The B.C. Lions finalized their coaching staff on Monday, allowing the team to turn their focus to determining who will suit up for the club in 2024.
“We’re working on players and that process has already started. The coaching staff is one step in the right direction that also lets people out there who are free agents or people that are going to become free agents, they know what the B.C. Lions are and what we’re going to be about. It gives them a pretty clear indication of the direction we’re headed in,” Campbell told the media.
“Priority number one is to sign our own free agents, which we’ve been already working on that. It’s kind of a fluid situation. It’s only mid-December and there’s a lot of things at play as far as either guys going to free agency or the NFL window or all those things, but we’ll continue to try to retain as many players as we can.”
B.C. currently has 21 pending free agents, including a handful of star players. As a team that’s finished the past two seasons with a 12-6 record and a home playoff game, it’s clear the Lions aren’t looking to overhaul their roster, instead choosing to build on the success they’ve enjoyed since 2022. This was reflected on their coaching staff as the club made zero changes from a season ago, aside from granting defensive coordinator Ryan Phillips the added title of assistant head coach.
Canadian defensive end Mathieu Betts, who was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player after setting a Canadian single-season record with 18 sacks in 2023, is set to hit the open market, as are fellow defenders Sione Teuhema, Ben Hladik, and Marcus Sayles. Hladik was replaced by Josh Woods due to injury during the postseason, who is also a pending free agent.
Keon Hatcher, Alexander Hollins, Lucky Whitehead, and Jevon Cottoy are all pending free agents in the receiving corps. Hatcher’s status remains unclear as he reportedly suffered an Achilles injury during the West Final in Winnipeg, while Whitehead’s production regressed this past season. Cottoy set all-new career highs with 57 catches for 807 yards and four touchdowns, while Hollins was named a West Division all-star after making 78 receptions for 1,173 yards and nine touchdowns.
The club also has some key pending free agents on special teams as Stefan Flintoft, who finished fourth league-wide in net punting in 2023, is set to hit the open market alongside star returner Terry Williams.
The Lions also have a decision to make regarding backup quarterback Dane Evans, who threw for 829 yards, four touchdowns, and six interceptions this past season. The 30-year-old previously served as a starter with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and may garner interest elsewhere around the league if he hits free agency. He started two games for B.C. this past season while Vernon Adams Jr. was out due to injury and posted a 1-1 record.
CFL free agency is set to get underway on Tuesday, Feb. 13 at noon EST.
