Among Hamilton’s recent cuts is their 2023 1st-round (6th overall) draft pick, OL Dayton Black.
That organization has been brutal at the draft in the last ten years.
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I expect Goveia will change that.
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Yeah he was one I was pointing out. Must be a story there. Seems like they are giving up on him pretty quickly.
He’s had some injury trouble, I think. But yeah, always an eyebrow-raiser to see a first-round pick get cut by the team that drafted him so quickly. Having said that, neither the current HC nor the current GM had a hand in drafting Black, so it may just be a case of them moving on from someone they don’t feel is worth the investment. (in other words, they probably wouldn’t have drafted him 6th overall)
Edit: from what Cats fans are saying, it seems like he spent 2024 stashed on the 1-game but not necessarily legit injured. So it looks like Hervey & co. were not impressed with him as a prospect and just cut bait.
Un article du 14/05 dans CFL.ca, , Calgary a signé Tomas Jack-Kurdyla N garde, une bonne acquisition pour la ligne offensive de Calgary.
Un article du 15/05 sur CFL.ca, sur six (6) ajustements acceptés par les gouverneurs de la CFL pour la saison 2025.
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This is kind of funny. 
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Une acquisition de taille d’un joueur N pour la ligne offensive des Argonauts.
https://3downnation.com/2025/05/17/canadian-receiver-nick-mardner-carted-off-the-field-with-injury-during-ottawa-redblacks-scrimmage-report/
Mauvaise nouvelle pour les RB.
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East Division: Two Areas of Strength for Every Team
Toronto
- Offensive line. Whether pass-blocking or run-blocking, Toronto’s strength has been on the offensive line for the past few years, and that should continue. No team excels at getting the RB to the second level before first tackle like the Argos. With veterans like Darius Ciraco, Dylan Giffen, and Ryan Hunter, expect Toronto to be efficient on offence no matter who’s under centre.
- Explosives. Whether it’s a top-notch receiving corps led by Davaris Daniels, Damonte Coxie, David Ungerer, and Kevin Mital, Janarion’s Grant’s big-play potential on kick returns, or the ball-hawking of veteran DBs like Ciante Evans, Quincy Mauger, and Tarvaris McFadden, the Argos can flip a game on its head with one explosive play at a moment’s notice.
Hamilton
- QB. Giving arguably the league’s top QB yet another weapon in Kenny Lawler is bad news for defences. Expect Bo to tear it up again in 2025 behind a solid O-line and bolstered by a renewed commitment to running the ball. Could Bo hit 5000 passing yards against in 2025? Don’t bet against it.
- Deep ball coverage. DaShaun Amos, Jamal Peters, and (when healthy) Reggie Stubblefield will dramatically improve a Hamilton secondary that struggled mightily to take away the explosive pass play in 2024.
Ottawa
- Pass rush. Not a front-seven anyone wants to see. Between Lorenzo Mauldin, Bryce Carter, and Michael Wakefield, to say nothing of a healthy Adarius Pickett blitzing off the edge, Ottawa’s front will make life miserable for opposing QBs.
- Second-year starter. With a second year in Tommy Condell’s system, Dru Brown should be more at ease directing Ottawa’s offence and in a position to build on his promising 2024 QB1 debut. The addition of Geno Lewis gives Brown a veteran game-breaker who can come down with the 50/50 balls Brown will need to throw in order to keep Ottawa’s offence consistently productive.
Montreal
- Defensive versatility. With a variety of multidimensional players at his disposal, including tweener DL Lwal Uguak, jack LB Geoffrey Cantin-Arku, and 2024 DPOW contender Tyrice Beverette, defensive coordinator Noel Thorpe is in a strong position to confuse enemy offences with exotic looks, fronts, and disguised pressures.
- Receiver weapons. Possibly the deepest receiving corps in the division, with a healthy Austin Mack flanked by second-year pro Charleston Rambo, star Canadian wideout Tyson Philpot, and the underrated Cole Spieker. Tyler Snead will also be looking to flash his 2023 rookie form after an injury-plagued 2024. And then there’s Walter Fletcher, who’s as dangerous as a short-range receiver as he is on the ground. Davis Alexander will have lots of targets to choose from.
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East Division: Two Areas of Concern for Every Team
Toronto
- QB depth. With Chad Kelly still recovering from a broken leg, it will be up to journeyman Nick Arbuckle to show that his 2024 Grey Cup performance wasn’t just a flash in the pan. If Arbuckle struggles, Cameron Dukes isn’t going to strike fear in any defence’s heart.
- Defensive makeover. A mass exodus of impact players combined with a new co-DC in Jason Shivers might lead to a tough first half of the season as the unit tries to get on the same page.
Hamilton
- CanCon. Outside of their O-line, it’s hard to see much standout Canadian talent in who the Cats are starting. If Drew Wolitarsky and Brendan O’Leary-Orange are national starters on your roster, it’s a sign that your Canadian talent needs an upgrade.
- Defensive front six. While Hamilton is vastly improved on the backend, no secondary in the league is going to be effective if the front can’t pressure the QB. Tyjuan Garbutt may continue to progress, and veterans Casey Sayles and Julian Howsare will add experience, but on paper, there are no game-breakers to be seen in this group, with linebacker remaining a particular point of uncertainty. New DC Brent Monson will have to hope a breakout star can be found in the talent brought in by new GM Ted Goveia.
Ottawa
- QB protection. In 2024, Ottawa was forced to use all four of its QBs due to injury. In 2025, the offensive line will have to do a better job of keeping Dru Brown, Dustin Crum, and Matt Shiltz upright.
- Secondary. On paper, this group is inexperienced and underwhelming. New DC Willie Fields had better hope that his pass rush can get to the enemy QB. Otherwise, his secondary could get exposed for big gains in the air.
Montreal
- New QB1. No denying that turning the keys over to fourth-year pro Davis Alexander is what GM Danny Maciocia describes as a “calculated risk.” With his cannon arm, mobility, and resilience, Alexander certainly has the tools to shine, but it may take him half a season to be consistent under centre, now that enemy defences will be studying his film and breaking down his tendencies and tells.
- Run game. Is this the year that head coach / de facto OC Jason Maas makes a serious commitment to running the ball? One would think that leaning on the run would be the way to go with a young QB under centre, but Maas has historically never run the ball more than the bare minimum. If the Als let themselves become a one-dimensional passing team, they could face problems down the stretch and in the playoffs, where the intensity and cold weather usually demand production on the ground.
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J’espère que J. Maas et A. Calvillo vont lire ce commentaire et peut-être une surprise:
En 1994 Cours Forrest …..en 2025 Cours Walter.
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Love your analyses. Always good for a 2nd look before final predictions prior to start of the regular season. I pretty much see it the same way but don’t necessarily express it so well or so concisely. 
An interesting comment from Milanovich earlier this year when asked about the lack of a run game. He said that, with only 2 cracks at getting a 1st down, you may want to pass more often if your QB is a dropback passer. If you alternate TOO often, it doesn’t allow a passing QB to necessarily get in a rhythm.
A little nugget for you for those who doubt Philpot’s talent. PFF released their 2025 Pre-Season All Stars. This comment on Philpot:
"He was on pace for 116 catches, 1,572 yards and 10 touchdowns, all of which would have led the league. His 22 missed tackles forced ranked fourth despite playing in just eight full games.
The Montreal receiver averaged 2.32 yards per route run and 6.4 yards after the catch per reception, both the highest marks in the league among receivers with at least 300 snaps."
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During a recent interview Mass said he had zero intention to changing anything. He expects Alexander to run his offense.
The two teams who went to the GC last years had the top production running the ball. This allowed them to control the clock at will.
Winnipeg = 2010 yards
Toronto = 2172 yards
Meanwhile Montreal generated 1432 yards on the ground.
I don’t expect any changes from Maas. He is really stubborn. While 700 yards might not look like much. Pass production between the three teams is almost identical Winnipeg: 4683 MTL: 4759 Toronto: 4773
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I think is stubbornness against the run may well be the reason he eventually loses his job in Montreal. It’s too bad, otherwise, he has done lots of great things for us.
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It is troubling; this is a team with a long history of strong running games; from Dixon and Clark, to Dennis Duncan, to Moses Denson, to Mike Pringle, to Jarret Payton (who was the son of someone), to Avon Cobourne, to William Stanback.
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It is very strange to me that this is allowed to continue.
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I mean part of the possibility of starting a third American on the line is about better protection for DA, but DM has made it know he expects better run production too. My hope is that Maas is downplaying it to surprise people, but I know I’m fooling myself in that. It is his Achilles heel.
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Excellente analyse très exhaustive concernant chacune des équipes de l’est. Dont quelques unes échappaient à mon radar. La compétition dans l’est sera relevée et bien malin qui pourrait prédire le club qui remportera le championnat dans l’est.
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