![\"2026](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1769710928_456_FreeAgencyLogo2026-800x642.png\")
2026 CFL FREE AGENCY\u00bb\u00a0CFL Free Agent Tracker: Follow every move here<\/a>
\u00bb\u00a0A team-by-team look at 2026 CFL Free Agency<\/a>
\u00bb\u00a05 impactful free agency signings so far<\/a>
\u00bb\u00a05 free agent signings to watch in 2026<\/a>
\u00bb\u00a0More 2026 Free Agency news and analysis<\/a><\/p>\n
1. OTTAWA REDBLACKS<\/p>\n
Ryan Dinwiddie\u2019s first free agency as a general manager was definitely eventful for a man trying to build a more competitive roster for his head coach, who just so happens to be him.<\/p>\n
There was no doubt a focus on defence for the REDBLACKS as they loaded up their linebacking depth and added a few pieces to an already decent secondary.<\/p>\n
The quartet of Roughriders they brought in are all quality players for the roles they\u2019ll be asked to fill in Ottawa. But the Greg Bell<\/a> signing is significant if the offensive line can improve from last year. Does it mean wins? Ottawa made some major moves last year too and, well, we know how that went.<\/p>\n Although the most significant move of the off-season in Ottawa isn\u2019t a player. It\u2019s Ryan Dinwiddie.<\/p>\n 2. EDMONTON ELKS<\/p>\n Last year\u2019s biggest splash falls to number two<\/a>, and we can debate whether it should be three or four.<\/p>\n The signing of Malik Carney<\/a> puts them high on the list, as the Roughriders defensive end was a stud last season for the 112th Grey Cup champions and was\u00a0among the most sought-after defensive linemen in the pool.<\/p>\n Ed Hervey put in some work last year but now moves on from Tre Ford<\/a>, and this will be Cody Fajardo<\/a>\u2019s team this season with a promising backup in Taylor Powell<\/a>. Carney will improve a pass rush that needed an upgrade, while Hervey also attacked the offensive line to add depth and keep Fajardo from having to run for his life.<\/p>\n It didn\u2019t come together for Hervey last season; we\u2019ll see what this crop yields in 2026.<\/p>\n 3. WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS<\/p>\n The Bombers\u2019 splash is quality over quantity.<\/p>\n All of these signings project as instant starters in Winnipeg.<\/p>\n And they didn\u2019t lose much. Broxton opposite Stanley Bryant<\/a> is a huge upgrade. The Bombers missed Adam Bighill<\/a>, so in comes Jovan Santos-Knox. Tim White<\/a> and Tommy Nield<\/a> are big additions to a receiving corps that was missing playmakers and Canadian depth.<\/p>\n General manager Kyle Walters making a big splash to land in the top three has been rare, and maybe that\u2019s why we saw them have a drop-off last year.<\/p>\n 4. HAMILTON TIGER-CATS<\/p>\n It\u2019s hard to give them the biggest splash when their pool was drained by outgoing free agents.<\/p>\n Despite all the losses, you can see the Tiger-Cats didn\u2019t hold back in filling holes. I\u2019m just not sure we\u2019re seeing the big splashes outside of Wynton McManis and Tre Ford, and of course they don\u2019t want the latter to play.<\/p>\n It was all about depth, depth, depth for Hamilton in this free agency period. While some of these moves don\u2019t give off big-splash vibes, they might create bigger waves come November.<\/p>\n 5. TORONTO ARGONAUTS<\/p>\n The Toronto Argonauts were not as busy as I expected them to be. I thought they would try to replenish some of their losses, but they stayed quieter, which isn\u2019t necessarily a bad thing.<\/p>\n Adarius Pickett is the big piece with McManis heading to Hamilton, although that move happened well before free agency when the REDBLACKS released him. Pinball Clemons was more interested in bolstering the defensive side after giving up a league-worst 583 points.<\/p>\n I\u2019m not too sure it was enough, but we\u2019ll see how it looks come May.<\/p>\n 6. SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS<\/p>\n The Riders were picked apart in free agency after winning the Grey Cup, but general manager Jeremy O\u2019Day isn\u2019t panicking.<\/p>\n Saskatchewan will rely on two things to repeat as champions: a relatively stable offence retained from last year and Corey Mace\u2019s ability to make stars out of defensive players.<\/p>\n They lost nearly half of their starting defence through retirement or free agency. They\u2019ve done decent work patching together depth, but it will take a few unknown players stepping up to become the new playmakers, especially with Malik Carney, C.J. Reavis, and A.J. Allen out the door.<\/p>\n 7. MONTREAL ALOUETTES<\/p>\n The Alouettes were quiet again, making a modest splash by finding a new backup quarterback.<\/p>\n Montreal moved on from Austin Mack and tried to fill the hole with DeVonte Dedmon from Ottawa, who can return kicks and contribute at receiver if necessary, along with Jerreth Sterns from Winnipeg.<\/p>\n McLeod Bethel-Thompson<\/a> wasn\u2019t great as a backup, so they brought in Dustin Crum<\/a> in a move I see as adding a quarterback with a similar style to Davis Alexander. Crum is just as athletic and could mesh well with Jason Maas\u2019 system.<\/p>\n 8. BC LIONS<\/p>\n The BC Lions jumped into the pool before the contest even started.<\/p>\n The Lions made no signings this week, but they added two major pieces from players released earlier this winter. Sankey and Sayles are massive additions for a defence that was a few plays, maybe just one, away from reaching the Grey Cup.<\/p>\n 9. CALGARY STAMPEDERS<\/p>\n After last year\u2019s big splash, it was a pretty calm week for the Stampeders.<\/p>\n Dejon Brissett had a career year with Toronto but still finished under 1,000 receiving yards. He\u2019s a strong ratio depth piece for Calgary\u2019s offence, while Devodric Bynum is a fly-under-the-radar signing to bolster the defence.<\/p>\n It seems Dave Dickenson was willing to be a little more patient with his roster this winter after all the headlines he made last year.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The CFL annually has a deep pool of free agents. 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