Ahh grades. The essential form of evaluation. Well, not so much. This is all opinion and everyone’s is different by margins as wide as the prairies or great lakes.
How on earth does Calgary get an A- for free agency? They did nothing but hemorrhage quality players, and the guys they’ve signed have been largely spare parts (Antwi, Jones). Damon Webb is probably their best signing, but if Marshall thinks Dom Rhymes could be an all-star again, I don’t know. 
Ferguson also keeps hinting or implying that MBT will take over as the starter in Montreal, which is starting to feel weird and either borderline disrespectful to Davis Alexander – who had a great 2024 in limited starter duty – or evidence that he’s not following the team closely enough to have a more informed opinion. Because Alexander IS the starter. Not just in name, in reality. And of the departing players Ferguson mentions, only Stubblefield was important – and we don’t even know whether he’ll be the same player he was before the injury. Lyon and White ended the season on the PR. Gagnon was the weakest link on the O-line. KJG was good for ratio but his numbers never lived up to his potential.
People are really underestimating how big the Peyton Logan signing is for the Bombers.
There are two ways to score on special teams:
While some teams had guys like DeVonte Dedmon, James Letcher Jr., and Janarion Grant, the Bombers had… checks notes Kody Case, Myron Mitchell, and Lucky Whitehead.
They were very lucky that their coverage unit led the CFL in turnovers on special teams, forcing a league-high five. Off the top of my head, at least two of those led to touchdowns.
Janarion Grant was a massive reason the Argos made it all the way to the Grey Cup. He’s a punter’s worst nightmare on every single play. But beyond that, he’s an energy power bank for the whole special teams unit. Guys love blocking for him. They want to see him bring every kick to the house and it energizes the whole team.
Winnipeg didn’t have that guy last year.
Peyton Logan was, without a doubt, the best free-agent returner available with Dedmon, Letcher, and Grant staying put. Adding him to their special teams unit is a huge win, and I can almost guarantee their average starting field position in 2025 will be better than it was in 2024.
This is of course all just early speculation and no matter what anyone thinks a team did or didn’t do, we won’t know until the games are played.
I agree that Calgary appears to have been given far too high of a grade. They were arguably the worst team in the league last year and did little except add Adams prior to free agency. A big improvement, but the only clear cut one they made.
Hamilton and Edmonton appear to have improved the most, but that should be expected of two teams who missed the playoffs again last year.
Winnipeg and Toronto would appear to have lost the most, but that would be expected of the two best teams of the last several years. I remember that this happened last year too and after they were both written off, they turned out to be the two best teams in the league again.
Ottawa has improved some, but they also had a long way to go up as well. It appears that BC and Montreal appear to be treading water, not terrible and not great.
As the Bombers reminded us last year, the real league doesn’t start until Labour Day so a long way to go. We’ll see.
I also thought that was a bit odd lol Everything the Als are doing proves to me that Alexander is their guy in 2025.
Argos get B-? Should be an F. Kept Grant and McManis, but lost their whole defensive line and half their defensive backs and signed no one of significance. All losses and no gains. Could be a long year for them.
Edmonton is the runaway favourite at this point for “winning” free agency. It doesn’t always translate to wins. However, it was obvious they had a strategy. They weren’t just spending haphazardly. Bringing over 3/4 of the best DL in 2024 AND the guy who coached them, Maxie - the D scheme & familiarity with each other is there. Metchie, Williams, Middlemost & Grace all played ST’s with Kilam. Beard’s played with Korte & both are Chris Morris’ alumni. What’s been talked about most from CFL insiders is the influx of CDN talent. The Elks will start 3 on OL plus Ford, Gittens & Julien-Grant on Offence. Ford, Metchie, Smith & Rugama on D brings the National starters to 10. All of them are 26-28 except Beard who’s 31. Yeah - Elk fans should be ecstatic. Could use another receiver & need a FG kicker.
What I like about BC is the OL additions. This is a team who’s OL ranked last in every category rated by PFF. Allen’s addition is big & Foucault was VG last year so, fingers crossed, they get another year out of the 36 year old, They have some REALLY big receivers with Ryson John coming aboard. Need a returner.
The Stamps look like they’re in full rebuild. They got Adams some weapons with a trio of good WR’s. But their D, overall, IMO needs a lot of work. If Bighill finds employment this year, this is probably where he’ll go.
Not a Rider fan but they are improved @ QB & in the back end IMO. But not much behind their 2 older starting DT’s other than Dabire. McEwen a great signing allowing Ferland to stay @G. Totally agree with your comments.
IMO the Bombers haven’t been the worst team to date in FA. Peyton Logan is a top end returner & a decent backup RB. It probably spells the end of Augustine. My biggest beef with the Bombers is that they did nothing to address their OL. The one change happened to be losing the youngest guy, an All-Star. Not much depth there - Eli, Randolph, Vanderpool & Wallace have less than a dozen starts between them. But there is potential @ WR beyond the top 2 & their run game should be top notch. I’d say get Chungh back but he’s not great @ pass protection. Or Richards who did well last year - give Wallace another year to develop.
I don’t think I would say that.
FA Acquisitions/re-signings include;
Others I’m missing I’m sure, but I’m pretty happy with this group.
Rugumba is the Nationalized American.
I haven’t talked about the East but IMO the Als are the team to beat. Ottawa has started completely fresh @ DB, we all know what’s happening in T.O. & the TiCats look to be the top offence in the league again but their D is…well, not so great.
The Als are a well-rounded team on both sides of the ball. I don’t know what to make of the 3 teams behind them & how they’ll end up but I don’t see anyone that’s going to challenge the Als for 1st - at this point.
Hats off to Ed Hervey for making splash in free agency and giving hope Edmonton can return to glory in 2025.
Of course Ferguson doesn’t seem to have a foggy clue what Saskatchewan did prior to official free agency when they added some big pieces. Sean Mceown and Khalil Laborn today Ferguson. Over all a pretty sloppy article as per usual.
The Elksimo way right? Cheating.
Wait for it. Hervey has a way of destroying players and teams.
Indeed. Danny Maciocia was clear about it when they re-signed him, and that was before Fajardo was traded! And this isn’t the first time Ferguson has done this song and dance. I wish he’d take some of the enthusiasm he has for other young QBs in the league (Ford, Rourke, Brown) and send it Alexander’s way. Sure, Davis is young and has a lot to prove, but the guy came in and 4-0 as a starter in 2024 in the same year his dad was basically dying of cancer. Did everything he had to do, led the team, made the throws, and helped Charleston Rambo have a breakout rookie year.
It will be Alexander’s fourth year with the team and third in Maas’s system. They think he’s ready, and I believe them.
Argos got weaker in free agency, as well losing Orimolade, in addition to Hollie along with free agents Brinkman Smith and Ceresna then only signing CHristmas and Haba?
Calgary same thing… Losing Rose is inexplicable, Shaw, now Houston, and Awe and only signing 3 starters Orimolade, Webb and Moncrief, even with addition of Adams they didnt do nearly enough for a losing team
Dave Dickenson said there would be significant changes this year. He has done just that. Are those changes going to really improve the Stampeders this year in the standings? I believe they will, and yes there is still some building on the Defense still to come with the CFL and GLOBAL daft which Calgary has 1st pick. But what we see on paper does not always translate accurately on the field of play. I for one am hopeful. And other fans should worry more about their team.
Curious what you think of the riders, they’re the only team you didn’t mention. Genuine question, not being sarcastic.
My thoughts are they did a very good job retaining who they wanted, signing outside of free agency, and had less need come free agency. My view might be tinged a shade of green though
Hamilton, Winnipeg and Sask deserve a higher grade. Calgary a lower one.
And us fans deserve better articles. These guys are always so vanilla.
Calgary has been a SOLID organization for decades - - so I don’t expect them to ‘wallow’ in the basement of the league for too long. I prefer a competitive Stamps team (even though I’m an Edmonton fan). The Elks haven’t been a good team since 2018 - - and so I have missed the hard fought ‘battle of Alberta’ games! Sure hope you don’t have to suffer for 6 years! 