CFL free agency is set to get underway on Tuesday, Feb. 13 and 3DownNation is looking ahead by ranking each group of pending free agents by position.
We’ve already looked at the quarterbacks, running backs and fullbacks, receivers, offensive linemen, defensive linemen, linebackers and defensive backs currently set to hit the open market. Today, we wrap up our positional rankings with the specialists: kickers, punters, long snappers and returners.
The league’s negotiating window is set to open on Sunday, Feb. 4 at noon ET, allowing pending free agents to speak to interested teams without restrictions. Though players can’t officially change clubs until Feb. 13, a number of deals will be agreed upon in principle during the week-long window.
Make sure to check back tomorrow when we unveil our list of the top 30 pending free agents.
Please note that “N” denotes National players (ie. Canadians), “A” denotes American players, and “G” denotes Global players.
Kickers and Punters
1. Lirim Hajrullahu, Free Agent (N)
It has been four years since the 2019 East Division all-star last stepped foot in the CFL, but he’s back on the open market after spending last year with the USFL’s Philadelphia Stars. The 33-year-old has long stated that he’ll exhaust all other options to get to the NFL before returning north, but his last stint with the Dallas Cowboys was in August of 2022 and those avenues are drying up.
There simply aren’t many three-tool Canadian kickers available these days and Hajrullahu is the type you might break the bank for. With an 83.2 career field goal percentage spread across his various former teams and a 44.1-yard gross punting average, the team that finally attracts the St. Catharines, Ont. native will be very lucky.
2. Boris Bede, Toronto Argonauts (A)
Inconsistency has been something of a calling card for Bede throughout his eight-year CFL career, but the French-born, American-trained, Canadian-schooled kicker had his best year ever in 2023. Not only did he nail 94.9 percent of his field goal attempts, he also stepped back into the punting role at the end of the year and averaged 47.6 gross yards.
The 34-year-old could just as easily regress back to his 78.2 percent doldrums from 2022 as he could explode for a fourth all-star campaign. However, his versatility brings value either way and his field-flipping leg strength remains unquestioned on kickoffs.
3. Sergio Castillo, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (A)
Castillo has been somewhat hit-or-miss since he returned from the NFL in 2021, but he is clearly trending in the right direction after nailing 90.2 percent of his field goals last season in Winnipeg.
The 33-year-old is four years removed from his lone CFL all-star season with the Lions in 2019 but remains a premier American at the position. His 86.7 career accuracy should come at a steeper price than last year, when he was forced to take a one-year prove-it deal after a late release from Edmonton.
4. Marc Liegghio, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (N)
U Sports’ all-time leader in field goals was at risk of being run out of the CFL before he landed in Hamilton last year, connecting on 41-of-47 kicks for a career-best 87.2 percent mark.
The soon-to-be 27-year-old has youth on his side and has proven he can be a competent punter as well, though historically his field goal production has dropped precipitously when asked to handle both duties.
5. Kaare Vedvik, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (G)
A Norwegian journeyman, Vedvik could soon be on his third CFL team after making stops with eight different NFL franchises. The 29-year-old lost his job to Ray Guy winner Adam Korsak with the Riders in training camp, before bailing out the Ticats for the final 10 games of 2023.
With a 44.6 career gross average, the Marshall product is a capable Global starter. With a new influx of foreign specialists set to arrive in April for cheap, his value may not be much.
6. Matt Mengel, Free Agent (A)
The 30-year-old Mengel punted in six games for Edmonton in 2022 and posted a promising 47.2-yard average before losing his job in a ratio switch.
Back on the market after two years in the USFL, he is the type of player that would have stuck around in the CFL in the pre-Global era but will now have a hard time clawing back in.
Long Snapper
1. Tanner Doll, Ottawa Redblacks (N)
A former fourth-round pick in the 2015 CFL Draft, Doll has bounced around with Ottawa, Hamilton, Edmonton and B.C. over the course of an eight-year career.
The 30-year-old has made 21 special teams tackles in 76 games played, including six tackles last year. He is the lone long-snapper headed to market and could have difficulty finding a landing spot.
Kick Returners
1. Javon Leake, Toronto Argonauts (A)
The league’s reigning Most Outstanding Special Teams Player made a sizeable contribution last season, returning 82 punts for 1,216 yards and four touchdowns — both Argo franchise records.
Since joining the team in 2022, the 25-year-old has amassed 2,859 all-purpose yards in just 25 games. Whether or not changes come to the league’s kickoff rule, CFL teams will see the value in Leake.
2. Janarion Grant, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (A)
Grant has been as electric as any return man in recent CFL history, compiling 4,780 all-purpose yards in 41 career games and taking eight kicks back to paydirt.
The 30-year-old was at his best early in the 2023 season when he recorded one of the greatest return touchdowns ever, but was limited to just eight games due to injury. His production didn’t quite recover once his health did and there will be questions about his long-term durability.
