Who will be moving on?

[B.C.FAN]

Mackie’s stats tell the story. He had 16 carries for 90 yards and an TD against the Argos when Butler got hurt. He had 3 carries for 4 yards for the rest of the season. Even as a checkdown option, he can be better used on offence.

[SammyGreene]

Little surprised to see after Rourke announcement Mackie was the only player extended this past week.

2022 starters that remain pending free agents: Butler, Figueroa, Chungh, Godber, Lee, Peters, Banks, Gwacham, Lokombo (part-time starter). Do they see cheaper replacements or upgrades among other teams' FAs?

[DanoT]

Little surprised to see after Rourke announcement Mackie was the only player extended this past week.

2022 starters that remain pending free agents: Butler, Figueroa, Chungh, Godber, Lee, Peters, Banks, Gwacham, Lokombo (part-time starter). Do they see cheaper replacements or upgrades among other teams' FAs?

A bigger question is, among those Lions free agents listed above, how many will seek and get higher dollars elsewhere or at least want to see what offers are out there in free agency?

[B.C.FAN]

Little surprised to see after Rourke announcement Mackie was the only player extended this past week.

2022 starters that remain pending free agents: Butler, Figueroa, Chungh, Godber, Lee, Peters, Banks, Gwacham, Lokombo (part-time starter). Do they see cheaper replacements or upgrades among other teams' FAs?

A bigger question is, among those Lions free agents listed above, how many will seek and get higher dollars elsewhere or at least want to see what offers are out there in free agency?

It seems that most teams are in a similar position, and may let players test the market rather than sign extensions now at higher salaries. With 20 pending FAs unsigned according to the official CFL free agent tracker, the Lions are in slightly better position than most teams.

SAS 27
OTT 26
MTL 25
HAM 23
TOR 22
BCL 20
CAL 17
EDM 14
WIN 14

[Toppy Vann]

I don't see the numbers of FAs a problem.
Also, these teams want to sign the big-ticket players first then its clear how much others can get.
Like the new GM of the Stamps Dave D said in the 3 down nation interview some players wait as if some higher-cost player moves, they hope to get their contracts better.

As much as BC likes Vernon Adams the number of FAs gives more room to acquire other game changing FAs or another QB who can play serious downs.
I don't know where they see the Canadian back up fit in as he got hurt last year.

EDM at 14 and Geroy saying on 3 Down they're going to win big with Cornelius sounds more hopeful than factual.
Purifoy will help but many his voodoo doll won't.

WPG, CAL at the lower end reflects well on their teams.

The only odd thing with the Bombers is Kyle Walter GM is on the last year of his contract with Pres. Wade Miller telling 3 Down this:

“Things are changing how you’re going to work and look forward,” he said. “When you think of this group together, when you talk about Kyle, Ted, and Danny and Mike, they’ve been together a long time, and then our coaching staff as well. And you start to run up to the edge of that non-player football cap, which makes things real difficult in keeping everybody together, so you’re gonna see, I think, teams look at those things differently as you go forward and try and navigate through that.”

This means either:
A. Mike O'Shea will take on GM with his HC role and Kyle Walter is not renewed.
B. The Calgary model where Kyle Walter is President and like Hufnagel is still involved in football advisory and the "non-football player cap" has been legally circumvented.

B is unlikely if Wade Miller wants to stay on which I suspect he'd do.
Also, listening to Kyle Walter and players statements that suggest these big-ticket players deal with Wade Miller, then he maybe in the Hufnagel "new" role already.

Dave D. said what he didn't want was some new GM coming in and changing things so he took on both roles with Hufnagel still in the advisory role. Just that Dave now tells the player what they decided versus how Jon Hufnagel doing it.

[Hambone]

Little surprised to see after Rourke announcement Mackie was the only player extended this past week.

2022 starters that remain pending free agents: Butler, Figueroa, Chungh, Godber, Lee, Peters, Banks, Gwacham, Lokombo (part-time starter). Do they see cheaper replacements or upgrades among other teams' FAs?

A bigger question is, among those Lions free agents listed above, how many will seek and get higher dollars elsewhere or at least want to see what offers are out there in free agency?

It seems that most teams are in a similar position, and may let players test the market rather than sign extensions now at higher salaries. With 20 pending FAs unsigned according to the official CFL free agent tracker, the Lions are in slightly better position than most teams.

SAS 27
OTT 26
MTL 25
HAM 23
TOR 22
BCL 20
CAL 17
EDM 14
WIN 14

Can't remember if I posted it here or not but due to the late 2021 Grey Cup teams this year have 4 weeks more time to deal with their pending FAs and about 100 fewer to deal with than last year. Last year free agency kicked in on Feb 8th. This year Valentine's Day.

GM to FA "do you want to be my Valentine".

[Hambone]

Little surprised to see after Rourke announcement Mackie was the only player extended this past week.

2022 starters that remain pending free agents: Butler, Figueroa, Chungh, Godber, Lee, Peters, Banks, Gwacham, Lokombo (part-time starter). Do they see cheaper replacements or upgrades among other teams' FAs?

I'm a bit surprised there wasn't more activity this week. However depth guys like Mackie are like the low hanging fruit. It's the starters who are the challenge.

To put things in a reverse order:

Banks might not be in the plans and he might see the writing on the wall. Stove, Woody, Cherry and Debaillie make for a crowded interior of the DL with Banks drawing the short straw. He might see greener grass elsewhere. They still have Miles Fox under contract too.

Is Figueroa 100% wanted back or might they want to go younger and cheaper wirh Broxton?

Godber is Toronto guy. Is he set on staying on the left coast or does he pine to return to Hogtown? Couture, a Burnaby kid, is Winnipeg's last remaining starting OL to extend. They just signed Eli for 3 years and already have Bryant, Gray, Neufeld and Hardrick under contract for 2023. I'm thinking with all core vets they've extended some remaining big tickets will be allowed to go with Couture being most likely. Could we see Godber head east and Couture west? Maybe they extend Godber and go after Couture as well? Both I believe are plenty capable of playing both center and guard.

Lokombo. BC will definitely want him back but will he be willing to return as a backup? Is there another team willing to offer him a starting role?

Gwachum could be a bubble guy. If Betts doesn't get a deal out of his NFL workouts that locks down one DE spot as a NAT spot with him and Menard. With the log jam in the middle that leaves Gwachum and Tuehema and other newcomers to fight over the remaining DE spot.

The really key guys and highest priorities IMO are Chungh, Lee, Peters and Butler.

[Hambone]

It seems that most teams are in a similar position, and may let players test the market rather than sign extensions now at higher salaries. With 20 pending FAs unsigned according to the official CFL free agent tracker, the Lions are in slightly better position than most teams.

SAS 27
OTT 26
MTL 25
HAM 23
TOR 22
BCL 20
CAL 17
EDM 14
WIN 14

Strangest thing with that list is Hamilton who have still not announced a single signing of one of their pending FAs.

[SammyGreene]

Maybe they extend Godber and go after Couture as well? Both I believe are plenty capable of playing both center and guard

This is an interesting thought in that it was starting a national QB that paved the way for the Lions to go with 3 Americans on the o-line last season. Is their preference to revert back to the traditional 2?

On Rourke's Instagram last week he posted some of his workouts in North Van and it was Godber giving him snaps.

They have a couple of significant extensions looming as Williams and Hladiuk head into the final years of their rookie deals. Is the long term outlook continuing to start 2 nationals at LB?

[B.C.FAN]

Maybe they extend Godber and go after Couture as well? Both I believe are plenty capable of playing both center and guard

This is an interesting thought in that it was starting a national QB that paved the way for the Lions to go with 3 Americans on the o-line last season. Is their preference to revert back to the traditional 2?

On Rourke's Instagram last week he posted some of his workouts in North Van and it was Godber giving him snaps.

They have a couple of significant extensions looming as Williams and Hladiuk head into the final years of their rookie deals. Is the long term outlook continuing to start 2 nationals at LB?

Peter Godber, Sukh Chungh and David Knevel were expected to be starting national interior linemen last year until Knevel got injured in training camp and missed the full season. They’re all unsigned this year. Americans Phil Norman and Jarell Broxton both played well last year at left guard but the Lions will likely want to try again to make that a national position this year.

[Hambone]

I've been tracking pending FA movement to date. Below are my numbers.
NOTE: I'm considering Jon Ryan and Delvin Breaux to be retired as they have publicly said so. I'm leaving Ucambre Williams as not retired as he has only hinted at it in a tweet.

Total FAs 246 NATS 102
Extended 52 21.1% Extended 30 29.4%
Released 4 1.6% Released 0 0.0%
Retired 4 1.6% Retired 2 2.0%
TOTAL 60 24.4% TOTAL 32 31.4%

ALL Total Signed Retired Released Available
DB 48 13 1 3 34
DL 38 9 0 0 29
K 6 3 1 0 2
LB 38 3 0 0 35
LS 6 3 0 0 3
OL 27 7 0 1 20
QB 11 0 0 0 11
RB 21 7 1 0 13
WR 51 7 1 0 43
TOTAL 246 52 4 4 190


NATS Total Signed Retired Released Available
DB 12 5 0 0 7
DL 13 6 0 0 7
K 4 2 1 0 1
LB 14 2 0 0 12
LS 6 3 0 0 3
OL 14 2 0 0 12
QB 1 0 0 0 1
RB 14 6 1 0 7
WR 24 4 0 0 20
TOTAL 102 30 2 0 70

ALL Total Signed Retired Released Unresolved
BCL 25 4 2 0 19
CGY 25 8 0 0 17
EDM 24 6 1 4 13
HAM 23 0 0 0 23
MTL 28 3 0 0 25
OTT 40 13 1 0 26
SSK 32 5 0 0 27
TOR 26 4 0 0 22
WPG 23 9 0 0 14
TOT AL 246 52 4 4 186

[Hambone]

Another depth signing. This time Jacob Scarfone.

https://www.cfl.ca/2023/01/23/lions-sig ... extension/

[David]

I like this signing. Highly competent depth receiver, and his nationality is a plus. Hard to believe that he was a 6th rounder (Hamilton)!

Happy to hear that Jacob has made Vancouver his year-round home.


DH

[Toppy Vann]

Scarfone is a good signing and good core contributor to a team like Mackie.

Probably see more action from Lions in the next week.

Now that Bo Levi Mitchell signed a 3-year deal with Hamilton it changes the QB stakes especially for the Riders. Unlike Vernon Adams getting endorsements from BC even before Rourke signed with the Jaguars, Riders HC wasn't giving Cody Fajardo ringing endorsements. Find it interesting that the Argos are hanging on for MBT's decision with the HC saying they like Chip Kelly (FA) but he is not going to be given the starter's job.
Rumours are they want MBT back.

No word on BC back up Michael O'Connor. I assume that means he's signed and staying in BC. How his season went post injury was odd in that nothing much was said about him.

[Hambone]

Both O'Connor and Pipkin are pending free agents Toppy. As of today the only QBs BC has under contract are Adams and recent offseason signings Vad Lee and Breylin Smith.