CFL free agency can be a whirlwind, but Khari Jones expects it to be relatively quiet for the Montreal Alouettes.
“There’s always some small room for improvement here or there, but I don’t think we’ll be a big player on the free agency board,” Khari Jones told MontrealAlouettes.com.
“I like the way the team is shaping up. I think [general manager] Danny [Maciocia]’s done an outstanding job with signing the players back and getting some new talent that we hadn’t had. He’s definitely putting a stamp on the personnel side of things.”
Montreal has extended the contracts of a number of key pending free agents this winter, including 1,000-yard receiver Eugene Lewis, all-star defensive back Greg Reid, and left tackle Tony Washington.
Star running back William Stanback and 2020 CFL draft pick Marc-Antoine Dequoy were also signed to multi-year deals following stints in the NFL.
That doesn’t mean the Alouettes won’t look to add any free agents in February. Jones thinks the team will look to make a couple of moves, though it depends on the availability of the players they covet.
“There’ll probably be a name or two that we’re looking at, but we gotta make sure that they’re free at that time,” said Jones. “Sometimes these guys sign right before they become actual free agents. There’s a player or two that we have our eyes on, but we’ll wait and see.”
Montreal still has a few key contributors unsigned for 2021. Veteran receiver B.J. Cunningham, defensive back Ciante Evans, and Canadian offensive linemen Tyler Johnstone and Trey Rutherford are all currently slated to hit the open market.
Montreal’s biggest pending free agent is reigning CFL Most Outstanding Canadian Henoc Muamba, who recorded 93 tackles, two forced fumbles, and one sack in 2019. The 31-year-old’s agent, Jonathon Hardaway, recently passed away, which halted negotiations on an extension.
CFL free agency is set to begin on Tuesday, February 9 at 12:00 p.m. ET.
