Canadian offensive lineman Justin Lawrence is expected to sign with the Toronto Argonauts, per source, barring an unforeseen change of circumstances in free agency.
The 25-year-old was selected in the fifth round of the 2018 CFL Draft out of the University of Alberta. He has since dressed for 31 career games, making 12 starts over the past two seasons.
The six-foot-one, 300-pound blocker is capable of starting at centre or guard, which will provide extra depth along the interior of Toronto’s offensive line. The Argos acquired centre Cody Speller from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers via trade in January 2021 but he never reported to the team, spending the entire season on the suspended list.
Lawrence is a graduate of Spruce Grove Composite High School, which is located 30 kilometres west of Edmonton. He was a high school teammate of Mark Korte, with whom he went on to for the University of Alberta Golden Bears.
Korte is arguably the best pending CFL free agent offensive lineman and will likely sign with his hometown Edmonton Elks following a four-year stint with the Ottawa Redblacks.
CFL free agency doesn’t open until Tuesday, Feb. 8 but teams have been permitted to recruit pending free agents since the negotiation window opened on Sunday, Jan. 30.
