Argos trade DL Shawn Lemon to the Lions for Davon Coleman

The Argos and Lions have agreed to a swap of high calibre defensive lineman.

Toronto is sending pass rusher Shawn Lemon to B.C. for Davon Coleman and a conditional eighth round draft pick in 2020.

Argos general manager Jim Popp had been shopping Lemon for some time.

The 30-year-old suited up in four games notching 15 tackles and one sack for the Argos in 2019. He started 18 games for Toronto and B.C. last season, registering 11 sacks, 21 tackles and a forced fumble, 10 of those quarterback takedowns came in 13 games with the Lions. After starting the year with the Argos, B.C. acquired Lemon in a mid-season trade to boost their pressure on the quarterback. During free agency in February, Lemon signed a one-year deal to return Toronto.

Coleman played in eight games for the Lions so far in 2019, recording 13 tackles, two sacks and one interception. He originally signed with Hamilton but the Ticats traded Coleman to the Left coast in 2017. During the 2018 campaign, Coleman made 57 tackles, eight sacks and two interceptions in 18 games and for those efforts was named a CFL all-star.

B.C. is tied for last in the league with just seven sacks, but the Lions are hoping familiarity cane help. Lemon’s breakout year in the CFL came in 2014 as a Calgary Stampeder when current Lions head coach DeVone Claybrooks was his defensive line coach. That season Lemon produced 13 sacks and forced eight fumbles.