Linebackers are the faces of their franchises, the heartbeat of their defences, and the leaders of their locker rooms. In the case of these 20 players, they also happen to be very well compensated.
Over the next week, 3DownNation will be unveiling the CFL’s highest-paid players at each positional group. We’ve already published the quarterbacks, running backs and fullbacks, receivers, offensive line, and defensive line lists. Tomorrow we’ll be moving on to the 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 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 player sees the field, their yardage production, scoring touchdowns, being named an all-star or winning a league award.
Please note that “N” denotes national players (ie. Canadians) and “A” denotes American players.
Weakside and middle linebackers
1) Wynton McManis, Toronto Argonauts (A)
Hard money: $179,800
Maximum value: $196,400
Many felt that McManis was the frontrunner for Most Outstanding Defensive Player before his injury last year but he’ll settle for setting a new financial benchmark at his position. The 28-year-old received a $50,000 signing bonus to re-up with the Grey Cup champions and can collect $5,000 after his first game of the year, along with incentives of $1,500 for a divisional all-star selection, $2,500 for CFL all-star honours, $3,500 for being the divisional finalist for a major award, and $4,000 for winning one.
2) Cameron Judge, Calgary Stampeders (N)
Hard money: $174,000
Maximum value: $185,000
After earning his first career all-star selection, Calgary’s ratio-breaking weakside linebacker cashed in with a lucrative two-year extension that included a $40,000 signing bonus. The 28-year-old will earn an extra $2,500 after playing his 14th game and another $2,500 after his 16th, along with bonuses of $1,000 for a divisional all-star nod, $2,000 for a CFL all-star selection, $1,000 for a team award nomination, and $2,000 for an award win.
3) Adam Bighill, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (A)
Hard money: $165,000
Maximum value: $165,000
Still an elite defender at 34 years old, Bighill’s latest two-year extension is all hard money. The future Hall of Famer collected a $25,000 bonus on January 1 and will earn $140,000 in salary.
4) Henoc Muamba, Toronto Argonauts (N)
Hard money: $155,000
Maximum value: $172,500
Muamba contemplated retirement after becoming the second player in CFL history to win both Most Valuable Canadian and Most Valuable Player in a Grey Cup game but elected to return for a 12th professional season. The 34-year-old was paid a $40,000 signing bonus and will earn $10,000 after playing his first game of the year, with incentives of $2,500 tied to both divisional and league all-star selections as well as a league award win.
5) Chris Ackie, Montreal Alouettes (N)
Hard money: $146,500
Maximum value: $166,000
Ackie was underutilized last season in Montreal but still commands elite dollars. The 31-year-old will earn $25,000 for reporting to training camp, $250 per game spent on the active roster, and another $500 every time he plays more than half of the defensive plays. He will also collect standard bonuses of $1,000 for a divisional all-star selection, $2,000 for a CFL all-star selection, and $3,000 for a major award win.

6) Jameer Thurman, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (A)
Hard money: $145,800
Maximum value: $151,800
Criminally underrated during his last two seasons in Calgary, Thurman received a $50,000 signing bonus for jumping to the Ticats in free agency. The 28-year-old can also earn standard all-star and award incentives of $1,000, $2,000 and $3,000 respectively.
7) Jovan Santos-Knox, Ottawa Redblacks (A)
Hard money: $136,000
Maximum value: $151,000
After two seasons in Hamilton, Santos-Knox’s new two-year deal with the Redblacks contains a $35,000 signing bonus and a $500 bump for every week spent on the active roster. The 28-year-old can earn $1,000 for leading the division in tackles, $2,000 for leading the league, and $3,000 for winning a Most Outstanding Player award.
8) Bo Lokombo, B.C. Lions (N)
Hard money: $135,300
Maximum value: $141,300
Only a year removed from winning Most Outstanding Canadian, Lokombo’s two-year extension with the Lions included a $20,000 signing bonus. The 32-year-old can also earn incentives of $1,000, $2,000, and $3,000 for all-star team selections and major award wins.
9) Avery Williams, Montreal Alouettes (A)
Hard money: $135,000
Maximum value: $141,000
Williams was granted an early release after four seasons in Ottawa and quickly inked a new deal with the Alouettes that included a $30,000 signing bonus. The 28-year-old can earn $1,000 for a divisional all-star selection, $2,000 for a CFL all-star nod, and $3,000 for a major award win.
10) Larry Dean, Saskatchewan Roughriders (A)
Hard money: $126,500
Maximum value: $131,500
After playing weakside a year ago, Dean will move back to his natural middle linebacker spot in 2023 after inking a one-year extension with a $25,000 signing bonus. The 34-year-old can earn $1,000 for a divisional all-star selection and $2,000 for a CFL all-star nod or Most Outstanding Player award.

11) Tyrice Beverette, Montreal Alouettes (A)
Hard money: $125,000
Maximum value: $135,000
Beverette proved he could play either weakside or strongside linebacker last season, earning a new deal with a $25,000 signing bonus. The 28-year-old will get another $5,000 after his first game of the season, along with bonuses of $2,000 for a spot on either all-star team and $1,000 for leading the team in special teams tackles.
12) Kevin Francis, Edmonton Elks (N)
Hard money: $122,000
Maximum value: $145,500
Francis has been embroiled in a contract dispute since signing with the Elks this offseason but many will be surprised at just how much the league’s reigning leader in special teams tackles is being paid. The 29-year-old received a $25,000 signing bonus in free agency and can earn an extra $750 for every game that he plays more than half of the defensive snaps, with incentives of $1,000 for a divisional all-star nod, $2,000 for a CFL all-star selection, $3,000 for a major award win, and $2,000 for leading the league in defensive or special teams tackles.
13) Adam Konar, Edmonton Elks (N)
Hard money: $116,300
Maximum value:$144,400
After two quiet years in B.C., Konar returned to the starting lineup with Edmonton in 2022 and earned himself a substantial two-year contract extension. The 29-year-old took home a $17,500 bonus on January 15 and will collect another $7,000 following his first snap of the season, along with a $700 bump for every game he plays at least 51 percent of the defensive snaps. He can earn incentives of $1,000, $2,000 and $3,000 for selection to all-star teams or winning a league award, while being owed an extra $2,500 if he leads the CFL in special teams tackles.
14) Micah Teitz, Saskatchewan Roughriders (N)
Hard money: $106,500
Maximum value: $127,000+
Teitz missed all of 2022 with hip and groin injuries but is expected to return as the Riders starting weakside linebacker this season. The 26-year-old will earn a $12,500 report-and-pass bonus upon the opening of training camp and $750 for every game where he plays more than half of the defensive snaps, along with incentives of $1,000 for a divisional all-star selection, $2,000 for being on the league all-star team, and $3,000 for winning a league award. He can also expect $1,000 if he leads the team in special teams tackles and $1,500 if he leads the CFL, with a $100 boost for every special teams tackle he registers.
15) Nyles Morgan, Edmonton Elks (A)
Hard money: $105,000
Maximum value: $116,000
Morgan played just six games in his second CFL season but impressed Edmonton’s new staff enough for a two-year contract extension. The 26-year-old will get $15,000 for reporting to training camp and $278 for every game he plays 51 percent or more of the defensive snaps, with standard bonuses of $1,000, $2,000 and $3,000 for all-star selections and major awards.
Strongside linebackers

1) Derrick Moncrief, Saskatchewan Roughriders (A)
Hard money: $145,000
Maximum value: $169,000+
Moncrief claims the status of the league’s highest-paid strongside linebacker, having already collected a $25,000 offseason bonus on February 1. The 29-year-old will earn $10,000 for playing his first snap of the season and has a deal loaded with incentives, including $1,000 for leading the team in tackles, $2,000 for leading the division, and $3,000 for leading the league. He’ll get another $2,000 for repeating as a divisional all-star and $3,000 for both a CFL all-star selection and league award win, while pocketing an extra $250 for every sack or interception he records.
2) Adarius Pickett, Toronto Argonauts (A)
Hard money: $137,500
Maximum value: $143,500
A rising star at the position, Toronto offered a $25,000 signing bonus to bring Pickett over from the Montreal Alouettes in free agency. The 26-year-old can take home standard bonuses of $1,000, $2,000 and $3,000 for all-star selections or a major award win.
3) Loucheiz Purifoy, Edmonton Elks (A)
Hard money: $128,300
Maximum value: $139,300
There is some uncertainty regarding where Edmonton will play Purifoy next season, but the natural strongside linebacker received a $25,000 signing bonus to join the team after being released by the B.C. Lions this offseason. The 30-year-old will receive $2,500 for reporting to training camp, $500 for every game he plays and $2,000 for a CFL all-star selection.
4) Patrick Levels, Ottawa Redblacks (A)
Hard money: $118,000
Maximum value: $144,000
Levels will cash a cheque for $20,000 after his first game in 2023, the final year of his current deal with Ottawa. The 28-year-old can also earn the usual all-star and awards incentives of $1,000, $2,000, and $3,000.
5) Chris Edwards, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (A)
Hard money: $100,000
Maximum value: $109,000
Edwards’ previous animosity towards the Ticats and their fans took a backseat in free agency, when the 30-year-old took a $10,000 signing bonus to move up the QEW. He can earn $1,000 for leading the team in interceptions and $2,000 for leading the division, along with standard all-star and awards bonuses of $1,000, $2,000, and $3,000.