Any team that wants to win games consistently needs a quality offensive line. Below are the twenty highest-paid offensive linemen in the CFL that will look to keep their quarterbacks upright this upcoming season.
“Hard money” is a slang term used to refer to any portion of a contract that is paid even if a player is hurt. This includes salary, a signing bonus, housing money, workout bonuses, travel allowances, off-season roster bonuses, and report-and-pass bonuses.
Any additional portions — often referred to as “playtime” — are outlined in part or in full in the paragraph accompanying each player. These bonuses are often tied to yardage production, dressing for a certain number of games, scoring production, being named an all-star or winning a league award.
Players have been listed below in order of hard money from most to least. When two players have the same amount of hard money, the player with the higher maximum value has been listed first.
Please note that “N” denotes national players (ie. Canadians) and “A” denotes American players.
1) Mark Korte, Edmonton Elks (N)
Hard money: $210,000
Maximum value: $219,000
The former Redblack received a $15,000 signing bonus to join his hometown Elks and will collect a $35,000 bonus the first time he makes their active roster or injured list. Korte will also receive $2,000 if he’s named a West Division all-star, $3,000 if he’s named a CFL all-star, and $4,000 if he wins a league award.
2) David Beard, Edmonton Elks (N)
Hard money: $190,000
Maximum value: $197,500
The former second-round draft pick collected a $50,000 roster bonus on February 1 and is signed with his hometown team through 2023. He will receive a $1,500 bonus if he is named a West Division all-star and a $3,000 bonus if he is named a CFL all-star.
3) Sean McEwen, Calgary Stampeders (N)
Hard money: $190,000
Maximum value: $196,000
The two-time CFL all-star received a $15,000 signing bonus to ink his two-year contract extension with Calgary. He will earn a $1,000 bonus for any award he wins at the team level and a $2,000 bonus for any award he earns at the league level.
4) Stanley Bryant, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (A)
Hard money: $190,000
Maximum value: $190,000
The three-time CFL Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman received a $60,000 signing bonus to rejoin the two-time defending Grey Cup champions. His deal includes a $5,000 travel bonus, which should come in handy with COVID-19 restrictions being lifted in many places around the world.
5) Chris Van Zeyl, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (N)
Hard money: $176,000
Maximum value: $191,000
The future Canadian Football Hall of Fame inductee received a $20,000 signing bonus to play a third season with the Ticats. He will receive $500 each time he plays more than 50 percent of offensive snaps in a game, $1,000 if he is named an East Division all-star, $2,000 if he is named a CFL all-star, and $3,000 if he wins a league award.
6) Dariusz Bladek, Toronto Argonauts (N)
Hard money: $170,000
Maximum value: $180,000
The four-year veteran collected a $40,000 signing bonus to re-sign with Toronto and will get $555 each time he plays more than 50 percent of offensive snaps in a game. Bladek started ten regular season games at right guard last season as well as the East Final.
7) Brandon Revenberg, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (N)
Hard money: $162,000
Maximum value: $192,000
The three-time CFL all-star received a $15,000 signing bonus and will collect another $15,000 when he makes the active roster. He will make $500 each time he plays more than half of Hamilton’s offensive snaps in a game as well as $1,000 if he is named an East Division all-star, $2,000 if he is named a CFL all-star, and $3,000 if he wins a league award.
8) Sukh Chungh, B.C. Lions (N)
Hard money: $160,000
Maximum value: $185,000
The six-year veteran received a $50,000 signing bonus and will get another $15,000 the first time he makes B.C.’s active roster. He will also collect $2,500 when he reaches the thresholds of six games played, nine games played, twelve games played, and fifteen games played.
9) Jacob Ruby, Ottawa Redblacks (N)
Hard money: $156,000
Maximum value: $171,000
The former first-round draft pick received a $30,000 signing bonus to join Ottawa and will also earn $500 each time he plays more than half of the club’s offensive snaps in a game. Ruby will also make $1,000 if he is named an East Division all-star, $2,000 if he is named a CFL all-star, and $3,000 if he wins a league award.
10) Evan Johnson, Saskatchewan Roughriders (N)
Hard money: $155,000
Maximum value: $163,600
The former University of Saskatchewan Huskie received a $20,000 signing bonus to re-sign with the Riders after joining them as a free agent in February 2021. Johnson will also receive $1,000 if he is named a West Division all-star, $2,000 if he is named a CFL all-star, $3,000 if he wins a league award.
11) Kristian Matte, Montreal Alouettes (N)
Hard money: $155,000
Maximum value: $155,000
The two-time East Division all-star collected a $15,000 signing bonus to join the Alouettes for a twelfth consecutive season. He started eleven games at right guard in 2021 as well as two games at centre and one game at left guard.
12) Michael Couture, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (N)
Hard money: $145,000
Maximum value: $187,500
The native of Burnaby, B.C. will receive $35,000 the first time he makes Winnipeg’s active roster as well as $2,500 if he is named a West Division all-star and $5,000 if he is named a CFL all-star. Couture has yet to miss a regular season game over his five-year career, dressing for 86 consecutive games.
13) Colin Kelly, Edmonton Elks (A)
Hard money: $137,000
Maximum value: $137,000
The 32-year-old earned a $40,000 signing bonus to restructure his deal with the Elks. Kelly missed the entire 2021 season due to a torn pectoral muscle but is expected to be Edmonton’s starting right tackle for the upcoming season.
14) Philip Blake, Toronto Argonauts (A)
Hard money: $135,000
Maximum value: $150,000
The 36-year-old will receive $833 each time he makes Toronto’s active roster and takes at least one offensive snap in a game. Blake started six games at centre in 2021 along with four games at left guard.
15) Sean Jamieson, Montreal Alouettes (N)
Hard money: $132,000
Maximum value: $154,000
The Winnipeg native received a $15,000 signing bonus to re-sign with the Alouettes and will get $1,000 each time he takes more than half of the club’s offensive snaps in a game. Jamieson will also get $1,500 if he is named an East Division all-star and $2,500 if he is named a CFL all-star.
16) Jamal Campbell, Saskatchewan Roughriders (N)
Hard money: $131,000
Maximum value: $154,000
The ratio-breaking offensive tackle collected a $12,500 signing bonus to join the Riders on Thursday after being released by his hometown Argonauts. Campbell will get $5,000 the first time he makes the active roster as well as $1,000 each time he takes more than half of Saskatchewan’s offensive snaps in a game.
17) Jermarcus Hardrick, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (A)
Hard money: $130,000
Maximum value: $156,000
The CFL all-star received a $30,000 signing bonus to join the Blue Bombers for a sixth consecutive season. He will get $15,000 the first time he makes the active roster as well as a $5,000 bonus if he makes the active roster for at least nine regular season games.
18) Hunter Steward (N)
Hard money: $130,000
Maximum value: $151,000
The seven-year veteran got a $10,000 signing bonus to leave B.C. for Ottawa and will get $15,000 the first time he makes the active roster. Steward will also collect $1,000 if he is named an East Division all-star, $2,000 if he is named a CFL all-star, and $3,000 if he wins a league award.
19) Joel Figueroa, B.C. Lions (A)
Hard money: $125,000
Maximum value: $155,000
The 32-year-old received a $25,000 signing bonus to re-sign with B.C. and will get a $25,000 bonus the first time he makes the active roster. Figueroa will collect $2,000 if he is named a CFL all-star and $3,000 if he wins a year-end league award.
20) Dan Clark, Saskatchewan Roughriders (N)
Hard money: $125,000
Maximum value: $153,000
The Regina native will collect $20,000 the first time he makes Saskatchewan’s active roster as well as an extra $1,000 for reaching the thresholds of six games played, nine games played, twelve games played, and fifteen games played.
