With the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ Grey Cup win now in the rear-view mirror, all the attention has turned to the next big event on the CFL calendar, free agency.
The communication window, during which teams can openly speak with pending free agents, doesn’t open until Feb. 1, while free agency itself is slated to open on Feb.10.
Each team has a number of pending free agents who will need to be brought back, but three months out, there are players that stand out above the rest that each team must try to bring back before free agency opens.
BC Lions – WR Keon Hatcher Sr.
Keon Hatcher Jayden Dalke Keon Hatcher BC Lions Jayden Dalke Saskatchewan Roughriders
Hatcher was the best receiver in the CFL this season, bar none, getting it done in a multitude of ways while leading the league in receiving yards with 1,688.
That also happens to be the best mark in nearly a decade, coming close to Adarius Bowman’s 1,761-yard mark for the then-Edmonton Eskimos in 2016.
The 31-year-old also led the league in catches (102) and was second in touchdowns (nine), and has racked up nearly 5,000 yards in his five seasons on the west coast.
While the Lions do have a talented receiving group outside of Hatcher, it would be silly to let a perennial 1,000-yard guy go after what we have seen from his connection with quarterback Nathan Rourke.
Honourable mentions: Jarell Broxton, James Butler, and Jonah Tavai
Edmonton Elks – QB Cody Fajardo
The Elks feature the fewest number of pending free agents with 18 players set to hit the open market, none more important than Fajardo.
The pivot completely turned the Elks’ season around when he became the starter after the team started 1-4. Fajardo went 6-7 as a starter and took care of the ball, posting the second-highest completion percentage (73.2) and second-fewest interceptions (seven) among qualified passers to go along with 3,408 yards and 14 touchdowns.
That final 13-game stretch was the best the team has looked post-pandemic, and the 33-year-old was a massive reason why.
Honourable mentions: Jake Ceresna, Kurleigh Gittens Jr., and Kobe Williams
Calgary Stampeders – DT Jaylon Hutchings
In his first full year starting in the CFL, Hutchings was fantastic for a much-improved Stampeders team that returned to the playoffs after their 18-year playoff streak was snapped in 2024.
The 25-year-old led all defensive tackles in basically every stat, including sacks (eight), pressures (56), pressure rate (11.6), and tackles (39).
Simply put, he was a force all season, and the only way Calgary should not bring him back this offseason is if the NFL comes calling.
Honourable mentions: Dedrick Mills, Clarence Hicks, and Bryce Bell
Saskatchewan Roughriders – QB Trevor Harris
Trevor Harris Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Trevor Harris (7) throws while taking on the Montreal Alouettes during first half CFL football action at the 112th Grey Cup, in Winnipeg on Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn (FRANK GUNN/THE CANADIAN PRESS)
Of course, the reigning Grey Cup MVP has to be on a list like this after leading the Riders to the best overall record in the CFL (fifth time in franchise history) and a championship win.
The 39-year-old veteran put together one of the best seasons of his 13-year CFL career to the tune of 4,549 yards (third), 24 touchdowns (fourth), and only 11 interceptions while leading the league in completion percentage (73.6).
All indications have pointed to Harris will either be back with the Roughriders or ride off into the sunset and retire after finally capturing a Grey Cup as a starter.
Honourable mentions: Tevaughn Campbell, Jermarcus Hardrick, Malik Carney
Winnipeg Blue Bombers – RB Brady Oliveira
Oliveira has embodied what the Blue Bombers represent, and while it’s hard to see the hometown kid leaving, the two sides still have to put pen to paper.
The 28-year-old running back has been fantastic over the last four seasons, logging nearly 7,000 yards from scrimmage and 25 touchdowns, claiming the MOP award, back-to-back Most Outstanding Canadian awards, and two All-CFL nominations along the way.
In 2025, despite missing three games with a shoulder injury early in the year, Oliveira led the league in scrimmage yards (1,709) and yards per carry (5.8), while sitting second in receptions amongst backs (61).
Honourable mentions: Nic Demski, Evan Holm, and Deatrick Nichols
Hamilton Tiger-Cats – QB Bo Levi Mitchell
Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell Hamilton Tiger-Cats quarterback Jake Dolegala (15) throws a pass during first half CFL eastern final football action against the Montreal Alouettes, in Hamilton, Ont., Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn (Frank Gunn/THE CANADIAN PRESS)
Similar to Harris in Saskatchewan, the question is more about whether Mitchell’s storied career will come to an end rather than if he will return to the hammer.
If he does decide to hang ‘em up, it won’t be because of his play, as the 35-year-old quarterback has been a Most Outstanding Player finalist the past two seasons.
After establishing a Tiger-Cats franchise record and a new personal-best 5,451 passing yards in 2024, he followed it up by leading the league in passing yards (5,296) and touchdowns (36) in 2025.
The back-to-back MOP finalist should be the No.1 focus for the Tiger-Cats this off-season.
Honourable mentions: Julian Howsare, Brandon Revenberg, and Stavros Katsantonis
Toronto Argonauts – LB Wynton McManis
After a disappointing 2025 season that saw Toronto finish 5-13 and miss the playoffs following their Grey Cup victory in 2024, the good news is that Toronto has very few pending free agents, with the majority of the impact players under contract.
Among the 20 pending players to hit the market, McManis clearly stands out as the most important guy Toronto should look to bring back.
The 31-year-old linebacker is a two-time All-CFL member (2022 and 2023) and has put up 297 tackles, 12 sacks, nine interceptions, and three touchdowns in 55 games as an Argonaut since 2022.
Honourable mentions: Dejon Brissett, Benjie Franklin, and DaVaris Daniels
Ottawa Redblacks – LB Adarius Pickett
Arguably the best strong-side linebacker in the CFL over the past couple of seasons, Pickett was one of the few bright spots on the Redblacks’ defence in 2025.
The 29-year-old stuffed the stat sheet, finishing with 98 tackles (fifth), five tackles for loss (fourth), two sacks, two fumble recoveries, and one interception.
New Redblacks head coach and general manager Ryan Dinwiddie has coached Pickett in Toronto in 2023, so a reunion could be in the works.
Honourable mentions: Justin Hardy, Bralon Addison, and Jovan Santos-Knox
Montreal Alouettes – WR Tyson Philpot
Tyson Philpot Montreal Alouettes wide receiver Tyson Philpot (6) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers during the second half of football action at the 110th CFL Grey Cup in Hamilton, Ont., on Sunday, November 19, 2023. Canadian wide receiver Philpot has signed a one-year contract extension with the Alouettes. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press)
The Alouettes came up just short in the Grey Cup, and Philot was a big reason why the team got there in the first place.
Despite only playing in 12 games, the Delta, B.C., native put up career-highs across the board in yards (804), touchdowns (five), and catches (61) in 2025.
Philpot is also a playoff performer, catching the winning touchdown for the Alouettes in the 2023 Grey Cup, claiming the game’s Most Valuable Canadian award in the process. In eight postseason contests, Philpot has put up 47 catches for 557 yards and four total touchdowns.
The 25-year-old and quarterback Davis Alexander showed great chemistry together, and it would make sense to bring a young, talented, and proven Canadian wideout back into the fold.
Honourable mentions: Marc-Antoine Dequoy, Pier-Olivier Lestage, and Darnell Sankey