FREE-AGENT FRENZY ?: Look for the Ottawa Redblacks as big players before the 2022 season

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When you win only three times in 14 games, something has to change, right?

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So it stands to reason that the Ottawa Redblacks will look substantially different when they take the field for the 2022 season. How different it will look will be in the hands of whoever is named the Redblacks’ new general manager, a decision that is expected to be expected. take in the middle of next week. The team is believed to have concluded interviews with at least 10 candidates this week and will then seek second interviews with the finalists in the coming days.

The Canadian Soccer League sent out its official list of potential CFL free agents on Friday and there are plenty of stars that could be available once the league’s free agency period begins at noon on February 8.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers, champions of the Gray Cup for the past two seasons, have shown that continuity is a good thing when you’re good. But after a two-win expansion season, the Redblacks proved that a team can also be traded quickly with canny moves in free agency. Heading into the 2015 season, the Redblacks remade their anemic offense, adding offensive lineman SirVincent Rogers and wide receivers Greg Ellingson, Brad Sinopoli, Ernest Jackson and Chris Williams. It was a huge loot that would carry them through a 12-6 regular season and into the Gray Cup (a 26-20 loss to Edmonton).

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The Redblacks recently signed one-year contract extensions with several players, including returner DeVonte Dedmon, linebacker Avery Williams, kicker Lewis Ward, kicker Richie Leone, defensive backs Sherrod Baltimore, Brandin Dandridge and Justin Howell, the long pair. Louis-Philippe Bourassa and special teams. Brendan Gillanders and Nigel Romick. There will be some tough decisions to make among the players who were on the 2021 roster, a group that includes linebackers Micah Awe and Don Unamba, safety Antoine Pruneau, offensive linemen Mark Korte and Nolan MacMillan, defensive backs Randall Evans and Abdul Kanneh and wide receivers RJ Harris and Anthony Coombs.

You can bet that several of the best players in the league accept contracts before free agency begins and they won’t be on the market. There will also be players hoping to have an NFL look, so they won’t be signing anywhere right away.

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The Redblacks will need to improve substantially on the offensive line and as a receiver. Add a veteran quarterback to the wish list. So with that in mind, top targets might include BC’s Bryan Burnham and Lucky Whitehead, Calgary’s Reggie Begelton, Winnipeg’s Kenny Lawler, Montreal’s Jake Wieneke, and Saskatchewan’s Shaq Evans or Duke Williams. Offensive linemen Stanley Bryant or Brandon Revenberg would be great options if available. Quarterbacks on the market will likely include Trevor Harris and Dane Evans or Jeremiah Masoli. Or how much money would Zach Collaros get if he left Winnipeg?

Adding a Canadian broker would be a great move. Winnipeg’s Johnny Augustine and Brady Oliveira have starting potential. Sean Thomas-Erlington and Jackson Bennett of Hamilton have started CFL games.

There are a lot of defensive players that could have an impact. The roster includes excellent Ticats defensive linemen Dylan Wynn and Calgary’s Ja’Gared Davis and Mike Rose. Edmonton’s Mathieu Betts will also be a target. Ticats defensive back Tunde Adeleke, who is from Ottawa, will be near the top of everyone’s list. Royce Metchie of Calgary will also attract a lot of interest if it goes on the market.