December 31, 2019
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The Canadian Football League off-season movers & shakers

Although there’s still some time to go until the 2020 CFL season begins in June, fans and sportsbook experts are watching intently for any off-season activity among the nine competing franchises. This offseason is expected to be a busy period of coaching changes and free agent negotiations.

Although the free agency period does not officially begin until February 11, 2020, an important change made to the latest Collective Bargaining Agreement between the CFL and the CFL Players’ Association may allow players and teams to negotiate potential deals prior to that date. This is quite a significant change; in the past, players and teams could only negotiate once that free agency period began.

Likewise, the 2020 salary cap has been increased to $5.3 million per team. However, while general managers will have more cash to work with, two factors may dilute the value of that increase. First, individual minimum salaries will be raised to $65,000 compared to $53,000 in 2019, and secondly, all future CFL Draft picks will be subject to a pay scale for the first time ahead of the 2020 season.

Having been introduced for the 2019 season, in 2020 each CFL team will be allowed two “global” designation players on their active roster, along with provision for three more on their practice roster. This comes following further scouting expansion by the CFL in Europe, Japan and Mexico, with combines due to be held in seven countries.

Successful players from these combines will be eligible for selection in the 2020 CFL Global Draft, due to take place in April 2020.

Repeat success for the Blue Bombers?

Still less than a month since the Winnipeg Blue Bombers defeated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, concluding and exciting 2019 season to become the Grey Cup champions for the first time since 1990, ending one of the longest championship droughts in Canadian gridiron, their exploits highlight the importance of a strong off-season campaign.

Building on continued progress with Mike O’Shea as head coach and Kyle Walters as general manager, both heading into their sixth seasons of leadership, the Blue Bombers also made pivotal additions to their roster which attracted attention ahead of the 2019 campaign, making them an outside tip for Grey Cup in the annual CFL Media Poll amongst leading sports journalists and experts.

Most agreed that landing defensive end Willie Jefferson was a big addition to the roster, along with other notable incorporations. They also underscored the importance of linebacker Adam Bighill signing a new contract extension, making him the highest paid defensive player in the CFL after winning the 2018 Most Outstanding Defensive Player award.

After what turned out to be an excellent 2019 season, whether the Blue Bombers can repeat their Grey Cup will depend largely on what they do during the off-season, particularly given they have more than 20 players with expiring contracts, meaning there’s plenty of negotiating ahead for GM Walters.

These potential free agents include Willie Jefferson after his outstanding season, along with key components such as tackle Stanley Bryant and defensive back Winston Rose, not to mention all three quarterbacks, Zach Collaros, Sean McGuire and Chris Streveler. Other franchises will undoubtedly have ambitions to lure any of them away. With one sportsbook offering shorter CFL betting odds to win the 2020 Grey Cup compared to last season, the Blue Bombers will need to retain the core of their championship winning side, if they’re to meet expectations.

Can the Tiger-Cats take the next leap?

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats were the outstanding team throughout the 2019 CFL regular season thanks to a 15-3 record that ranks as the best in franchise history. Their impressive campaign also included an untouchable 10-0 home record as well as the highest points per game average in the league and the fewest points allowed over 18 games.

After comfortably defeating the Edmonton Eskimos in the East Final, the Ticats were eventually denied an expected Grey Cup victory by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, a team they had soundly beaten home and away during the regular season. Following what was otherwise a great season, they will be keen to not only retain their best performing players from 2019, but also strengthen their roster for the 2020 campaign ahead.

Making things even more challenging for Tiger-Cats GM’s Drew Allemang and Shawn Burke, they currently have more than thirty pending free agents up for contract renewal, according to the most recent data via the official CFL 2020 Free Agent Tracker. Undoubtedly, head coach Orlando Stienauer will be keen to maintain the core of his excellent 2019 roster, replacing those who do leave with better options and draft additions.

The key off-season activity elsewhere

Along with plenty of expected action during the off-season from the 2019 Grey Cup finalists, there’s also going to be plenty of activity elsewhere, including a CFL coaching

merry-go-round ahead of the 2020 season. Paul LaPolice was appointed as head coach of the Ottawa Redbacks on December 7, replacing Rick Campbell who had resigned in November and has since taken the vacant BC Lions post, even though their owner David Braley is still looking to sell the franchise.

Meanwhile, the head coach job at the Edmonton Eskimos is still vacant after Jason Maas was relieved of his duties at the end of November 2019, having held the post since December 2015. There have been reports that Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback coach Scott Milanovic is amongst the favourites to land the job. The Eskimos have apparently also interviewed Kevin Guy, who is currently head coach of the Arizona Rattlers, an Indoor Football League squad he’s led since 2008.

Finally, having been owned and managed by the CFL since prior to the 2019 season, the Montreal Alouettes may finally secure new ownership by the end of 2019. The franchise is also looking for a new general manager. An appointment at this position could bring a host of changes on and off the field in the New Year, with the new leadership apparently keen to shake things up in Montreal.

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