned when he suited up for the first time for BC last season the salaries for him, Beard and McEwen were very similar albeit trailing Korte for centers by about $35K.

Agreed Beard returning to EDM might be a long shot with Korte being there. However both did play quite a bit of guard earlier in their careers before shifting to center later.

[B.C.FAN]

With Packer and Pierson Lions would have 2 game fellows that just might be the answer or they could be the ones going after Beard as I don't see Edmonton moving on from Korte nor have the room to have both.

Agree it seems likely McEwen is back in Calgary with just the details to be worked out but unlikely to be at a discount imo.

Couture might be better off to go for a one year deal close to the range he is now in if he wants to stay I believe he would get that from another team if he does leave.

The guy I forgot about was George Una who could earn a spot. Not saying now or never but he should be ready.

The Lions have a terrible track record of drafting and developing offensive linemen. Of 15 O-linemen drafted in the past 10 years, only Una, Packer and David Knevel are on the roster. Peirson was an undrafted signing in 2018. None have been regular starters. Knevel has had injury trouble, and the others haven't seized the opportunity to step up.

[OV:54-40]

With Packer and Pierson Lions would have 2 game fellows that just might be the answer or they could be the ones going after Beard as I don't see Edmonton moving on from Korte nor have the room to have both.

Agree it seems likely McEwen is back in Calgary with just the details to be worked out but unlikely to be at a discount imo.

Couture might be better off to go for a one year deal close to the range he is now in if he wants to stay I believe he would get that from another team if he does leave.

The guy I forgot about was George Una who could earn a spot. Not saying now or never but he should be ready.

The Lions have a terrible track record of drafting and developing offensive linemen. Of 15 O-linemen drafted in the past 10 years, only Una, Packer and David Knevel are on the roster. Peirson was an undrafted signing in 2018. None have been regular starters. Knevel has had injury trouble, and the others haven't seized the opportunity to step up.

Perhaps time to draft again at O-line in a position of need. Use the first or 2nd pick if it seems smart.

Not a bunch of blue chip O-line prospects up this draft, but perhaps a couple who are very good / pro ready. And pick an accomplished interior O-lineman rather than an OT from college ball who has to learn/transition to the interior.

[David]

The Lions have a terrible track record of drafting and developing offensive linemen. Of 15 O-linemen drafted in the past 10 years, only Una, Packer and David Knevel are on the roster. Peirson was an undrafted signing in 2018. None have been regular starters. Knevel has had injury trouble, and the others haven't seized the opportunity to step up.

I thought Packer looked quite good when he played centre last year and is still only 25. The club might be ready to go cheaper at centre and let Couture go (my hunch).

Knevel is probably a natural tackle due to his long limbs but doesn't stand much of a chance of playing there, so will likely be our guard. I could see the Oline looking something like:

Broxton, Woodruff, Packer (Peirson), Knevel (Una), Allen

Una might be a stretch given that he didn't play a down last year but would spell of Knevel at RG.



DH

[don corleone]

I'm wondering about the big upgrade at RT if the plan is to save money at C.

The suspense continues to build

[SammyGreene]

Elks heading into free agency as a real wildcard with Hervey extending just 3 of 29 pending free agents and now releasing former Lion Brett Boyko with a bonus due. Wouldn't be shocked to see McInnis get an offer from them with a need to replace Lewis and go a cheaper American in Boyko's spot.

[B.C.FAN]

Boyko is a 2015 Lion draft pick who played his best football after leaving B.C. According to Pro Football Focus, he was the top-graded right tackle in the league last year.