Potential Lions 2025 free agent list

[OV:54-40]

Must be a couple of other young QBs out there worth a look for TC competition ?

An NFL cut or an undrafted guy out of NCAA ball ?

Still plenty of time till TC to get somebody in.

[David]

I’m happy with Brice as QB2. If anything happens to Rourke, I expect the Lions to trade for or pick up another experienced QB as they did in 2022.

I feel the same way, B.C. FAN. Very small body of work, but I have confidence in Brice. 22 of 29 for 232 yards and a touchdown last year. Yes, these were what Matt Dunigan would call 'yards after beat down,' but there were times that Brice came in and I thought he was more decisive than, and moved the ball downfield better than the starter!

A work in progress, yes, but I see a big upside.


DH

[B.C.FAN]

Marcus Sayles has signed an extension in Saskatchewan, where he was named a CFL all-star at field corner last year.

[SammyGreene]

3 Down Nation's updated Top 30 Free Agents and includes players that have already committed to teams. Only 2 Lions on the list: David Mackie (13) and Alexander Hollins (17). Unlike Hatcher, we heard nothing about whether they tried to re-negotiate with Hollins. Did they just want to move on from him regardless of the price?

Really hope Mackie is back. Buck needs to be convinced you don't need a short yardage QB on the roster if you re-sign him and he brings so much more. It's not like Maksymic's offence had a fullback on the field for every snap. Elks colour man Dave Campbell thought Edmonton would be targeting him which makes sense given who the OC is but that was before Hervey signed a boat load of players.

With this additonal cap space, is there at least another significant FA signing for the Lions? What are they doing with the combined $400,000 they paid Chungh and Couture last year? One of their salaries will be needed to pay Dejon Allen but they need at least one national for the o-line if Packer is elevated to a full-time starter.

[SammyGreene]

They apparently still want to invest in national depth at linebacker. Was a part-time starter (8 games) for the Riders last season. Of course Lokombo and Varga gone from 2024 team.

[don corleone]

Another Laval guy. It's a sweet connection.

je vais m'amuser

[Toppy Vann]

Jeshrun Antwi - I thought that despite not a large body of work last year for BC that the Lions would have kept him around. I would have liked to see some mid-season changes when he arrived just to mix it up a bit.

Yeah Calgary where he played college is maybe what he wanted as he tweets on X about UC.
Maybe he wants to be in Calgary like they say Ceresna wants to be in Edmonton.

He's heads up smart if the short punts he took for the Als is any indication. So many times at all levels in football is the trick plays teams want to do fail as the player who has to make it work, screws it up under pressure.

Does BC really have the Nic Demski, Dalton Schoen and Rasheed Bailey type players who were able to make the Bombers play action work with Bombers over the middle? That was what made Bombers explosive when they'd get into 2nd and long and show run but hit Demski and Schoen on vertical routes.

As for the Elks. They're signing some good players but is Dr Ed signing contracts that will later will be deemed by his superiors mal-practice?

I'm comfortable that the Lions have a plan here and know what they're assembling and taking care of their needs.

[Hambone]

Another Laval guy. It's a sweet connection.

je vais m'amuser

Should perhaps call it BC's Quebec Connection. BC's connection to Laval is smaller than its Montreal connection. Auclair would be added to Betts and Beaulieu as Rouge Et Or products. Their Montreal connection includes Archibald, Bemiy, Ganyi, McInnis and Tieide. All 5 are from Montreal. Even Beaulieu and Betts were born in Montreal. Archibald and Global Maxime Rouyer played at McGill while Tieide played at Concordia, all Montreal based rivals of Laval. Bemiy, Ganyi and McInnis played NCAA ball.

[squishy35]

Lions sign RB/Kick Returner Jason Huntley, formerly of the Eagles.

https://www.bclions.com/2025/02/06/lion ... n-huntley/

[Hambone]

They apparently still want to invest in national depth at linebacker. Was a part-time starter (8 games) for the Riders last season. Of course Lokombo and Varga gone from 2024 team.

Looks like a solid depth and rotation addition to support Hladik at WIL. Gives them Woods, Eley, Hladik and Auclair to play MAC and WIL.
Basically Auclair replaces Varga. They're in good shape at LB. Just need to sort our SAM with Rene likely having an edge.

I wouldn't read much into the starts as I think many were paperwork starts due to the rules about Designated Nationals, Nationalized Americans and Designated Americans. I noticed for the first 8 or so games the Riders listed Avery starting at WIL backed up by Auclair. Then they started showing Auclair starting ahead of Avery but with brackets designating him as a Designated National.

Similarly Justin Herdman-Reed was listed as starting MAC 10 times, ahead of Jameer Thurman's 8 starts. Thurman recorded 78 defensive tackles. Herdman-Reed recorded none. Avery and Auclair were far more balanced with Avery getting 50 tackles to Auclair's 37.

[Hambone]

Lions sign RB/Kick Returner Jason Huntley, formerly of the Eagles.

https://www.bclions.com/2025/02/06/lion ... n-huntley/

I like the potential for a RB/KR combo. After last couple of years though I refuse to get excited over players with some actual NFL playing time on their resumes such as Travis Fulgham, Buddy Howell etc.

[Gridiron Ernie]

Huntley appears to be a replica of Terry Williams size-wise. Little jitterbug. But 2 years younger. Could be exciting, but you never know. I hope so, as the excitement element had been missing from our return game for some years now.

[SammyGreene]

Didn't realize Adam Auclair was one and done in Saskatchewan after starting his career in Ottawa. He ranked 25th in 3 Down Nation's top 30 free agents.

Auclair shifted into more of a package role during his first season in Saskatchewan, registering 37 defensive tackles and a career-high three interceptions. The native of Saint-Georges, Que. also hit new heights with his special teams contributions, notching 15 tackles with the Riders in 2024.

The former first-round pick of the Ottawa Redblacks is still just 28 years old and has proven himself to be a consistent contributor and a viable starter when needed, amassing more than 200 total tackles over the past four years.

Updating the 3 Down Nation list, David Mackie is now the 2nd highest ranked unsigned or committed FA at No. 13.

As for a kick returner, hopefully the Lions will kick the tires on Diontae Spencer who says he is interested in coming back to the CFL after 5 years down south.

[don corleone]

I was thinking Christian Covington might have some good connections for bringing guys in to the CFL.

Kind of interesting Sask re-signed Mario Alford who I do believe will do a good job for them. The thing I don't like it takes a spot away from a player like Huntley. I see both sides of the argument.

[Hambone]

I was thinking Christian Covington might have some good connections for bringing guys in to the CFL.

Kind of interesting Sask re-signed Mario Alford who I do believe will do a good job for them. The thing I don't like it takes a spot away from a player like Huntley. I see both sides of the argument.

It's interesting comparing Alford to Williams. Alford gets the nod with 3 PR TDs in 2023 and 1 KO TD in 2024. Williams didn't have any punt or KO returns in 2023 & 2024 but did have that missed FG TD return in 2023. Average wise despite Alford's 3 PR TDs Williams came out with the better punt return average both years.

Over Williams 2 full years in BC and Alford's 2 years in Saskatchewan:

Punt returns:
Williams - 139 returns for 1624 yards 11.7 average. His two longest were 72 and 68 yards.
Alford - 167 returns for 1779 yards 10.6 average. His two longest were 107 and 94 yards, both for TDs.

KO Returns:
Williams - 114 returns for 2650 yards 23.2 average. His two longest were 62 and 54 yards.
Alford - 96 returns for 2258 yards 23.5 average. His two longest were 101 and 62 yards.

Reaction to Alford's re-signing over on RF is mostly disappointment. Vast majority were hoping the Riders would move on. Lots of comments to the effect of oh well this must be their backup plan for a returner. I guess their sentiment regarding Alford pretty much mirrors the general feelings in these parts over Williams. Given how similar their numbers were it adds up.