CFL free agency is officially here as the market will open at noon EST on Tuesday, Feb. 13 after weeks of anticipation. 3DownNation released a top 30 pending free agents list last week, though most of those players have since re-signed with their existing teams or agreed to terms on a contract with a new squad.
We have now expanded the list to 50 players to celebrate the CFL’s big day with plenty of talent still available to teams across the league. This list doesn’t include players with reported agreements (including Mathieu Betts in the NFL), those who plan to retire such as Jackson Jeffcoat and Chris Edwards, though it does include players who have recently been released ahead of off-season bonuses, many of whom haven’t been free agents for long.
Enjoy our top 50 list and be sure to follow along with our live blog and social media channels for what should be the most action-packed day of the year.
50. DL Ted Laurent, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (N)
The 36-year-old was once among the most feared defensive linemen in the CFL but he’s not as impactful as he used to be. The six-foot-one, 299-pounder has made 36 tackles, five sacks, and two forced fumbles over 45 games since 2021 and, though he might still have some gas left in the tank, certainly isn’t getting any younger.
49. REC Jake Wieneke, Free Agent (A)
The native of Maple Grove, Minn. was named the East Division’s Most Outstanding Rookie in 2019 and a CFL all-star in 2021 but has struggled to produce since. He made only 17 receptions for 177 yards as a member of the Saskatchewan Roughriders this past season and was released ahead of an off-season roster bonus.
48. RB Shannon Brooks, Free Agent (A)
The 27-year-old was recently released by the Edmonton Elks following a rookie season that saw him carry the ball 36 times for 175 yards and catch seven passes for 95 yards in a depth role behind Kevin Brown. The five-foot-eleven, 200-pound ball-carrier has a nice combination of size and explosiveness coming out of the backfield.
47. DB Jeremy Clark, Saskatchewan Roughriders (A)
The former sixth-round NFL draft pick was solid over three years with the Riders and has developed into a competent starter at field-side cornerback. The 29-year-old has collected 63 defensive tackles, three special teams tackles, one sack, two interceptions, and two forced fumbles in 35 career CFL games and has rare size at six-foot-three at 220 pounds.
46. DL Jonathan Kongbo, Free Agent (N)
The former first-round CFL draft pick has had a nomadic professional career, spending time with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos, B.C. Lions, and Hamilton Tiger-Cats, though he was recently granted his release by the Tabbies. He made 15 defensive tackles and three special teams tackles in Steeltown this past season.
45. DL Thiadric Hansen, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (G)
The 31-year-old native of Germany had a breakout season in 2021 but has been limited to only 14 games since 2022 due to an Achilles injury. If he can refind his footing, the six-foot-two, 254-pound defender is a solid special teams player capable of handling a rotational role at defensive end.
44. REC Duke Williams, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (A)
The former all-star had a disappointing season with the Ticats, recording 36 catches for 510 yards and one touchdown before being shut down for the year just after Labour Day. At 30, the six-foot-three, 225-pound target likely has some good football left in him, though he’ll have to take a large pay cut on his next deal.
43. LB Fraser Sopik, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (N)
The 26-year-old dressed for 12 games with Hamilton this past season, recording two tackles. It was a down year for the former fourth-round pick out of Western University but he’s previously proven he’s a capable special teams player and rotational defender.
42. OL Evan Johnson, Saskatchewan Roughriders (N)
The Regina native started 12 games at left guard this past season but was replaced in the lineup by Philip Blake after the veteran blocker returned from injury. The former first-round pick was once capable of being a ratio-breaking tackle but has struggled at times in recent years.
41. REC Luther Hakunavanhu, Calgary Stampeders (N)
The former fifth-round pick caught 23 passes for 311 yards and three touchdowns this past season, though one could argue he’s yet to reach his full potential. He has impressive athleticism for his six-foot-four, 209-pound frame but has dropped too many passes over the past two seasons to be ranked higher on this list.
40. DL Mike Moore, Calgary Stampeders (A)
The Virginia product signed with the Stampeders following a brief retirement this past off-season and dressed for 12 games, recording 10 defensive tackles and two sacks. The 30-year-old had an excellent season with the Edmonton Football Team in 2019 and the Montreal Alouettes in 2022 but will have to prove he can still produce.
39. FB James Tuck, Montreal Alouettes (N)
The six-foot, 230-pound native of Aurora, Ont. won his first Grey Cup this past season and set a new career-high with nine catches for 57 yards. Tuck is 33 but can still contribute as a blocker, tight end, special teamer, and occasional receiver out of the backfield.
38. LB Trevor Hoyte, Toronto Argonauts (N)
The former fourth-round pick out of Carleton University made a career-high 17 special teams tackles this past season over 18 regular season games. The native of Gatineau, Que. also started two games with the Argonauts as a rookie in 2021, a season during which he notched 20 defensive tackles.
37. LB Malik Clements, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (A)
The 27-year-old made six starts last season and has been productive through three seasons with the Edmonton Elks and Blue Bombers, collecting 65 defensive tackles, 12 special teams tackles, four sacks, and one forced fumble in 31 CFL games.
36. OL Tyrone Riley, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (A)
The 27-year-old started six games at right tackle and two games at left tackle in 2023 and remained a starter against the Montreal Alouettes in the East Semi-Final. With Joel Figueroa and Jordan Murray under contract for 2024, the six-foot-six, 291-pound blocker is looking for a new home.
35. RB Sean Thomas-Erlington, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (N)
The Montreal native played only 11 games this past season due to injury and wasn’t terribly productive on offence, rushing 16 times for 88 yards and one touchdown and catching eight passes for 88 yards and one touchdown. However, the 31-year-old can run, catch, block, and tackle, so he should be on a roster come training camp.
34. LB Tre Watson Sr., Free Agent (A)
After spending the 2023 season with the St. Louis Battlehawks, Watson is eyeing a return to Canada. The 27-year-old made 35 total tackles and one sack over 15 regular season games with Montreal and Edmonton before leaving for the XFL, but had his CFL tenure derailed by a sideline feud and a PCL tear. He’s now fully healthy and ready to roll.
33. SAM Derrick Moncrief, Free Agent (A)
The once-dominant defender struggled in 2023, recording 50 defensive tackles over 14 games and sometimes being exploited in coverage. At 30, the six-foot-two, 220-pound defender plays a position that’s tough to full and could be a fascinating reclamation project at the right price point.
32. REC Rasheed Bailey, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (A)
The 30-year-old caught 46 passes for 508 yards and six touchdowns last season, though his best quality might be his ability as a blocker. The six-foot-one, 217-pound target doesn’t shy away from contact and is one of the reasons Winnipeg’s run game has been so successful since he joined the team in 2019.
31. DL DeMarcus Christmas, Saskatchewan Roughriders (A)
The six-foot-three, 303-pound defender was primarily a rotational player for Saskatchewan this past season, making four starts over 15 games and recording 20 defensive tackles and one sack. The Florida State product is a bruiser who can clog rushing lanes and help collapse the pocket on passing downs.
30. LB Silas Stewart, Calgary Stampeders (A)
After recording 35 defensive stops and 20 special teams tackles in 2022, Stewart appeared to be the heir apparent to replace Jameer Thurman as Calgary’s middle linebacker. Instead, a training camp injury opened the door for Micah Awe’s all-star season and limited him to just five games, finishing with 11 defensive tackles.
29. OL Colin Kelly, Saskatchewan Roughriders (A)
The 34-year-old returned from the XFL in 2023 to start nine games at right tackle, playing at a higher level than he had immediately prior to his stint down south. Kelly’s season was cut short, however, as he suffered a torn ACL during the Labour Day Classic, an injury from which he’s yet to fully recover.
28. DB Cariel Brooks, Ottawa Redblacks (A)
Brooks’ off-season release by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats last year came as a surprise given his 2021 all-star status, but the 32-year-old ended up starting just eight games for Ottawa in 2023 — six at boundary halfback and two at boundary corner. The six-year veteran has accumulated 227 defensive tackles, three sacks, 13 interceptions, and four forced fumbles in 80 career games.
27. LB Avery Williams, Montreal Alouettes (A)
After four productive seasons in Ottawa, Williams’ tenure with the Alouettes was somewhat disappointing, save for the Grey Cup ring. He was limited to just nine regular season games due to injury and saw his role diminish following the acquisition of Darnell Sankey, who will remain the team’s starter in 2024.
26. DL Jamal Davis II, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (A)
The six-foot-four, 250-pound defender made 26 defensive tackles, two special teams tackles, and five sacks this past season, which he split between Montreal and Hamilton. The 28-year-old has been a member of eight different professional organizations since going unselected in the 2019 NFL Draft.
25. QB Taylor Cornelius, Free Agent (A)
The 28-year-old completed 57.9 percent of his passes for 5,868 yards, 25 touchdowns, and 31 interceptions over three seasons with the Elks, leading to his release earlier this off-season. Though he failed to live up to the hype in Edmonton, the six-foot-five, 230-pounder might still be able to develop into a solid quarterback in the right situation.
24. OL Sean Jamieson, Free Agent (N)
The native of Winnipeg, Man. was recently released by the Alouettes after missing the entire 2023 season with a torn ACL, though he has since returned to full health. The six-foot-three, 317-pound blocker was a third-round pick out of Western University in the 2016 CFL Draft and has since played 59 games at the professional level.
23. REC Nate Behar, Free Agent (N)
The 29-year-old native of London, Ont. was released last week despite having guaranteed money on his contract with the Ottawa Redblacks for 2024. The former first-round pick had a disappointing year in 2023, making 39 catches for 334 yards and one touchdown over 12 games as part of a struggling passing game in the nation’s capital.
22. DB Ciante Evans, Montreal Alouettes (A)
There are three guarantees in life: death, taxes, and Ciante Evans producing. The 31-year-old has notched 250 defensive tackles, 17 interceptions, and three forced fumbles over eight CFL seasons, though he’s struggled to stay healthy at times, playing more than 14 games in a season only once in his career.
21. RB Jamal Morrow, Saskatchewan Roughriders (A)
The five-foot-eight, 205-pound ball-carrier recorded 1,256 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns this past season, though he averaged only 4.5 yards per carry. This was one of the worst marks of any running back in the league and a 0.8-yard dropoff from 2022, which was Morrow’s second in the CFL.
20. DB Nafees Lyon, Montreal Alouettes (A)
Lyon suffered a knee injury in Montreal’s regular season opener and spent the rest of the year on the six-game injured list, derailing a promising start to to his CFL career. In 20 career contests with the Elks and Alouettes, Lyon has made 82 defensive tackles, one sack, and four interceptions.
19. LB Simoni Lawrence, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (A)
After being nearly written off following a down 2022 season, Lawrence proved he was still an impact contributor at weak-side linebacker in 2023 by making 84 tackles, five sacks, one interception, and three forced fumbles. However, amid a rumoured ratio change, the 35-year-old five-time all-star may have played his last game in Steeltown.
18. OL Geoff Gray, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (N)
The six-foot-six, 310-pound blocker started 17 games at left guard for the Blue Bombers this past season but appears to be the odd man out with Tui Eli and former first-round pick Liam Dobson pushing for more playing time. The Winnipeg native has played 55 games with his hometown team since joining the club in 2018.
17. DL Dylan Wynn, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (A)
The 30-year-old is a three-time East Division all-star for good reason, though he’s missed 23 games due to injury since 2021. This past season was the least productive of his seven-year CFL career as he made only four tackles and one sack over seven games.
16. QB Jake Dolegala, Saskatchewan Roughriders (A)
The 27-year-old outdueled Mason Fine down the stretch in 2023, though the Riders elected to re-sign him over Dolegala this off-season. Dolegala completed 64.8 percent of his passes for 2,641 yards, 11 touchdowns, and nine interceptions this past season and, at six-foot-seven and 242 pounds, has the type of size talent evaluators love.
15. REC Lucky Whitehead, B.C. Lions (A)
The former CFL all-star saw his production decline for a second straight season in 2023, posting 58 catches for 728 yards and three touchdowns as part of a crowded B.C. receiving corps. The 31-year-old doesn’t appear to have the same burst he once had but can still separate and provide some depth in the return game.
14. LB Larry Dean, Saskatchewan Roughriders (A)
After notching the fourth divisional all-star selection of his career in 2023, there’s no sign that Dean is declining as the analytics show he’s still the best run-stopping linebacker in the CFL. However, at 36, it’s understandable if teams are wary of Dean’s age as he’s made 570 defensive tackles, 15 special teams tackles, 11 sacks, seven interceptions, and eight forced fumbles over 108 career CFL games.
13. DL Pete Robertson, Saskatchewan Roughriders (A)
The 31-year-old took the CFL by storm in 2022, recording nine sacks and five forced fumbles, though his production fell this past season. Robertson should still be viewed as a starter in the CFL, though he may have to take less than the $170,000 he earned this past season in Riderville.
12. REC Cam Phillips, Toronto Argonauts (A)
The former XFL standout has been quietly productive as part of a well-rounded receiving corps in Toronto over the past two seasons, bringing in 119 passes for 1,076 yards and four touchdowns over 24 games. He uses the waggle effectively and has proven he can find open space on intermediate routes.
11. OL Ryan Sceviour, Calgary Stampeders (N)
The local product has started 65 games at guard since he was selected in the first round of the 2018 CFL Draft out of the University of Calgary. Sceviour was named a West Division all-star in 2022 after helping Ka’Deem Carey achieve a career year along the ground as part of the league’s best rushing attack.
10. K Sergio Castillo, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (A)
Castillo hit 90.2 percent of his field goals last season in Winnipeg, though he’s four years removed from his lone CFL all-star season with the Lions in 2019. The 33-year-old needs to be more consistent on his converts but does a great job on kickoffs, making him an attractive option for teams looking for an upgrade at kicker.
9. RB Ka’Deem Carey, Calgary Stampeders (A)
The five-foot-nine, 206-pound ball-carrier went from a career-year in 2022 to missing half his team’s games in 2023, recording 632 yards from scrimmage and zero touchdowns. The native of Tuscon, Ariz. is a two-time West Division all-star and should have some good football left in him, though he turned 31 last October.
8. KR Janarion Grant, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (A)
The Rutgers product 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 for touchdowns. The 30-year-old recorded one of the greatest return touchdowns ever early in 2023 but was limited to just eight games due to injury.
7. OL Landon Rice, Montreal Alouettes (N)
The native of Brandon, Man. was named an East Division all-star in back-to-back seasons with the Alouettes but was relegated to a backup role after suffering an injury partway through the 2023 season. The six-foot-six, 315-pound blocker will turn 36 next month but has proven he’s capable of starting at right tackle, a rarity for Canadian players.
6. DL Shawn Oakman, Toronto Argonauts (A)
The six-foot-nine, 287-pound defender has been highly productive over three seasons with the Boatmen, making 90 defensive tackles, 18 sacks, and two forced fumbles over 45 games. The two-time East Division all-star will turn 32 in April, though he’s played relatively little professional football for a player his age.
5. DB Robertson Daniel, Toronto Argonauts (A)
The six-foot-one, 205-pound cover man recorded 55 defensive tackles, two sacks, four interceptions, and one defensive touchdown over 11 games this past season to earn a CFL all-star selection at boundary halfback. The question teams will be asking is if the 32-year-old has the juice left to do it again or if he was simply a one-year wonder.
4. DL Woody Baron, Free Agent (A)
The six-foot-one, 270-pound defender made a career-high eight sacks with the B.C. Lions this past season and was named a West Division all-star, though he was recently released ahead of an off-season roster bonus. The 30-year-old native of Chicago, Ill. has made 100 defensive tackles, 20 sacks, and two forced fumbles over 73 career CFL games as a member of the Montreal Alouettes and Lions since 2018.
3. DB Tunde Adeleke, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (N)
Adeleke was the highest-paid defensive back in the league entering last season but was limited to just 10 games due to injury and ultimately lost his starting safety job to Stavros Katsantonis. The two-time all-star may have to take a slight haircut on this contract but not by much, as the 28-year-old has made 232 defensive tackles, 34 special teams tackles, five sacks, five interceptions, and four forced fumbles in 86 career games.
2. DL A.C. Leonard, Edmonton Elks (A)
The 32-year-old continues to produce at a high level late into his career, recording a career-high 12 sacks as a member of the Elks this past season. He earned just over $170,000 in 2023 and is expected to earn a raise on his next deal. The native of Palatka, Fla. has recorded 278 defensive tackles, 51 sacks, eight forced fumbles, and one interception since converting to the defensive line in 2016.
1. REC Tim White, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (A)
The 29-year-old overcame a slow start in 2023 to record 75 catches for a career-high 1,269 yards and eight touchdowns, leading the league in receiving yards and second-down conversions. He was named a CFL all-star for the second consecutive year and an East Division all-star for the third straight season. White was already among the league’s highest-paid receivers last year but is reportedly looking for a deal in the $300,000 range.
