We’ve reached the end of our CFL salary series with the kickers and punters from all nine teams. To read past articles, please click the following links: quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, offensive linemen, defensive tackles, defensives ends, linebackers, strong-side linebackers, and defensive backs.
“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), “A” denotes American players, and “G” denotes Global players.
1) Boris Bede, Toronto Argonauts (A)
Hard money: $150,000
Maximum value: $150,000
The Laval product had a strong season in 2021, making 84.8 percent of his field goal attempts, all 21 of his convert attempts, a league-best 67.4-yard on kickoff average and a 44.4-yard punting average. He got a $50,000 signing bonus to re-sign with Toronto, which is a huge number by kicker standards.
2) Sean Whyte, B.C. Lions (N)
Hard money: $115,000
Maximum value: $120,000
The twelve-year veteran got a $15,000 signing bonus to join his hometown team and will make another $5,000 the first time he makes their active roster in B.C. He connected on 28-of-32 field goal attempts last season and was one of few bright spots for a miserable Edmonton Elks team.
3) Lewis Ward, Ottawa Redblacks (N)
Hard money: $110,000
Maximum value: $128,000
Ward received a $20,000 signing bonus from Ottawa and will get another $5,000 the first time he makes their active roster in 2022. He 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 year-end league award.
4) Rene Paredes, Calgary Stampeders (N)
Hard money: $107,000
Maximum value: $117,500
The five-time all-star will collect a $250 bonus each time he performs all kickoff, field goal, and punting duties in a game this season. He received a $15,000 signing bonus to return to Calgary for an eleventh season and will get $1,000 if he’s named a West Division all-star and $2,000 if he’s named a CFL all-star.
5) Sergio Castillo, Edmonton Elks (A)
Hard money: $105,000
Maximum value: $158,000
Castillo has a chance to become the highest-paid kicker in the CFL if he hits on all of his incentives. He will get a $30,000 bonus the first time he makes the active roster, $555.55 each time he performs kicking duties in a game, a $3,000 bonus if he makes 90 percent of his field goals or better for the season, plus some all-star incentives.
6) Brett Lauther, Saskatchewan Roughriders (N)
Hard money: $102,000
Maximum value: $131,000
The 31-year-old got a $25,000 signing bonus to rejoin the Riders for a fourth season and will get another $23,000 if he makes the active roster for at least one play. He will also collect $1,000 if he is named a West Division all-star, $2,000 if he is named a CFL all-star, and $3,000 if he wins a year-end league award.
7) Richie Leone, Ottawa Redblacks (A)
Hard money: $95,000
Maximum value: $121,000
The four-time CFL all-star got a $15,000 signing bonus to remain in Ottawa and will get a $2,000 bonus if he leads the league in net punting average. He will also get $500 each time he performs placekicking duties in a game, which would presumably only happen if Lewis Ward suffers an injury.
8) Stefan Flintoft, B.C. Lions (A)
Hard money: $77,000
Maximum value: $84,000
The 26-year-old had a solid season in 2021, averaging 37.6 net yards per punt. He will receive a $1,000 bonus if he leads the CFL in kickoff average and a $1,000 bonus if he leads in the CFL in net punting average this upcoming season.
9) Ali Mourtada, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (A)
Hard money: $75,000
Maximum value: $75,000
The 31-year-old made only eight-of-fifteen field goal attempts during his rookie season last year, prompting Winnipeg to acquire Sergio Castillo for their playoff run. Mourtada seemed to win over head coach Mike O’Shea and should get a chance to win the kicking job for this upcoming season.
10) Michael Domagala, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (N)
Hard money: $69,500
Maximum value: $75,500
The 26-year-old made seven-of-ten field goal attempts with a long of 46 yards last season. Hamilton brought in former fifth-round Dante Brown from Edmonton this past off-season, so there should be some competition for the placekicking job in Steeltown.
11) Marc Liegghio, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (N)
Hard money: $69,500
Maximum value: $74,500
The former fifth-round pick will make $277.78 each time he handles over half of Winnipeg’s punting or kickoff duties as well as field goals in a game. He made five-of-eight field goal attempts as a rookie last season and averaged 43.7 yards on 92 punt attempts.
12) David Cote, Montreal Alouettes (N)
Hard money: $67,250
Maximum value: $70,200
The Laval product will receive $150 each time he attempts at least 50 percent of Montreal’s field goal attempts in a game. He had a solid rookie year with the Alouettes last season, making 32-of-39 field goal attempts along with 32-of-34 convert attempts.
T-13) Cody Grace, Calgary Stampeders (G)
Hard money: $54,000
Maximum value: $54,000
The Arkansas State product was named a West Division all-star after averaging 45.6 yards per punt and leading the league in net punting with an average of 41.5 yards. All Global players in the CFL must make $54,000 per season, which is $11,000 lower than the league minimum for Americans and Nationals.
T-13) Kaare Vedvik, Saskatchewan Roughriders (G)
Hard money: $54,000
Maximum value: $54,000
The Norwegian beat out Jon Ryan for the punting job in Saskatchewan after taking over from him late in the season following an injury. Vedvik averaged 37.8 net yards per punt while Ryan averaged 37.2.
T-13) Joel Whitford, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (G)
Hard money: $54,000
Maximum value: $54,000
The Australian punter averaged 37.4 net yards per punt in 2021, which ranked fourth among qualifying punters.
T-13) Joseph Zema, Montreal Alouettes (G)
Hard money: $54,000
Maximum value: $54,000
The Australian punted 90 times in 2021 for an average of 45.2 gross yards. His net average of 36.8 yards per punt was good for fifth-best league-wide among qualifying punters.
