The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have re-signed Canadian defensive back Courtney Stephen to a three-year contract extension, sources say.
A Brampton native, Stephen has started 45 regular season games in three seasons with Hamilton after being drafted No. 8 overall in the 2012 CFL Draft. He was scheduled to become a free agency on Feb. 9.
The 26-year-old can play both safety and corner and his return helps the Ticats solidify their Canadian content. The team still has a number of key free agents set to hit the open market on Tuesday, including national starters Ted Laurent and Andy Fantuz.
Sources say Stephen’s new deal is reportedly similar to the three-year contract extension signed by another Canadian safety, Jermaine Gabriel of the Toronto Argonauts, which pays him an average of $175,000 a season.