How the Ottawa Redblacks have been one of the busiest CFL teams heading into free agency
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Barring any secret handshaking that has gone unreported, the Ottawa Redblacks have thus far been the second-busiest team leading up to and during the CFL’s one-week legal tampering period.
With the window closing Sunday at noon, it appears only the Edmonton Elks have either acquired or reached agreements with more pending free agents.
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The website 3DownNation shows Elks general manager Ed Hervey has added 16 new players while Ottawa GM Shawn Burke has padded his roster by 12 after walking away from receiver Dom Rhymes, offensive lineman Cyrille Hogan-Saindon and defensive backs Brandon Dandridge and Damon Webb.
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The number of additions for the Redblacks is actually 11, Postmedia has learned, as a deal to bring in Tre Roberson — the grandson of former Edmonton Eskimos great Larry Highbaugh — has fallen through due to reasons unrelated to the salary cap.
The league breakdown, according to 3DN, is as follows:
Edmonton: 16
Ottawa: (Adjusted to) 11
Hamilton: 9
Calgary: 9
Winnipeg: 8
Saskatchewan: 7
B.C.: 7
Toronto: 5
Montreal: 4
After the tampering window closes, there’s a two-day “cooling off” period leading into the opening of the free-agent market Tuesday at noon.
How could the numbers change?
Midway through the tampering period, the CFL and CFLPA announced that the salary cap was increasing by $412,356 in 2025.
Theoretically, players who have reached agreements with new teams could have their minds changed during the cooling-off period by their former team, or other teams, that suddenly find themselves with extra cash to spend.
The timing of the announcement was curious, to say the least.
“It’s absolutely ridiculous that it came out today,” Blue Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros told the Winnipeg Sun‘s Paul Friesen on Wednesday. “It’s absurd. It affects a lot of things. Not just the last three days. I’m not involved with the Players Association to really comment on the why, but I had a lot of phone calls when I finished up a workout this morning (asking) what’s going on?”
Collaros went on to say that he hopes his team uses the opportunity to re-sign his star receiver, Kenny Lawler, who has reportedly agreed to a deal with the Tiger-Cats.
“That’d be a no-brainer to me,” Collaros said.
The Redblacks may have similar concerns about Eugene Lewis, the prized catch of their work this week.
It’s believed the star receiver is scheduled to travel to Ottawa next week, but that could change should the Elks decide they now have the money and interest in re-signing him.
Then again, Lewis could be unlike Frank Cushman’s dad In the 1996 flick Jerry Maguire. Remember, he reneged on a handshake deal after claiming his “word is as strong as oak.”
Who is the latest to reach a deal with the Redblacks and why was he a priority?
That would be former Saskatchewan offensive lineman Peter Godber, a 6-foot-3, 300-pounder who was the third-overall pick of the Lions in 2018.
Godber is a 30-year-old centre that Pro Football Focus has ranked as one of the best in the league over the past three years.
The Toronto native and product of Rice University signed with the Roughriders in 2023 and last season spent the final six games on the injured list with an ankle issue before returning to play in the West semifinal and final.
While the terms of his deal with Ottawa are unknown, it has been reported that Godber earned $165,000 last season in Saskatchewan.
The Redblacks needed to fill a gaping hole in the middle after giving up on Hogan-Saindon, who reportedly has reached a deal with the Alouettes.
Eric Starczala made his first CFL starts when he stepped in as a replacement for the final 10 games.
What have the Redblacks added heading into the opening of the free-agent market?
Acquired: Two RBs, American William Stanback (Lions) and Canadian Daniel Adeboboye (Argos), American OL Kendrick Sartor (Tiger-Cats), Canadian DL Deionte Knight (Tiger-Cats) and Canadian receiver Jeremy Murphy (Blue Bombers).
Agreed to terms with: American WR Eugene Lewis (Elks), Canadian C Peter Godber (Roughriders), American QB Matt Shiltz (Stampeders), American DBs Amari Henderson (Roughriders), Nafrees Lyon (Alouettes) and Robert Priester (Argos).
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