Monday Morning Sentimonies: Free Agent Focus

Good news week for the Riders as they announced contract extensions for two key members of the defense. Tevaughn Campbell gets a one year extension. He was slated to be a free agent but based on his own comments was more likely heading to retirement before being lured back by the prospect of running it back. Jameer Thurman got one year added to his deal and is now under contract through 2027. 

These two contracts add to the growing list of good moves O’Day has been making since the Grey Cup party dies down. Harris, Hardrick, Stevens, Emilus, Sanders, Dalke, Ford and Hudon. While there is still a lot of work to do, the roster is honestly in pretty good shape. With a couple exceptions, if we were forced to start the season today I would feel pretty good about the team. Now of course while “pretty good” may cut it for lesser franchises like the Bombers and RedBlacks, the standard is much higher here. 

With that in mind let’s take a look at what I think the remaining priorities for O’Day are.

 1 – Jorgen Hus

Hear me out on this. I know long snapper is far from the highest profile position. They don’t make the highlight reel and most of the time most of you probably even forget Hus is on the field. But that’s the point. You do not want to notice your long snapper. If you do, it’s a very bad thing. Hus has been here since 2015 and the only thing he has missed less than games over that decade is snaps. Honesly ask yourself the last bad snap you remember. He is the best at what he does. At 36 he obviously can’t play forever but the prospect of not having an automatic snapper is not something I want to deal with this year. Put some respect on Hus’ name. Much like Campbell I am sure he is contemplating retirement. 

2 – Defensive Ends

This is the one position that we currently have a hole at. Carney, Ray, Baldonado and Korte-Moore (pretty much every End who has recorded a sack under Mace) remains pending free agents and we don’t have anyone waiting in the wings. You can’t win without an impact edge. Carney and Baldonado are obviously the primary targets but both will be looking for significant raises. As a global player, I think Baldonado’s pay was so low he may have been paying the CFL to play. I do expect at least one person to be signed before free agency opens. I also expect Ray may be done here. 

3 – AJ Allen

There are 3 keys to sustained success in the CFL: QB play, strong play on both sides of the line and Canadian depth. Allen worked his way up the hard way from 3^rd round draft pick, to token Canadian special teamer, to rotational defensive player to impact starter. A true success story in terms of drafting and development. But success of course means Allen wants to be paid like a starter not a special teamer (and rightly so). This one will be interesting because you could in theory go back to CJ Avery at that spot at a fraction of the price. But a team that wants to have the option of an American safety or multiple American OLs needs Canadians like Allen elsewhere. I want to keep him. He is such smart player, just always in the right spot and often making impact plays. 

4 – CJ Reavis

Speaking of impact defenders, Reavis is one of the few remaining guys not yet locked up. His versatility is a big asset in a Mace defense. He can play LB he can bump back to safety (where he will spend half his time yelling at Fields for being out of position). Obviously we want him back. But again we have other options. We could go back to Canadian safety. Brooks can play the LB spot. While we want Reavis it won’t be a blank cheque to get him back. 

5 – The Sentimentals

I am thinking primarily of Baker and Ouelette here. I am actually surprised Ouelette hasn’t signed yet (I assumed him and Harris were a package deal). Either way these 2 players present interesting conundrums for O’Day. These are heart and soul guys that you want on your team. They are playmakers. It would kill me to see either in another colour. But with finite financial resources, RB is the most replaceable position in football and we have a lot of good Canadian WRs already so this is far from a priority in terms of spending. I really hope O’Day can find a way to make the numbers work. But if he doesn’t I understand.