2025-26 Off-Season Transactions

[ArgoRavi]

Ryder Varga has been released. That trade sure worked out well.

I disagree. I thought it was surprising Varga got extended in the offseason. With the drafting of Mackenzie in the 3rd Round of last night's Amateur Draft, Varga became expendable. He will end up in either Saskatchewan or BC.

Varga was a disappointment last season, including not playing particularly well on special teams. Somebody was on their way out after the draft last night. Jim Barker has already admitted that trading Allen was a bad move but you can only move forward.

[OV Argo]

Ryder Varga has been released. That trade sure worked out well.

I disagree. I thought it was surprising Varga got extended in the offseason. With the drafting of Mackenzie in the 3rd Round of last night's Amateur Draft, Varga became expendable. He will end up in either Saskatchewan or BC.

Varga was a disappointment last season, including not playing particularly well on special teams. Somebody was on their way out after the draft last night. Jim Barker has already admitted that trading Allen was a bad move but you can only move forward.

Varga got basically zero chance to play on the Argo D last season after being excellent playing inside LB on the BC D the year before; as far as not "well" on STs, I guess I missed that. Notice top draft pick Ojo got zero playing time on D last season either. When the D is run by typical GOBs who would rather hand playing time to their guys from the USA, gee, how CFL surprising.

IF Miller is a 7 only need apply type. it will likely be just Judge and a Canadian D-lineman (Kongbo, Shand) in the rotation, for 2 Nationals on D and then 5 will play on O (3 interior O-line + 2 receivers)

[ArgoRavi]

I disagree. I thought it was surprising Varga got extended in the offseason. With the drafting of Mackenzie in the 3rd Round of last night's Amateur Draft, Varga became expendable. He will end up in either Saskatchewan or BC.

Varga was a disappointment last season, including not playing particularly well on special teams. Somebody was on their way out after the draft last night. Jim Barker has already admitted that trading Allen was a bad move but you can only move forward.

Varga got basically zero chance to play on the Argo D last season after being excellent playing inside LB on the BC D the year before; as far as not "well" on STs, I guess I missed that. Notice top draft pick Ojo got zero playing time on D last season either. When the D is run by typical GOBs who would rather hand playing time to their guys from the USA, gee, how CFL surprising.

IF Miller is a 7 only need apply type. it will likely be just Judge and a Canadian D-lineman (Kongbo, Shand) in the rotation, for 2 Nationals on D and then 5 will play on O (3 interior O-line + 2 receivers)

I recall Varga being responsible for at least one special teams TD against the Argos because he messed up his assignment. He never seemed to make an impact on special teams and wasn't good enough to supplant anyone on defence. I was surprised that they initially re-signed him.

[OV Argo]

Varga was a disappointment last season, including not playing particularly well on special teams. Somebody was on their way out after the draft last night. Jim Barker has already admitted that trading Allen was a bad move but you can only move forward.

Varga got basically zero chance to play on the Argo D last season after being excellent playing inside LB on the BC D the year before; as far as not "well" on STs, I guess I missed that. Notice top draft pick Ojo got zero playing time on D last season either. When the D is run by typical GOBs who would rather hand playing time to their guys from the USA, gee, how CFL surprising.

IF Miller is a 7 only need apply type. it will likely be just Judge and a Canadian D-lineman (Kongbo, Shand) in the rotation, for 2 Nationals on D and then 5 will play on O (3 interior O-line + 2 receivers)

I recall Varga being responsible for at least one special teams TD against the Argos because he messed up his assignment. He never seemed to make an impact on special teams and wasn't good enough to supplant anyone on defence. I was surprised that they initially re-signed him.

Rookie cheap-o CFL contracts will allow young, new guys to replace veterans who are considered mostly back-ups or special teamers, and likely with a few years experience, will be making 100K or so (?); so guys like McKenzie or Rayam could replace a Varga or Herdman-Reed and the team frees up 50K or so SM$ room. The rookies might have to show they can play tough on STs; they don't have to be as good a linebacker, and the Americans first coaches don't want them playing on their D anyhow (unless as emergency injury replacements).

Smarter coaching staffs are able to smartly deploy most of their talent across all positions - Varga, Cassar and Ojo getting zero playing time on D last year says something; while almost every year, CFL teams hand D playing time to new American players (see Mason Pierce or Derek Parish or Slwyka & Casey last season). This speaks GOB volumes, IMO.

[ARGO57]

Argonauts released LB Ryder Varga.

https://3downnation.com/2026/05/01/toro ... der-varga/

[ArgoRavi]

Argonauts released LB Ryder Varga.

https://3downnation.com/2026/05/01/toro ... der-varga/

Worth noting that Varga sustained a knee injury last September that he has yet to recover from. That may explain his play last season to some degree and his release now to a great degree.

[ARGO57]

Argonauts released LB Ryder Varga.

https://3downnation.com/2026/05/01/toro ... der-varga/

Worth noting that Varga sustained a knee injury last September that he has yet to recover from. That may explain his play last season to some degree and his release now to a great degree.

Perhaps explains drafting a LB the other day.

[OV Argo]

The Argos have signed undrafted FAs - Keegan O'Neil - O-line (Western - OUA all-star plus Combine bench press leader) and long-snapper Chris Liberta (Concordia).

Nice to see the team pay attention to Canadian talent from various sources - the draft, plus FAs; the off-season signings of undrafted receiver Tristan Ready (Carleton) and former CFL top draft pick E. Makonzo (started at S-OLB some for the EE a few years back), was some evidence of this. Hope some of these new additions can step-up at TC to make the roster and an impact for the team.

[ArgoRavi]

The Argos have signed undrafted FAs - Keegan O'Neil - O-line (Western - OUA all-star plus Combine bench press leader) and long-snapper Chris Liberta (Concordia).

Nice to see the team pay attention to Canadian talent from various sources - the draft, plus FAs; the off-season signings of undrafted receiver Tristan Ready (Carleton) and former CFL top draft pick E. Makonzo (started at S-OLB some for the EE a few years back), was some evidence of this. Hope some of these new additions can step-up at TC to make the roster and an impact for the team.

Coty Wiles of TSN had O'Neil as his top-ranked undrafted free agent.

[gilthethrill]

The Argos have signed undrafted FAs - Keegan O'Neil - O-line (Western - OUA all-star plus Combine bench press leader) and long-snapper Chris Liberta (Concordia).

Nice to see the team pay attention to Canadian talent from various sources - the draft, plus FAs; the off-season signings of undrafted receiver Tristan Ready (Carleton) and former CFL top draft pick E. Makonzo (started at S-OLB some for the EE a few years back), was some evidence of this. Hope some of these new additions can step-up at TC to make the roster and an impact for the team.

Coty Wiles of TSN had O'Neil as his top-ranked undrafted free agent.

Near the completion of the Amateur Draft, I think I recall both JC & Ben commenting that since the O Line draft was so deep this year, that in other years O'Neil would have been selected early. Good job by Argos front office for restocking the Canadian talent, despite what Marshall Ferguson says.