2018 Free Agent signings, contract extensions, and other transactions

[paulwoods13]

We are amassing some huge talent with big college careers at the WR position. Between Chris Harper, Rodney Smith and Jordan Westerkamp we are going to find an excellent replacement for Devier Posey, and hopefully more. Is there room for two rookie INT WR on the roster this year?

Definitely. We will likely carry 65 guys, including PR and IR. So we can definitely squeeze a couple of rookies into that. How many dress for games is another story but I think we will see one for sure.

[Jon Gonzo]

We are amassing some huge talent with big college careers at the WR position. Between Chris Harper, Rodney Smith and Jordan Westerkamp we are going to find an excellent replacement for Devier Posey, and hopefully more. Is there room for two rookie INT WR on the roster this year?

Should be fun to watch. I have a feeling that Cole Watson may be in that mix as well. His credentials may not be as good, but the coaches already know and like him.

[OV Argo]

We are amassing some huge talent with big college careers at the WR position. Between Chris Harper, Rodney Smith and Jordan Westerkamp we are going to find an excellent replacement for Devier Posey, and hopefully more. Is there room for two rookie INT WR on the roster this year?

Hopefully; or more like maybe. I had some high hope for a number of new import receivers - some with arguably quite a bit better resumes (NCAA / NFL roster) than these new guys - they had signed for TC last season; but none of them made the team.

I really doubt Brian Jones - a top draft pick and another outstanding resume receiver - is going to get much of a shot at playing time at receiver; maybe not a fit in the offensive system in terms of a big bruiser inside slot type (?); maybe they view him as good "depth" though and a good STer, but Noel already fills that role quite well. Like to see Jones traded (for some good value) to another team where he might get more of a shot to play receiver - not sure where that would be though, given current league thinking with receiving corps' ? - the Bombers or the Esks maybe ?

[gilthethrill]

Hopefully; or more like maybe. I had some high hope for a number of new import receivers - some with arguably quite a bit better resumes (NCAA / NFL roster) than these new guys - they had signed for TC last season; but none of them made the team.

I really doubt Brian Jones - a top draft pick and another outstanding resume receiver - is going to get much of a shot at playing time at receiver; maybe not a fit in the offensive system in terms of a big bruiser inside slot type (?); maybe they view him as good "depth" though and a good STer, but Noel already fills that role quite well. Like to see Jones traded (for some good value) to another team where he might get more of a shot to play receiver - not sure where that would be though, given current league thinking with receiving corps' ? - the Bombers or the Esks maybe ?

Montreal needs to upgrade their Canadian talent, I could see Jones going there for a pick on draft day. Also, let's not rule out the possibility of Posey returning to the Argos.

[OV Argo]

Montreal needs to upgrade their Canadian talent, I could see Jones going there for a pick on draft day. Also, let's not rule out the possibility of Posey returning to the Argos.

Maybe; but i doubt Reed has barely heard of Jones and wouldn't think much of him if he had. Bet on the Als going with one NI receiver - the wide-side WR - as part of their 7 only need apply plan; and they already have a few young NI receivers who are more wide-out types, plus might draft one of the top receivers this draft (Chapman maybe?). Jones is not a WR.

OTOH - the Esks have lost a bunch of receivers (key ones like Zylstra & Bowman + NI Cory Watson = 3 starters from last season), and Watson is more of a big, physical receiver who played slot/inside for them; Jones might be a very good fit to replace Watson? Bombers signed Demski and he might be their one NI in the 5 pack, but Jones could surely compete for a spot there ?

[jerrym]

The Argos have signed International RB Brandon Burks.

Burks, 24, played in 45 games in four seasons at Troy University, recording 2,253 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 430 attempts while adding 673 yards and three touchdowns on 88 receptions. The 5-9, 208-pound native of Enterprise, Alabama, spent time with the Green Bay Packers and New York Jets after being signed as an undrafted free agent by the Packers. Burks dressed for one regular-season game with the Jets in 2016.

https://www.argonauts.ca/2018/04/16/...brandon-burks/

[jerrym]

RB Boom Williams has signed with the Argos.

Williams, 22, was a member of the Cincinnati Bengals and Denver Broncos after going undrafted in the 2017 NFL Draft. In three seasons at the University of Kentucky, the 5-8, 195-pound native of Monroeville, Georgia, played in 33 games and posted 2,513 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns on 367 rush attempts to go along with 292 yards and two touchdowns on 38 receptions. Williams’ 6.8 yards per rushing attempts ranks third in SEC history and 23rd all-time in NCAA history.

https://www.argonauts.ca/2018/04/13/...e-rb-williams/

[Wobbler]

The Argos have signed International RB Brandon Burks.

I'll be rooting for Burks. If he makes it, I'll be able to annoy Ti-Cat fans by asking "Which one?" when Speedy B is mentioned.

[jerrym]

Toronto has added WR Bralon Addison and LB Durrell Eskridge to their roster.

Addison, 24, played in 39 games in three seasons at the University of Oregon before declaring eligible for the NFL Draft. The 5-9, 197-pound native of Missouri City, Texas, hauled in 146 passes for 1,937 yards and 20 touchdowns while adding 103 yards and two touchdowns on 21 carries with the Ducks. Addison also saw action in the return game with Oregon, returning 37 punts for 450 yards and two touchdowns as well as 12 kickoffs for 220 yards. He earned Second Team PAC-12 All-Conference honours in 2013 and followed that up with another selection in 2015 despite missing the previous season with an injury. After being signed as an undrafted free agent by the Denver Broncos, Addison spent time with the Chicago Bears and suited up in two regular-season games with the club. ...

Eskridge, 26, rejoins the Argos after a previous stint with the club during training camp in 2017. The 6-0, 185-pound native of Miami Gardens, Florida, played collegiately at the University of Syracuse, where he appeared in 37 games over three seasons with the Orange. He tallied 182 tackles, including 125 solo stops, at Syracuse, while tacking on seven tackles for a loss, 2.5 sacks, five interceptions, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. Following his collegiate career, Eskridge signed with the New York Jets and later spent time with the Arizona Cardinals.

https://www.argonauts.ca/2018/04/18/...rell-eskridge/

[Argo57]

No surprise here, Fuller unimpressive at best during his time in Toronto.

Released:
Jeff Fuller WR
Alan-Michael Cash DL
Durell Eskridge LB
Caleb Ham DB
Ben Malena RB
Kendall Sanders WR
Jordan Westerkamp WR
Jhavon Williams DB

http://3downnation.com/2018/05/01/ar...er-six-others/

[gilthethrill]

After Instant and Johnny, Allan Michael is my favourite Cash.

[jerrym]

No surprise here, Fuller unimpressive at best during his time in Toronto.

Released:
Jeff Fuller WR
Alan-Michael Cash DL
Durell Eskridge LB
Caleb Ham DB
Ben Malena RB
Kendall Sanders WR
Jordan Westerkamp WR
Jhavon Williams DB

http://3downnation.com/2018/05/01/ar...er-six-others/

I was never impressed by Jeff Fuller either before or after he became an Argo. Cash, who had been an Eastern All-Star in 2014 with Montreal, got sidelined by injury and just faded out of the picture.

[dmont]

.

Wanted to see what Sanders and Westerkamp could do. Too bad.

[dmont]

I agree though, not disappointed to see Fuller go. I was surprised they resigned him. He had some awful hands. Dropping balls in the endzone, even with Ricky's delivery. Giftwrapped. Best of luck to you, Fuller!

[jerrym]

Hamilton has obtained the #1 overall pick in a trade with Montreal for OL Ryan Bomben and the #2 overall draft choice. Hamilton also gets the 31st and 44th pick this year and a second round pick next year. In addition to Bomben and the second overall pick, Montreal gets WR Jamal Robinson, the 34th and 56th overall picks and the rights to a player off Hamilton's negotiation list.

Earlier in the day, the Tiger-Cats traded up into the first round, landing the sixth overall pick in a trade with the Edmonton Eskimos. The Ticats also got a fifth-round pick (37th overall) in the deal, while the Eskimos got a second-round pick (10th overall) and third-round pick (20th overall) in exchange.

https://www.cfl.ca/2018/05/02/reed-a...-trade-ticats/

[paulwoods13]

Hamilton has obtained the #1 overall pick in a trade with Montreal for OL Ryan Bomben and the #2 overall draft choice. Hamilton also gets the 31st and 44th pick this year and a second round pick next year. In addition to Bomben and the second overall pick, Montreal gets WR Jamal Robinson, the 34th and 56th overall picks and the rights to a player off Hamilton's negotiation list.

That's surprising in that Bomben is a starter and I don't see anyone on Hamilton's current roster, or in the draft, capable of stepping in immediately as a starting guard. I have to believe Hamilton has another move coming.

[OV Argo]

That's surprising in that Bomben is a starter and I don't see anyone on Hamilton's current roster, or in the draft, capable of stepping in immediately as a starting guard. I have to believe Hamilton has another move coming.

There are several outstanding interior O-line prospects up this draft - who might be able to step-in and start right away for the Ticats (like Revenberg ended up doing in his rookie season); with all their picks - Ticats could load up on 2 or 3 of them and see what shakes out there. At least they would be going younger & cheaper. The likes of Rutherford, Godber or Pickett might just be instant upgrades over Bomben, IMO. Tillspin might be able to do well just by loading up on O-line prospects early this draft - IMO maybe the deepest and most talented O-line crop all-time in CFL draft history ? The Ticats could also think of going with 3 import O-linemen (as the Bummers did last season) if they have a good young import guy there. They have the talent IMO to go with 4 NI starters on D.

Bomben is solid but is he really a big upgrade on the Als O-line - where they have vets like Blake, Brodeur-Jourdain, Matte, plus Gagnon (started all season as a rookie 2 years ago but injured last year, plus 40 bench reps strong at the CFL Combine) ? I guess the thinking is you always need good old NI "depth".

[paulwoods13]

There are several outstanding interior O-line prospects up this draft - who might be able to step-in and start right away for the Ticats (like Revenberg ended up doing in his rookie season);

As good as he is, Revenberg started SIX games as a rookie. I'll be surprised if any o-lineman drafted this year starts for the full season.

[OV Argo]

As good as he is, Revenberg started SIX games as a rookie. I'll be surprised if any o-lineman drafted this year starts for the full season.

Phil Gagnon for the Als started every game as a rookie at guard a couple of years back - and he was not near as highly rated as some of these O-line prospects this draft; and that was the same season that Lauzon-Seguin started at OT for the RedBlacks in their GC run stretch.

[mchesher03]

See that Cash went back to Montreal. No surprises re: Fuller, if anything I was slightly disappointed they re-signed him in the off-season, was invisible when not dropping passes last year.