2023-24 off-season transactions

[Argo57]

Bowser is indeed under contract. He signed a couple of days before Christmas and posting the bio must have fallen through the holiday cracks. I've re-filed the bio and will make sure it's posted. Thanks for the catch and if anyone ever sees something like this please reach out to me via DM here or on Twitter and I can clarify or correct. Go Argos.

Thanks for the clarification Mike.
Diehard Argonaut fans keeping on top of things, hopefully more announcements coming soon!!

[Shatto]

Bowser is indeed under contract. He signed a couple of days before Christmas and posting the bio must have fallen through the holiday cracks. I've re-filed the bio and will make sure it's posted. Thanks for the catch and if anyone ever sees something like this please reach out to me via DM here or on Twitter and I can clarify or correct. Go Argos.

Thank you, Mike. Much appreciated.

[Rich]

Saskatchewan sure could have used an upgrade at C. But as a comic in all seriousness, the Argos boast the best O line in the CFL by far.
They also have the best QB. The best Canadian depth.

Grey Cup contenders in 2024.

Ohmmmmmmmm

[Will]

It would seem that Brissett has re-signed, which is great news:

https://3downnation.com/2024/02/04/t...ssett-sources/

[Argo57]

It would seem that Brissett has re-signed, which is great news:

https://3downnation.com/2024/02/04/t...ssett-sources/

Great news!

[ArgoGabe22]

When it comes to running back, if AJ hypothetically leaves I would assume SSK, WPG (if Oliveira leaves), and Alouettes would be his top 3 options. Maybe Ottawa? Assuming Oliveira stays in WPG, is Stanback the logical choice for the Argos. Unless they are prepared to lose AJ and go all Canadian and pay big bucks for Oliveira and Adeboboye as the backup.

[AngeloV]

The gist of his post reveals, that the Argos chose not to make him an offer.

I don't buy that, and I don't think any other teams will. If the Argos were not going to offer him a contract, I am certain they would have released him long before the legal tampering window opened. My guess is they were far apart on numbers and the Argos then informed him he might want to try his luck elsewhere.

Do they allocate the funds they saved on Jordan Williams and attribute them to Liram H.?

There is that speculation out there. According to Farhan Lalhi, Bede might be Edmonton bound too.

[paulwoods13]

With Pickett apparently signing with Ottawa, Argos need a cover linebacker. There isn't a ton available on the open market: Chris Edwards (no thanks), Derrick Moncrief (maybe), Branden Dozier (maybe), Alden Darby (no thanks). Might be better off trying to move a DB into the spot (Robertson Daniel if re-signed, maybe Maurice Carnell if healthy). Or hand the spot to a rookie if a suitable one can be found.

[AngeloV]

With Pickett apparently signing with Ottawa, Argos need a cover linebacker. There isn't a ton available on the open market: Chris Edwards (no thanks), Derrick Moncrief (maybe), Branden Dozier (maybe), Alden Darby (no thanks). Might be better off trying to move a DB into the spot (Robertson Daniel if re-signed, maybe Maurice Carnell if healthy). Or hand the spot to a rookie if a suitable one can be found.

I think they should take a run at Adeleke and line him up there.

[Will]

I would prefer not to move someone from the secondary to cover linebacker, if at all possible, which Paul points out might not be feasible. The Argos are going to lose Pickett and Stiggers, and might lose Robertson Daniel, Robert Priester and Jamal Peters. Royce Metchie is set a safety and Tarvarus McFadden should be fine at the field corner spot, and while there are possible solutions, I do have questions:

1. Maurice Carnell IV played well down the stretch in 2022, but ended up missing all of last season. Is he healthy and ready to take an expanded role?
2. DaShaun Amos is coming off an Achilles injury? Is he ready for the start of the season and how will his injury impact him?
3. Is Mason Pierce ready to take on an expanded role?

[bluto]

It just seemed like the one spot on our team that we didn't have a like-for-like backup. We had the deepest roster in the league and it showed at every position except cover linebacker (imo).

I'd love to know what the plan here is because it seems a significant hole (both starter and backup). Hopefully further roster adds will clear this up.

[AngeloV]

I would prefer not to move someone from the secondary to cover linebacker, if at all possible, which Paul points out might not be feasible. The Argos are going to lose Pickett and Stiggers, and might lose Robertson Daniel, Robert Priester and Jamal Peters. Royce Metchie is set a safety and Tarvarus McFadden should be fine at the field corner spot, and while there are possible solutions, I do have questions:

1. Maurice Carnell IV played well down the stretch in 2022, but ended up missing all of last season. Is he healthy and ready to take an expanded role?
2. DaShaun Amos is coming off an Achilles injury? Is he ready for the start of the season and how will his injury impact him?
3. Is Mason Pierce ready to take on an expanded role?

I thought Amos broke his ankle not tear his achilles. A clean break will heal faster. I would expect him to be ready to go.

[paulwoods13]

3. Is Mason Pierce ready to take on an expanded role?

IMO Pierce should definitely be considered a starter at this point. His play down the stretch convinced me he can start at DHB in this league.

[paulwoods13]

It just seemed like the one spot on our team that we didn't have a like-for-like backup. We had the deepest roster in the league and it showed at every position except cover linebacker (imo).

I'd love to know what the plan here is because it seems a significant hole (both starter and backup). Hopefully further roster adds will clear this up.

You are absolutely correct about that being the one spot without any certainty behind the starter last season. (QB was as well, until we saw Dukes and breathed sighs of relief.)

I'm pretty confident Argo mgmt have been preparing to lose Pickett since before last season ended. Clearly he's going to command big bucks. I imagine they ran many scenarios over the past six months about how to manage the 2024 cap; hard to imagine they found many ways to potentially keep him without suffering big losses elsewhere.

[paulwoods13]

I also wonder whether Ott has made a "predatory" offer to Pickett, in the belief that Argos would endeavour to match or surpass it, thus hamstringing themselves in other areas. IMO Murphy, Magri et al will be more determined to keep two or three other key guys than they will to put all of their eggs in one basket. Pickett is a huge loss, assuming he does end up in Ottawa, but it would be offset to some extent if we are able to keep, say, Hendrix, Coxie and Barlow as a result of not overspending on Pickett.

[Will]

I also wonder whether Ott has made a "predatory" offer to Pickett, in the belief that Argos would endeavour to match or surpass it, thus hamstringing themselves in other areas. IMO Murphy, Magri et al will be more determined to keep two or three other key guys than they will to put all of their eggs in one basket. Pickett is a huge loss, assuming he does end up in Ottawa, but it would be offset to some extent if we are able to keep, say, Hendrix, Coxie and Barlow as a result of not overspending on Pickett.

Pickett has just been granted his release by the #Argos. So once it’s processed he’s free to sign early with #RedBlacks. @CFLonTSN https://t.co/S7yw8QbBa2

— Farhan Lalji (@FarhanLaljiTSN) February 5, 2024

[paulwoods13]

That seems to confirm my belief that Argos were expecting to lose Pickett, and are focusing their efforts on keeping other guys. Retaining the three I mentioned above (Hendrix, Coxie and Barlow) would make me very happy. I think someone will overpay for Peters.

[OV Argo]

Pickett would be joining his old Als DC - Barron Miles (still has that job i think in Ottawa - and IMO not a good sign for RedBlacks fortunes after last season) - who would be the guy who gave him his chance to play S-OLB in the CFL and really emerge as a talent there.

Kinda be nice to see a team that has won a GC and then next season tied the all-time best CFL reg. season record able to maintain a lot of their talent - cause the guys really enjoyed playing for such a successful team (plus the lure of play-off bonus buck$), or liked the city - whatever. But can't fault guys for chasing the most dollar$ offered, or maybe following or reuniting with an old coach they really respect, or maybe going to a new city they like or have heard lots of good things about. Pickett off to his 3rd CFL city in 3 years. Maybe a few guys will follow coach Mace out to Sask. ? Argos sure brought in a bunch of ex-Stamps who contributed to strong Argo teams.

[Argo57]

I also wonder whether Ott has made a "predatory" offer to Pickett, in the belief that Argos would endeavour to match or surpass it, thus hamstringing themselves in other areas. IMO Murphy, Magri et al will be more determined to keep two or three other key guys than they will to put all of their eggs in one basket. Pickett is a huge loss, assuming he does end up in Ottawa, but it would be offset to some extent if we are able to keep, say, Hendrix, Coxie and Barlow as a result of not overspending on Pickett.

Most free agent signings could be considered “predatory”.
The Argonauts have to be very smart with their salary allocation to hopefully minimize the losses to the roster.
It admittedly is very frustrating seeing other teams poach productive and popular players from your team but the Argos have also benefited from such moves in the past.
Times like this are a reminder of the importance of good scouting, drafting, recruiting and player development which Toronto has done a good job at recently.

[ArgoGabe22]

My sources close to a team has told me that Ouellette will be signing with the Riders. I will believe it when I see it, however, a good source.