CFL (Non-Bombers) off-season news

[Tecno]

I'd be giddy with glee if we could find a Sam Emilus deep threat and a KSB, those are 2 QUALITY NATS that any team would want, thing is, the Riders aren't going to let them walk. Meyers is a very productive reciever for them as well, as was Robustelli, who may shake free after the FA $$ are used to sign Emilus and KSB, and I would GLADLY welcome either to our lineup. Both Meyers and Robustelli are game changers and would be an upgrade compared to our current lot.

My point is the success is mostly scheme, not REC.  Any non-crap REC can work in their scheme.  It's making mediocre dime a dozen guys (and NATs!) look better than they are.  Watch some leave in FA and suck in their new teams.

KSB has been hot garbage since returning from injury.  Meyers/Robustelli are just normal dime & dozen new IMP scouting prospects.  Literally nothing special nor any reason to $$pay$$ them.  Give me Herslow any day of the week over anything ELC SSK has.

Emilus is ok, and very good "for a NAT".  Great similarities to Demski, yes.  But not worth whatever his $$ ask will be.

K.Johnson is the real talent: great hands, smart, good routes, short and deep threat, and can take abuse in the middle.  He's the only IMP there that will be an all-star going forward.

I'm not ignoring my bias.  Instead I am very aware of how the league-top OL, short-mostly scheme, and accurate QB create the illusion of "wow, great RECs!".  Part of the proof will be when they fail to get a huge payday in FA (minus the 2 good ones and maybe KSB riding the coattails of his 2-years-ago performance).

[dd]

My point is the success is mostly scheme, not REC.  Any non-crap REC can work in their scheme.  It's making mediocre dime a dozen guys (and NATs!) look better than they are.  Watch some leave in FA and suck in their new teams.

KSB has been hot garbage since returning from injury.  Meyers/Robustelli are just normal dime & dozen new IMP scouting prospects.  Literally nothing special nor any reason to $$pay$$ them.  Give me Herslow any day of the week over anything ELC SSK has.

Emilus is ok, and very good "for a NAT".  Great similarities to Demski, yes.  But not worth whatever his $$ ask will be.

K.Johnson is the real talent: great hands, smart, good routes, short and deep threat, and can take abuse in the middle.  He's the only IMP there that will be an all-star going forward.

I'm not ignoring my bias.  Instead I am very aware of how the league-top OL, short-mostly scheme, and accurate QB create the illusion of "wow, great RECs!".  Part of the proof will be when they fail to get a huge payday in FA (minus the 2 good ones and maybe KSB riding the coattails of his 2-years-ago performance).

If your theory is true, then the moral of the story is--don't cheap out on an OC, get a good one, as he can devise a scheme to make your schmoe recievers look like world beaters. And we all know our scheme HAS TO change.

[Tecno]

If your theory is true, then the moral of the story is--don't cheap out on an OC, get a good one, as he can devise a scheme to make your schmoe recievers look like world beaters. And we all know our scheme HAS TO change.

I somewhat agree.  However, my hunch is the whole scheme was a Mace/ODay/Mueller trio-combo baby.  Why?  Mueller has been there for years and never had this much success.

I guess it could also be Mace/ODay decided to tailor the FA/DP precisely to what Mueller was already doing.  Might be impossible to ever know.  Whatever it is, it's working.

The problem with trying this with Hogan is what is Hogan trying to do?  Who knows.  We had no identity in '25.  So even if KW/MOS want to scheme around Hogan, no one knows what that scheme would be!  If no one can figure that out, then just stack the OL and let Zach figure it all out on the field!

[Ridermania]

Keon Hatcher expects big raise, can BC afford him??

https://3downnation.com/2025/11/23/my-turn-b-c-lions-pending-free-agent-keon-hatcher-wants-contract-befitting-cfl-receiving-leader/

[dd]

I don't know if the Lions have the cap room to sign Hatcher, man would it be nice to get that guy in our lineup!!

[Blue In BC]

I don't know if the Lions have the cap room to sign Hatcher, man would it be nice to get that guy in our lineup!!

Who knows how much of the 2025 SMS increase any team used. Even without that, the increase in SMS in 2025 will be also available in 2026. In that sense teams have " more " money to spend. Where they choose to spend it is all TBD.

We've discussed the possible increase validity for Oliveria for example. In theory we have more to give him but is that the best use of a higher SMS?

Bombers have about 30 potential free agents. Many will want and expect a raise. It's going to be interesting to watch how this unfolds.

[Pete]

Keon Hatcher expects big raise, can BC afford him??

https://3downnation.com/2025/11/23/my-turn-b-c-lions-pending-free-agent-keon-hatcher-wants-contract-befitting-cfl-receiving-leader/

Im betting they find a way maybe by playing the marketing money game again. If they dont Calgary with Adams should go after him.

[Blue In BC]

Im betting they find a way maybe by playing the marketing money game again. If they dont Calgary with Adams should go after him.

Hard to say. Money issue aside a receiver is going to want to play in BC with a top QB that likes to go deep in  passing focused offense. Half a season indoors is not a bad attraction for a player either.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Keon Hatcher expects big raise, can BC afford him??

https://3downnation.com/2025/11/23/my-turn-b-c-lions-pending-free-agent-keon-hatcher-wants-contract-befitting-cfl-receiving-leader/

Except for Lawler at $300k the GM's have constrained elite receivers to around $225k, Hatcher made $168k last season, McInnis $250k, Cottoy $166k, they'll pay to keep Hatcher but other pieces will likely be lost.  Unfortunate for BC they're already paying the increased asking rate of a good team without the reward of a Grey Cup victory.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Who knows how much of the 2025 SMS increase any team used. Even without that, the increase in SMS in 2025 will be also available in 2026. In that sense teams have " more " money to spend. Where they choose to spend it is all TBD.

Pretty clear every team spent to the max and some likely went over, no carry over so no sense hanging onto it for next year. Walters said himself, SMS bump went to pay healthy players camping on the 1 game in Wpg. and elsewhere.

[Blue In BC]

Pretty clear every team spent to the max and some likely went over, no carry over so no sense hanging onto it for next year. Walters said himself, SMS bump went to pay healthy players camping on the 1 game in Wpg. and elsewhere.

There is always some carry over. Not every team had a dozen players on the 1 game IR most of the year. Even we didn't do that for quite awhile.

As we've already seen, some teams are re-signing some of their potential free agents. Some of them will be getting early money from the 2025 SMS.

We'll find out eventually how many teams exceeded the SMS and by how much.

Regardless it doesn't change the fact that the 2026 SMS will be used in more of the normal way. That said, it doesn't automatically mean a player that earned $200K in 2025 now gets $250K.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

There is always some carry over. Not every team had a dozen players on the 1 game IR most of the year. Even we didn't do that for quite awhile.

As we've already seen, some teams are re-signing some of their potential free agents. Some of them will be getting early money from the 2025 SMS.

We'll find out eventually how many teams exceeded the SMS and by how much.

Regardless it doesn't change the fact that the 2026 SMS will be used in more of the normal way. That said, it doesn't automatically mean a player that earned $200K in 2025 now gets $250K.

There is no SMS carry over to 2026, whatever has not been spent will be spent by year end.

[Stats Junkie]

Ticats have re-signed LS Gordon Whyte. I think he is the best at his craft.

https://www.ticats.ca/2025/11/24/tiger-cats-re-sign-veteran-ls-gordon-whyte-add-db-kendall-bohler/

[Stats Junkie]

Dates have been set for Touchdown Kelowna.

June 27 vs. Calgary
July 4 vs. Edmonton

https://www.bclions.com/2025/11/24/touchdown-kelowna-welcomes-stampeders-elks-to-okanagan-in-2026/

[Blue In BC]

There is no SMS carry over to 2026, whatever has not been spent will be spent by year end.

That's not what I said or meant. There is almost always some SMS left that is spent to re-sign players before the end of the year. That potentially creates an advantage in the 2026 season SMS since some bonus or advance money is taken from the previous SMS.

Bryant signed an extension  Dec 2 2024. Castillo singed one Nov 21 2024 as examples.

We're seeing some players being extended after the Grey Cup.  Teams using some 2025 SMS left.