If you thought CFL free agency began on February 10, think again.
The league’s free agency communication window, also known as the legal tampering window, opened on Sunday, February 1, and nobody wasted any time making decisions.
Even though teams have until Sunday, February 8, at 12:00 p.m. EST to speak to pending free agents, and no deals can become legally binding until Tuesday, February 10, 28 players agreed to terms on contracts with new teams. That included 22 of 3DownNation‘s top 50 available players entering the day.
All nine franchises took different approaches to opening day. The Ottawa Redblacks turned over much of their roster, striking deals with nine players. The Edmonton Elks and Winnipeg Blue Bombers weren’t far behind, each making a series of key additions. Other teams opted to stand on early signings, like the B.C. Lions, who did not have a single contract reported.
As we move forward into Day 2 of the window, here is a look at what every team accomplished — who they had signed entering the day, who they added, and who they lost.
Please note that “N” denotes National players (ie. Canadians), “A” denotes American players, and “G” denotes Global players.
B.C. Lions
Pre-signings: LB Darnell Sankey (A), DL Casey Sayles (A)
Agreed to terms: None
Reportedly departing: OL Jarell Broxton (A), REC Ayden Eberhardt (A)
Edmonton Elks
Pre-signings: REC Austin Mack (A)
Agreed to terms: OL Brendan Bordner (A), DL Malik Carney (A), OL Jordan Murray (A), QB Taylor Powell (A), REC Joe Robustelli (A), OL Coulter Woodmansey (N)
Reportedly departing: DB Devodric Bynum (A), DL Jake Ceresna (A), DL Jonathan Kongbo (N)
Calgary Stampeders
Agreed to terms: DB Devodric Bynum (A)
Reportedly departing: None
Saskatchewan Roughriders
Re-signings: RB A.J. Ouellette (A)
Agreed to terms: RET James Letcher Jr. (A), DL James Vaughters (A)
Reportedly departing: LB A.J. Allen (N), DL Habakkuk Baldonado (G), DL Malik Carney (A), QB Jake Maier (A), REC Tommy Nield (N), SAM C.J. Reavis (A), REC Joe Robustelli (A)
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Pre-signings: REC Tim White (A)
Agreed to terms: OL Jarell Broxton (A), DL Jake Ceresna (A), DB Jonathan Moxey (A), REC Tommy Nield (N)
Reportedly departing: DB Demerio Houston (A), OL Eric Lofton (A), REC Jerreth Sterns (A), DL James Vaughters (A)
Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Pre-signings: OL Chris Kolankowski (N)
Agreed to terms: OL Eric Lofton (A)
Signed: QB Tre Ford (N)
Reportedly departing: DB DaShaun Amos (A), RB Greg Bell (A), OL Brendan Bordner (A), LB Brian Cole II (A), DB Jonathan Moxey (A), OL Jordan Murray (A), QB Taylor Powell (A), OL Coulter Woodmansey (N)
Toronto Argonauts
Pre-signings: DL DeWayne Hendrix (A), RB/RET Peyton Logan (A), SAM Adarius Pickett (A), OL Dakoda Shepley (N)
Agreed to terms: DB DaShaun Amos (A), DL Jonathan Kongbo (N), DB Robert Priester (A)
Reportedly departing: None
Ottawa Redblacks
Trade acquisition: LB Nyles Morgan (A)
Agreed to terms: LB A.J. Allen (N), DL Habakkuk Baldonado (G), RB Greg Bell (A), LB Brian Cole II (A), REC Ayden Eberhardt (A), DB Demerio Houston (A), DB Scott Hutter (N), QB Jake Maier (A), SAM C.J. Reavis (A)
Reportedly departing: QB Dustin Crum (A), DB Robert Priester (A)
Montreal Alouettes
Pre-signings: RET DeVonte Dedmon (A)
Agreed to terms: QB Dustin Crum (A), REC Jerreth Sterns (A)
Reportedly departing: DB Scott Hutter (N), RET James Letcher Jr. (A)
