2023-24 off-season transactions

[primetime31]

Given Ciraco's signing, I can see one of the following scenarios:

1. Ryan Hunter retires unexpectedly. I certainly hope that this isn't the case since I strongly believe that if not for Dejon Allen, he would have been the Most Outstanding Lineman in the league last season

2. Ryan Hunter moves to left tackle since Isaiah Cage has had some past injury problems

[OV Argo]

Giffen re-signed earlier, I believe.

You are right; my bad, so i guess he will carry on as a back-up - unless him or Hunter get a shot at OT ?

[Skilz]

Perhaps a thought to starting 4 Canadians on the OL with Dejon Allen at RT.

Allows for another American elsewhere.
Hunter, Giffen, Ciriaco, Nicastro and Allen upfront - pretty top shelf starting unit.

[gilthethrill]

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.

[Argo57]

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.

Still some work to do, hopefully a productive weekend!

[paulwoods13]

I'll be shocked if the starting o-line is anything other than Cage-Hunter-Ciraco-Nicastro-Allen. As good a prospect as Giffen is, I don't see him replacing either Hunter or Nicastro at guard. And bumping Hunter out to tackle, while opening an INT spot elsewhere, would mean there's a need for a capable backup NAT tackle. I don't see one of those on the roster or on the horizon.

[AngeloV]

I'll be shocked if the starting o-line is anything other than Cage-Hunter-Ciraco-Nicastro-Allen. As good a prospect as Giffen is, I don't see him replacing either Hunter or Nicastro at guard. And bumping Hunter out to tackle, while opening an INT spot elsewhere, would mean there's a need for a capable backup NAT tackle. I don't see one of those on the roster or on the horizon.

I agree with this. Along with a solid starting 5, you need quality depth, which is where Giffen will and should be slotted this year.

Having said that, 3DN is the only source that I have seen report this signing of Ciraco. Argos certainly have not made it official. I hope their sources are correct here.

[Will]

The re-signing appears on CFL.ca's transaction page.

[Skilz]

I'll be shocked if the starting o-line is anything other than Cage-Hunter-Ciraco-Nicastro-Allen. As good a prospect as Giffen is, I don't see him replacing either Hunter or Nicastro at guard. And bumping Hunter out to tackle, while opening an INT spot elsewhere, would mean there's a need for a capable backup NAT tackle. I don't see one of those on the roster or on the horizon.

Impending problems require creative solutions. We all thought Nicastro would be back at Centre after missing the previous season with a knee injury. Ciraco was practically a bargain basement FA last year, and was a plug and play starting centre forcing Nicastro to Guard.

Don't underestimate the ability for the Argonauts to scour for a backup NAT Tackle, much like Ciraco possibly looking to boost his value on a 1 year deal. A lack of backup tackle today shouldn't preclude the team from at least considering Hunter at OT.

https://3downnation.com/2024/01/31/2...nsive-linemen/

David Knevel or Sean Jameison can be the reclamation projects at Tackle.

[Will]

The Argos made the Ciraco re-signing official.

[Tobin Rote]

Nice for sure ! - Argo interior 3 set with Ciraco, plus Hunter & Nicastro? Maybe means Dylan Giffen will like to sign somewhere as a FA for a chance to start ?

Giffen is already under contract with the Argos - right?

[OV Argo]

Giffen is already under contract with the Argos - right?

Yes - and Paul corrected my mistake above.

[OV Argo]

Impending problems require creative solutions. We all thought Nicastro would be back at Centre after missing the previous season with a knee injury. Ciraco was practically a bargain basement FA last year, and was a plug and play starting centre forcing Nicastro to Guard.

Don't underestimate the ability for the Argonauts to scour for a backup NAT Tackle, much like Ciraco possibly looking to boost his value on a 1 year deal. A lack of backup tackle today shouldn't preclude the team from at least considering Hunter at OT.

https://3downnation.com/2024/01/31/2...nsive-linemen/

David Knevel or Sean Jameison can be the reclamation projects at Tackle.

Als' Landon Rice was a CFL all-star OT before getting injured and losing his starting job last season; older guy now but maybe could be signed for fairly cheap. Philip Blake is still in the Riders' plans it seems.

And you have to replace any injured starter with a back-up and those guys are often not as good as the starter they are replacing; why it's such a worry to some CFL observers with regards to Canadian starters, I don't really get. Must be a "numbers game" thing? Who's the superstar import OT who is going to replace Allen or Cage if they get hurt ?

[AngeloV]

Als' Landon Rice was a CFL all-star OT before getting injured and losing his starting job last season; older guy now but maybe could be signed for fairly cheap. Philip Blake is still in the Riders' plans it seems.

And you have to replace any injured starter with a back-up and those guys are often not as good as the starter they are replacing; why it's such a worry to some CFL observers with regards to Canadian starters, I don't really get. Must be a "numbers game" thing? Who's the superstar import OT who is going to replace Allen or Cage if they get hurt ?

If either one gets hurt, Hunter slides to tackle and Giffen at guard. To me, this is the best scenario having Giffen as your #6 o-lineman. Great depth and flexibility.

[OV Argo]

If either one gets hurt, Hunter slides to tackle and Giffen at guard. To me, this is the best scenario having Giffen as your #6 o-lineman. Great depth and flexibility.

Argos are smart enough to dress 2 back-up O-linemen; be nice to have one of them with some OT ability; but having one of your starting OGs quite able to slide out to OT if necessary is nice; and Giffen was an all-star OT at Western.

[paulwoods13]

Hunter as the in-game backup at tackle makes all the sense in the world to me. And why would we not go with the same o-line that was -- by far, IMO -- best in the league last year? Looking to make a change there in order to change the ratio somewhere else would be tantamount to causing a bigger problem that you're solving, IMO. I'm on record as worrying a bit about where the minimum seven NATs will line up now that we've lost a NAT MLB, but going to four on the o-line would be my last resort. Far rather have three NAT receivers or one NAT on the d-line (even though both of those have associated issues to sort out) than disrupt one of the things that worked so well last year.

[paulwoods13]

Argos are smart enough to dress 2 back-up O-linemen; be nice to have one of them with some OT ability; but having one of your starting OGs quite able to slide out to OT if necessary is nice; and Giffen was an all-star OT at Western.

IMO the priorities for backups are, in order, 1a tackle, 1b centre, and 2 guard. Once you have 1a and 1b covered (which the Argos do with Hunter and Nicastro), the next need is someone who can fill in at guard. That's Giffen and MacKellar. IMO Giffen can also play tackle in a pinch, but if either Cage or Allen were to get injured during a game, Hunter would be my first choice as replacement. Then Giffen or MacKellar could replace Hunter.

[OV Argo]

The Argos interior 3 with Ciraco, Nicastro & Hunter is top notch (and both Ciraco & Nicastro have C ability to provide the depth there); plus Allen is a top OT as well.

Giffen & MacKellar as talented depth with experience is also very strong; both of these guys were all-star OTs in U Sports ball and might get a shot to compete for the other starting OT job; just like Hunter might get a shot at that OT job with Giffen going to OG if that's how things grade out.

[Shatto]

Back in late December, the Argos announced they had signed Isaiah Bowser. He was on the team's negotiation list. However he doesn't appear on the team's roster list. Did I miss something here or has Bowser not signed with the team? Anyone know?

[Mike Hogan]

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.