The CFL’s negotiation period opened at noon on February 13, but Ottawa Redblacks’ general manager Shawn Burke hasn’t been sitting around biding time.
There’s no doubt the Redblacks will be active in free agency but the reconstruction process is already well underway for a team that’s missed the playoffs in four consecutive seasons.
To understand what Ottawa might do when the market opens, we first need to review what Burke has been up to since the season ended. Faced with 33 pending free agents, the Redblacks’ front office has selectively re-signed 15 guys they believe are part of the solution going forward.
Four defensive linemen (Bryce Carter, Lorenzo Mauldin IV, Michael Wakefield and Nigel Romick), three linebackers (Frankie Griffin, Tyron Vrede and Gary Johnson Jr.), two defensive backs (Brandin Dandridge and Ty Cranston), two running backs (Devonte Williams and Anthony Gosselin), two receivers (Bralon Addison and Justin Hardy), one punter (Richie Leone) and one kicker (Michael Domagala).
Every dollar spent retaining a pending free agent is one less available for someone new. Restructuring deals to shift guaranteed money into bonuses can help clear cap space, which was what the Redblacks did with players like quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, tackle Dino Boyd and dynamic returner/receiver DeVonte Dedmon in recent weeks.
Expecting to have a pair of quarterbacks still rehabbing serious injuries when the season opens, the Redblacks traded for and signed Dru Brown. Despite his limited experience, the 26-year-old is coming off a season that saw him complete nearly 70 percent of his passes while throwing for 983 yards, nine touchdowns and no interceptions. The addition of Brown means Ottawa won’t add another veteran passer during free agency, as they already have Dustin Crum, Tyrie Adams, Jeremiah Masoli and Jake Dunniway all under contract.
Another significant move was bringing Dominique Rhymes back to the nation’s capital after three years on the West Coast. During his time with the Lions, Rhymes blossomed into one of the league’s most explosive receivers, making 148 catches for 2347 yards and 18 touchdowns in 36 games. The 30-year-old provides the Redblacks with a top-tier talent to pair with Jaelon Acklin but it’s safe to assume they aren’t done adding to their receiving corps.
Elite talents like Dalton Schoen and Tim White could provide Ottawa’s aerial attack with a dangerous, balanced group that would constantly create mismatches and both have links to the franchise. The former spent the last two years catching passes from Brown — in practice and games — and the latter’s rookie year coincided with Burke’s final season as the Ticat’s Senior Director of Player Personnel. Another name worth watching is Toronto’s Damonte Coxie. The 27-year-old made catching deep balls look easy in 2023, averaging 20.2 yards per reception.
On the offensive line, the Redblacks cut Jacob Ruby and immediately replaced him with Dariusz Bladek. A second-round pick in the 2017 CFL Draft, Bladek started 17 games at right guard for the Argos in 2022 as they went on to win the Grey Cup. The 29-year-old didn’t play in 2023 due to an ankle injury but has been fully healthy for a while. With Boyd re-doing his deal and the team still high on young tackles Zack Pelehos and Dontae Bull, I don’t expect a veteran tackle — American or Canadian — to be signed.
Flipping to the other side of the trenches, the defensive line was a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing season. With every starter and backup set to return in 2024, it’s hard to see anything more than depth being added. Guys DeMarcus Christmas, Dylan Wynn or Mike Moore — experienced veterans capable of being productive with fewer snaps — could be fits.
The departure of Douglas Coleman III to the NFL’s Chicago Bears means Ottawa is down a starting strong-side linebacker. Adarius Pickett, who was named the East division’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2023 following a season that saw him make 124 tackles and six sacks, is the best available, though he would not come cheap. If the team elects to bump over an incumbent player to that spot, like the re-signed Griffin, they could target top traditional linebackers as well. Jameer Thurman is 29, coming off a career year that saw him notch 98 tackles and five sacks, and is the kind of player opposing offences have to account for.
Sticking with the linebacking corps, Canadians Adam Auclair, Dan Basambombo and Kevin Francis are all set to hit the open market, which means the Redblacks will need to add some Nationals capable of contributing in spot duty. That can be addressed in April’s draft, but should Burke choose to go the free agent route, Micah Teitz, Jack Cassar and Nic Cross are experienced options.
The group that may see the most additions once free agency opens up is the secondary. A combination of poor injury luck, veteran players regressing and rookies getting their first taste of CFL action meant Ottawa’s defensive backfield was a weakness in 2023. It’s not often a general manager can effectively clean house on an entire positional group, but with ten defensive backs set to hit the market and only two re-signed to date, it goes without saying that there will be open spots.
If Burke goes big-game hunting, 2023’s interception leader Demerio Houston could be a target. The 27-year-old has spent his entire career with Winnipeg and adding a winning pedigree to the roster never hurts. Injuries limited Jamal Peters to just 13 games with Toronto last season but when he was on the field, the 26-year-old produced four interceptions, 32 tackles and forced two fumbles.
Kobe Williams doesn’t have the same acclaim as the two DBs mentioned above, but the 25-year-old is coming off a breakout season in Calgary that saw him start all 18 games while making 49 tackles, a sack, two interceptions and two forced fumbles. The fact that he can start multiple positions in the secondary is a huge plus.
Another intriguing name is Canadian safety Tunde Adeleke. Many in R-Nation will already be familiar with Adeleke thanks to his exploits as a Carleton Raven and as he heads into his seventh season as a pro, still boasts plenty of speed to go with his great instincts and coverage skills. A homecoming for the local university legend would be the perfect cherry on top of a crucial free agency period for the franchise.
