Money, money, money! It’s what makes the world go around and, in a salary cap league, can play a large role in dictating wins and losses.
Over the next week, 3DownNation will be unveiling the CFL’s highest-paid players at each positional group. We’ve already published the quarterbacks list and will be moving on to the receivers tomorrow.
“Hard money” is a slang term used to refer to any portion of a contract that is paid even if a player suffers an injury during the season. This includes salary, signing bonuses, housing money, workout bonuses, travel allowances, off-season roster bonuses, and report-and-pass bonuses.
Any additional portions of the contract — often referred to as “playtime” — are outlined in part or in full in the paragraph accompanying each player. These bonuses are often tied to how much a players sees the field, their yardage production, how many touchdowns they score, whether or not they’re named an all-star or whether or not they win a league award.
Please note that “N” denotes national players (ie. Canadians) and “A” denotes American players. All contract figures have been rounded to the nearest thousand dollars.
Running backs
1) William Stanback, Montreal Alouettes (A)
Hard money: $160,000
Maximum value: $170,000
The two-time 1,000-yard rusher will receive a $25,000 bonus after he reports to training camp and passes his physical. He will also collect a $15,000 workout bonus, an $8,000 travel allowance, and will earn $3,000 if he is named a CFL all-star.
2) Andrew Harris, Toronto Argonauts (N)
Hard money: $145,000
Maximum value: $160,000
The future Hall of Fame ball-carrier is expecting to take on a reduced role this season but remains one of the highest-paid players at his position league-wide. He got a $30,000 signing bonus to rejoin the Argos for one final CFL season and will make another $15,000 in non-football-related services to the club.
3) Ka’Deem Carey, Calgary Stampeders (A)
Hard money: $137,000
Maximum value: $145,500
The CFL’s leading rusher from a year ago signed a fresh deal for the 2023 season that included a $12,000 signing bonus. Though most of his deal will be paid in the form of hard money, he is also due a $1,500 bonus if he rushes for at least 1,500 yards this season.
4) James Butler, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (A)
Hard money: $116,000
Maximum value: $133,000
The 28-year-old had his first 1,000-yard season with the Lions in 2022 and cashed in on a two-year contract in Steeltown. He collected a $20,000 signing bonus, will earn another $10,000 bonus the first time he makes the active roster, and $2,000 if he wins the CFL’s rushing title this year.
5) Kevin Brown, Edmonton Elks (A)
Hard money: $113,000
Maximum value: $121,000
The 26-year-old had a breakout year this past season and capitalized on it, inking a new deal that included a $30,000 signing bonus. He will also collect a $7,500 bonus if he reaches the 1,000-yard rushing mark in 2023.
6) A.J. Ouellette, Toronto Argonauts (A)
Hard money: $111,000
Maximum value: $123,000
The mulleted wrecking ball collected a $12,000 signing bonus to rejoin the Argos for 2023 and will earn $13,800 in housing money. He will also earn $100 each time he scores a touchdown and $100 each time he records a tackle.
7) Brady Oliveira, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (N)
Hard money: $100,000
Maximum value: $114,000
The Winnipeg native is coming off his first career 1,000-yard season and entering the second year of the contract extension he signed last year. Now that the 25-year-old has established himself as an every-game starter, he should be due for a raise following the upcoming season.
8) Jamal Morrow, Saskatchewan Roughriders (A)
Hard money: $99,000
Maximum value: $110,000
The 28-year-old got a $15,000 signing bonus to stay with the Riders following a breakout season on the prairies. He will earn $200 each time he plays more than 51 percent of Saskatchewan’s offensive snaps during the regular season and a $1,500 bonus if he leads the West Division in rushing yards.
9) Jeshrun Antwi, Montreal Alouettes (N)
Hard money: $95,000
Maximum money: $117,000
The Calgary native will collect a $5,000 bonus when he reports to training camp and passes his physical and another $5,000 bonus the first time he makes the active roster. He also has a $2,000 workout bonus and a $1,000 travel allowance.
10) Sean Thomas-Erlington, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (N)
Hard money: $94,000
Maximum value: $118,000
The five-foot-nine, 217-pound ball carrier received a $3,000 signing bonus to return for a sixth season with the Ticats in 2023. He will also earn an $800 bonus each time he plays more than 51 percent of Hamilton offensive snaps in a game over the course of the regular season.
11) Jackson Bennett, Ottawa Redblacks (N)
Hard money: $93,000
Maximum value: $123,000
The native of Cumberland, Ont. signed back with the Redblacks and collected a $10,000 signing bonus in order to do so. He will also earn $1,000 each time he plays more than 51 percent of Ottawa’s offensive snaps in a game and a $2,500 bonus if he dresses for at least 12 games.
12) Walter Fletcher, Montreal Alouettes (A)
Hard money: $93,000
Maximum value: $99,000
The five-foot-nine, 202-pound ball carrier got a $5,000 signing bonus to return to the Alouettes for 2023 and will earn another $1,000 if he is named an East Division all-star and another $2,000 if he is named a CFL all-star.
13) Johnny Augustine, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (N)
Hard money: $91,000
Maximum value: $120,000
The Guelph product will earn an $8,000 bonus the first time he makes the active roster this season and an additional $750 each time he plays more than 51 percent of Winnipeg’s offensive snaps in a game. He will also earn $1,000 if he eclipses the 1,000-yard rushing mark in 2023.
14) Ante Milanovic-Litre, Ottawa Redblacks (N)
Hard money: $89,000
Maximum value: $112,000
The power back from Vancouver wasted no time signing with the Redblacks following his surprise off-season release from Edmonton. He will receive a $750 bonus each time he plays more than 51 percent of Ottawa’s offensive snaps as well as $1,000 is he leads the East Division in special teams tackles.
15) Kienan LaFrance, Saskatchewan Roughriders (N)
Hard money: $89,000
Maximum value: $102,000
The Manitoba product will received $500 each time he plays more than 51 percent of Saskatchewan’s offensive plays in a game as well as a $1,500 travel bonus. He will also receive a $5,000 bonus after he reports to training camp and passes his physical.
Fullbacks
1) David Mackie, B.C. Lions (N)
Hard money: $109,000
Maximum value: $128,000
The four-year veteran received a $10,000 signing bonus to ink an extension with the Lions this off-season and will receive an additional $416 each time he plays more than 51 percent of the team’s offensive snaps in a game.
2) Marco Dubois, Ottawa Redblacks (N)
Hard money: $100,000
Maximum value: $119,000
The four-year veteran got a $10,000 signing bonus to return to Ottawa for another year along with $13,800 in housing money. He will earn an additional $500 each time he plays more than 51 percent of the team’s snaps in a regular season game and $2,000 if he leads the CFL in special teams tackles.
3) Alexandre Gagné, Montreal Alouettes (N)
Hard money: $95,000
Maximum value: $116,000
The Sherbrooke product collected a $10,000 off-season roster bonus on Feb. 15 ahead of his third season with the Alouettes. He will earn an additional $500 each time he’s on the field for more than 51 percent of all of Montreal’s offensive or defensive plays.
4) Mike Miller, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (N)
Hard money: $95,000
Maximum value: $95,000
The CFL’s all-time leader in special teams tackles got a $6,200 signing bonus to return to Winnipeg for a sixth season with the team. The rest of his deal will be paid out in the form of a salary, housing money, and travel allowance.
5) James Tuck, Montreal Alouettes (N)
Hard money: $93,000
Maximum value: $96,000
The 32-year-old returned to the team that first drafted him in 2014 and will collect an $8,700 bonus when he reports to training camp and passes his physical. He will also earn $1,000 if he’s named an East Division all-star or $2,000 if he’s named a CFL all-star.
