2023-24 off-season transactions

[paulwoods13]

I guess somebody on the coaching staff saw something out of Harry, who was a mid season addition and maybe looked at as a temporary emergency fill-in for an injury depleted D-backfield. Built-up quite a bit of CFL experience now - be interesting to see if he makes the team out of TC; same deal with R. Sindani.

Harry surprised me with his play down the stretch. IMO he's not starting-calibre, but a very useful guy to have on the roster.

I expect Sindani will be on the roster, especially if Brissett signs elsewhere.

[paulwoods13]

Stiggers has announced he's declaring for the NFL draft.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C1Dm1YJA...YM&img_index=1

I'm not sure what the rules are about that for guys who didn't go to college, but presumably he knows what he's doing. In any event, losing him to at least an NFL camp has seemed inevitable almost from the moment he arrived. He's a special talent.

[AngeloV]

YOU’RE unreal. You misunderstood what OV said.

Then please enlighten me.

[OV Argo]

Guys, Gittens is not an issue, at least not yet. He's a top-notch receiver who is under contract. Will the team cut him or demand a salary reduction? Maybe, maybe not. But until either of those things happens, I'm not going to stress about him, and I'm thrilled he is still an Argo.

The issue we *should* be worried about, IMO, is losing Brissett. He has developed into an extremely capable receiver who seems to have chemistry with Kelly -- AND he's heading into free agency. Signing Nield was a must, IMO, because if Brissett doesn't re-sign before February, I expect he will be showered with riches by some other team.

Were you not also concerned about losing Dylan Giffen to free agency?

Guys like him and Brissett might have been valued by some other CFL teams as "depth" pieces or maybe potential starters, but very doubtful IMO there would be significant interest or good buck$ waiting for them out there.

Love to see the Argos retain all of Gittens, Brissett, Nield (and Daniels and Coxie too), but this offence seems to like spreading the ball around to a bunch of capable receiever talent, rather than loading up to one favored star; losing one or 2 guys - they can be replaced by new recruits (a new FA, or via the draft - and it's possible Jared Wayne might show up)

[argolio]

Stiggers has announced he's declaring for the NFL draft.

https://www.instagram.com/p/C1Dm1YJA...YM&img_index=1

I'm not sure what the rules are about that for guys who didn't go to college, but presumably he knows what he's doing. In any event, losing him to at least an NFL camp has seemed inevitable almost from the moment he arrived. He's a special talent.

I think the earliest anyone can declare is three years after your high school senior year.


The salary cap is always a factor in personnel decisions. We should be used to that by now.

[ArgoGabe22]

I think the earliest anyone can declare is three years after your high school senior year.

But can you declare while under contract? In the NBA and NHL, players do get drafted from their respected European teams. If drafted will Stiggers get "from the Toronto Argonauts" ?

[OV Argo]

But can you declare while under contract? In the NBA and NHL, players do get drafted from their respected European teams. If drafted will Stiggers get "from the Toronto Argonauts" ?

The draft is for amateur players, and the NFL doesn't count or care about the CFL.

[paulwoods13]

Were you not also concerned about losing Dylan Giffen to free agency?

Guys like him and Brissett might have been valued by some other CFL teams as "depth" pieces or maybe potential starters, but very doubtful IMO there would be significant interest or good buck$ waiting for them out there.

Love to see the Argos retain all of Gittens, Brissett, Nield (and Daniels and Coxie too), but this offence seems to like spreading the ball around to a bunch of capable receiever talent, rather than loading up to one favored star; losing one or 2 guys - they can be replaced by new recruits (a new FA, or via the draft - and it's possible Jared Wayne might show up)

I have no idea what Giffen has to do with Brissett/Gittens/Nield. Yes, I felt re-signing Giffen was a priority, and I'm thrilled we did so. As I wrote previously, I expect we will bid farewell to both Bladek and Richards, hence the need to retain Giffen. And as I wrote above, I'm worried about losing Brissett (and maybe Gittens, altho I'm less sure that will happen than some are), hence the need to retain Nield.

[Argo57]

Guys, Gittens is not an issue, at least not yet. He's a top-notch receiver who is under contract. Will the team cut him or demand a salary reduction? Maybe, maybe not. But until either of those things happens, I'm not going to stress about him, and I'm thrilled he is still an Argo.

The issue we *should* be worried about, IMO, is losing Brissett. He has developed into an extremely capable receiver who seems to have chemistry with Kelly -- AND he's heading into free agency. Signing Nield was a must, IMO, because if Brissett doesn't re-sign before February, I expect he will be showered with riches by some other team.

That’s correct, IMO signing Brissett is high priority as he is developing into a very good receiver.

[Argo57]

Were you not also concerned about losing Dylan Giffen to free agency?

Guys like him and Brissett might have been valued by some other CFL teams as "depth" pieces or maybe potential starters, but very doubtful IMO there would be significant interest or good buck$ waiting for them out there.

Love to see the Argos retain all of Gittens, Brissett, Nield (and Daniels and Coxie too), but this offence seems to like spreading the ball around to a bunch of capable receiever talent, rather than loading up to one favored star; losing one or 2 guys - they can be replaced by new recruits (a new FA, or via the draft - and it's possible Jared Wayne might show up)

100% disagree in regards to Brissett, he will be in high demand if he hits free agency.

[OV Argo]

100% disagree in regards to Brissett, he will be in high demand if he hits free agency.

Oh, I agree he is a very impressive young receiver talent (and really hope the Argos retain him); I just don't see other CFL teams interested in a Canadian receiver who has not lit the league on fire yet. Don't recall other teams going after Brad Sinopoli with a big contract after multiple 1000 yard seasons. If these teams plan to play only one or two Canadian receivers, they often have their guy(s) and can add cheap back-ups via the draft if need be. The big demand and big contracts go to Lawlor & Lewis types.

[Argo57]

Oh, I agree he is a very impressive young receiver talent (and really hope the Argos retain him); I just don't see other CFL teams interested in a Canadian receiver who has not lit the league on fire yet. Don't recall other teams going after Brad Sinopoli with a big contract after multiple 1000 yard seasons. If these teams plan to play only one or two Canadian receivers, they often have their guy(s) and can add cheap back-ups via the draft if need be. The big demand and big contracts go to Lawlor & Lewis types.

Both Lewis and Lawlor are grossly overpaid at $300k+ per season for sure.

[paulwoods13]

Oh, I agree he is a very impressive young receiver talent (and really hope the Argos retain him); I just don't see other CFL teams interested in a Canadian receiver who has not lit the league on fire yet. Don't recall other teams going after Brad Sinopoli with a big contract after multiple 1000 yard seasons. If these teams plan to play only one or two Canadian receivers, they often have their guy(s) and can add cheap back-ups via the draft if need be. The big demand and big contracts go to Lawlor & Lewis types.

Brissett's first three seasons have been comparable to (possibly better than) Nic Demski's first two, IMO. Demski got a generous offer (admittedly to move home) after Year 2. There are a few teams on which Brissett might instantly upgrade their Cdn receiving corps (Ham -- yikes -- and Ott for sure, maybe Cal, Edm, BC too).

[Argo57]

Argos sign Isaiah Bowser, looks like a bruising type RB.

https://3downnation.com/2023/12/22/k...isaiah-bowser/

[OV Argo]

Argos sign Isaiah Bowser, looks like a bruising type RB.

https://3downnation.com/2023/12/22/k...isaiah-bowser/

Cool - maybe another A. Ouellette type

[OV Argo]

Brissett's first three seasons have been comparable to (possibly better than) Nic Demski's first two, IMO. Demski got a generous offer (admittedly to move home) after Year 2. There are a few teams on which Brissett might instantly upgrade their Cdn receiving corps (Ham -- yikes -- and Ott for sure, maybe Cal, Edm, BC too).

You might be right; but I just don't see other teams interested in Brissett - a Canadian receiver - unless they intend to allow 3 or more Canadians compete for playing time at the position. - and not sure who that would be ?

Ottawa has Behar who has become a solid possession receiver; they also have former EE Canadian receiver Tevaun Smith who had a 55 catch, 632 yard season when he first got to play lots for the EE - that is better production than Brissett put up for the Argos last season; and Smith ran a sub 4.4 forty at testing out of US college ball and spent a couple of seasons on an NFL PR before showing up in the CFL; yet last year in the RedBlacks offence he was barely played or deployed. They did go with former Riders thousand yard Shaq Evans lots though, and he has faded and drops too many passes as usual - but had the right passport for more playing time there.

[gilthethrill]

Argos sign Isaiah Bowser, looks like a bruising type RB.

https://3downnation.com/2023/12/22/k...isaiah-bowser/

Bowser is the 2nd Neg List player signed this week (Xavier “Mayday” Malone) being the other. He spent time with the Bills so perhaps any Buffalo fans on the forum can give us some insight on this prospect.

[Rich]

But, maybe AV feels these guys are absolute superstar receiver talents, comparable to a Greer or Fernandez; and he's entitled to his opinion there.

He didn’t say anything remotely like this, and I agree it’s pretty insulting for you to suggest he did.

[Rich]

Then please enlighten me.

I owe you an apology Angelo, I didn’t read it right. My bad.

[Rich]

Bowser is the 2nd Neg List player signed this week (Xavier “Mayday” Malone) being the other. He spent time with the Bills so perhaps any Buffalo fans on the forum can give us some insight on this prospect.

There’s already pretty good depth at RB with McMahon and especially Adeboboye, who’s just about ready for prime time. So I’m wondering if Bowser may be insurance in case we lose Ouellette. I can see some teams taking a run at him.