3 takeaways from Mark Kilam's Winter Meetings availability

CHARLOTTE, NC — Mark Kilam knows the importance of football in Alberta.

The now head coach of the Edmonton Elks spent more than a decade with the Calgary Stampeders, winning three Grey Cups and contributing to one of the most successful runs in league history.


This is a companion discussion topic for the original entry at https://www.cfl.ca/2025/01/19/3-takeaways-from-mark-kilams-winter-meetings-availability
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“The Elks have worked in the off-season to extend the contract of some of their key players,”

I guess 3 is some…slightly better than 10% even…

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Well that ain’t far different from most teams so far.
I would suggest it is also
mainly because the new regime wants to do a rebuild of players

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“Takeaways”, what was it a food order?

True. Hamilton hasn’t re-signed any on the CFL list, Argos 1 & Stamps 5. There is still just over 3 weeks to go. What we all don’t know is how close teams are to signing players, are there verbal agreements etc… Also some teams may send off signed contracts to be registered with the league in bunches.

This year it appears a bunch of teams are also looking at trades more than in years past. BC has been actively exploring trades & has to make some decisions on their receivers, what with having a quartet at, or looking at, $200K plus - not doable with the Rourke contract. We’ve already seen big trades involving the Stamps, Elks, Argos & Als. I would not be surprised if we see a few more. And when veteran players are released, they aren’t unemployed long - Dillon Mitchell & Stanback recent examples

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I wouldn’t doubt some of it is “checking market value” that usually happens.

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You know the Elks better than I do. But of the 28 FA’s still o/s, my list would say you have to sign 9 - Bratton, Foucault, Gray, Hutter, Tevin Jones (assuming Lewis is gone), Morgan, Oakman, Richards, maybe Prukop. That’s not to say the rest should be let go but, for me, those are the key guys.

you would think at least some are…This feels more and more like yet another rebuild.

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Far cry from the NFL where 100 million dollar contracts happen routinely

Some CFL fans are super obtuse and whiney, but fans in Edmonton take the bitching and complaining to new heights.

Mark Kilam makes a key point in this article, “We’re really proud of the Jordan Maksymic hire on offence because he has a ton of experience developing high-end quarterbacks … showing an ability to mold his offence to different skillsets and abilities."

This isn’t hockey folks, in football coaching REALLY matters!

Kilam is clearly saying Maksymic will fit the offense to Dual-Threat QB Tre Ford’s skills and abilities which means a Smashmouth RPO Horizontal Spread offense which shifts the supporting personnel. It is bloody obvious!

If you need confirmation just look at the Tre Odoms-Dukes SB 6’3 216 signing and ask does he seem like a CFL TE type? Answer: YES!

Name: DeVontres Dukes
College: South Florida Number: 18
School Bio/Stats Link: HERE
Height: 6-3 Weight: 216
Position: Pos2: SS/OLB ← LB mentality
Class/Draft Year: rSr/2021
40: 4.74 ← Not Fast
225 Lb. Bench Reps: 16 <-Strong Upper Body
Broad Jump: 10’02" <-Strong Legs

Full expect OC Maksymic to smashmouth defences with a big powerful O Line & Receivers to give Ford, Rankin and Leake running room to suck in the defense.

The CFL system is set up to do the opposite. No really it is.

I get Free agency yeah!!! - Surprise!! All anyone is offering is what I am making already? Or less?

Negotiation window opens 2 weeks today … The actual opening of FA on Feb 11 will be somewhat anticlimactic

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