Free agency can be a funny thing. At times a team has its work cut out for it when trying to sign a player. Numerous phone calls take place, offers are made and then must be increased when a bidding war erupts between two or more teams.

Sometimes the player comes to you. That was the case with offensive lineman Dakoda Shepley, who signed with the Toronto Argonauts on January 27th, a few days before the CFL free agency period opened.

“His agent called Pinball (general manager Michael Clemons) and wanted to investigate Toronto,” Argos director of player personnel Jim Barker recalled for Argonauts.ca. “Pinball contacted me to contact the agent. I did, and shortly thereafter he was coming to Toronto.”

After a year in Saskatchewan, then six more seasons with San Francisco, Seattle, and Dallas in the NFL, why did the Windsor native decide to come back to Ontario?

“There’s lots of reasons,” Shepley told Argonauts.ca. “They won the Grey Cup in ’24 and had a lot of setbacks in ’25, so I feel that championship DNA is there. I liked the conversations I had with Coach (Mike) Miller and his philosophy, his background, his mindset as a coach, and what he expects from the players.”

It wasn’t just the football checklist that was ticked, but the move made sense from an off-field perspective as well.

“I’m from Windsor, so (it’s important) being back in Ontario and close to my family,” Shepley explained. “My wife and I just had a baby, so being able to play somewhere where it’s easily accessible for my family.”

The Argos didn’t just have interest in the UBC product because he’s a good family man, they like what he’ll be able to bring to the team on the field. He’s 6’4”, 306 pounds, and plays an extremely physical game.

Barker said his heart “skipped a beat” when he got the call that Shepley was interested in signing with the Argos.

“I’m an o-line guy,” Barker explained. “We looked at it as he was the best guy available in free agency, so when Pinball called my thought was why not go get the best guy? And we did.”

Again, the story runs a little deeper than that. It’s not just the talent that Shepley brings to Toronto, there’s a boatload of intangibles that are a part of the overall package.

“He’s got a maturity about him that will be really good for us,” said Barker. “I think he’s at a point in his career where he understands all the things off the field he can bring to our organization. He’ll have some young linemen around him and it’s important to have guys like him and Ryan Hunter around.”

Hunter joined the Argos midway through the 2022 season. He brought a Super Bowl ring and plentiful talent to solidify the o-line. His substantial impact helped the Argos win the Grey Cup that season. Shepley didn’t win a Lombardi Trophy in his NFL journey but is proud of the half-dozen years he spent there.

“I have a lot of pride in the career I carved out in the NFL,” said the 31-year-old. “One of the first things they tell you when you get to the NFL is that the average career is three years. Having a six-year career and having played on the same team and across from guys who are going to be wearing yellow jackets (going to the Hall of Fame) and having been in the offensive line room with literal offensive line royalty.

“I mean, Trent Williams, and Zack Martin, and Tyron Smith, and Duane Brown, being able to learn from them and really observe how they operate and the standard that they play to is invaluable. It’s helped me as a player, but more importantly as a young man and as a professional.”

It’s been a while since Shepley last played in the CFL. In 2019 he was a rookie, playing tackle, and proving that he was worthy of the Riders using the fifth-overall pick in the draft on him. He’s obviously grown as a player and person since then but says his best attributes from then haven’t changed.

“I feel like I play with the same level of physicality, and attitude, and strain, and finish,” Shepley explained. “But from a mental aspect, I think that the development and the progress that I’ve made as a football player who understands the game. Obviously, I’m better than I was seven years ago, but the value that I bring now really lies in my knowledge of the game and what I bring to the position and what I can bring to the room with those years of experience under my belt.”

Shepley’s enthusiasm is contagious. He’s anxiously awaiting the opportunity to get on the field and prove his worth. He says his days as a tackle may be behind him but feels he can best help the team at either right guard or center. Peter Nicastro has been an all-star at center, but equally effective at right guard, where he played in 2023.

While not etched in stone, it would appear the interior of the Argos offensive line would feature Shepley, Nicastro, and Hunter, with Shepley bringing an additional dose of talent and physicality to the group.