Stampeders' first day of CFL free agency keys heavily on defence
Calgary club adds all-star defensive back Damon Webb, veteran linebacker Derrick Moncrief, Grey Cup-winning defender Fraser Sopik and versatile secondary talent Adrian Greene
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The focus on the first day of CFL free agency for the Calgary Stampeders was on fortifying the defence.
The Red and White brought in a handful of defenders — four more difference makers, they hope — after inking Canadian Football League all-star Damon Webb, veteran linebacker Derrick Moncrief, Grey Cup-winning defender Fraser Sopik and versatile secondary talent Adrian Greene.
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Stampeders' first day of CFL free agency keys heavily on defence Back to video
The deals were announced Tuesday, after Canadian Football League free agency kicked in for 2025.
Webb, a dynamic defensive back, a standout last year for the Ottawa Redblacks, was the first confirmed signing for the team in this winter’s free agency sweepstakes.
Not long after, they unveiled the news of Moncrief joining the squad.
And Sopik’s signing was announced a couple of hours later, as was Greene’s.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE STAMPS?
It’s more commitment offered in a mission to better themselves defensively, after the Stampeders stumbled last season in that department.
The Stamps are looking for more big-play, game-turning efforts from their personnel.
They started that process by trading for talented rush end Folarin Orimolade, in a push to get their sack totals up.
The Stampeders also retained Canadian linebacker Micah Teitz to further stabilize the defence and signed American defensive back Marloshawn Franklin Jr., who slotted in at both safety and strong-side linebacker for the Elks in 2023.
Now comes the addition of Webb, Moncrief, Sopik and Greene.
As a member of the Redblacks in 2024, Webb earned East Division and CFL all-star honours after a standout season that included a league-leading two interception-return touchdowns.
Moncrief brings seven years of three-down experience to the team and has twice been named a West Division all-star.
Sopik, who began his CFL career with the Stamps, was a massive part of the Toronto Argonauts’ Grey Cup victory in November with a forced fumble to go along with a special-teams tackle.
Greene, who was drafted in 2022 by the Lions, established a new career high with 26 defensive tackles in 2024 and also had five special-teams tackles, one forced fumble and four knockdowns.
WHO ELSE DID THE STAMPS SIGN ON DAY 1
• WR Tevin Jones hooks up with the Stamps after 47 games with the Elks and the Riders.
With the Elks in 2024, the former Pittsburgh Steelers pass-catcher led the CFL with an average of 18.3 yards per catch as he hauled in 40 passes for 731 yards and five touchdowns.
• RB Jeshrun Antwi returns home to join the Stamps after 68 regular-season games with the Montreal Alouettes and the BC Lions.
The 5-foot-11, 207-lb. Antwi is a Calgary kid who went on to 2,233 career rushing yards with the U SPORTS’ Calgary Dinos, including the Vanier Cup championship team of 2019.
WHICH STAMPS RE-SIGNED WITH OTHER TEAMS?
• LB Micah Awe, the 2023 CFL leader in tackles and league all-star with the Stamps, signed with the Lions.
• QB Tommy Stevens, the effective short-yardage QB and scorer of 25 touchdowns in 52 games with the Stamps, signed the Riders.
• QB Matt Shiltz, who threw for 438 yards and two TDs on 34-of-62 passing in a limited starting role, signed the Redblacks
• RB/KR Peyton Logan, who rushed for 889 yards on 136 carries and caught 42 passes for 330 receiving yards over 36 games with the Stamps, signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
• DB Kobe Williams, who amassed 136 defensive tackles with three interceptions and three forced fumbles in 48 games with the Stamps, signed with the Elks.
• LB Adam Konar, who spent just one year in Calgary and was mostly a special-teams player, signed with the Lions.
• WR Tyson Middlemost, who was with the Stamps for four seasons as primarily a special-teams player, signed with the Elks.
• WR Rysen John, the massive receiver who caught only four passes in two years after being drafted by the Stamps, signed with the Lions.
WHAT DO THE FOUR NEW DEFENDERS BRING?
The 30-year-old Webb is a 5-foot-11, 195-lb. graduate of the NCAA’s Ohio State Buckeyes.
The Detroit native was second in the league with eight tackles for loss and tied for third in the CFL with five interceptions.
In 18 regular-season games, Webb also had 68 defensive tackles, one special-teams stop, two sacks, one forced fumble and seven knockdowns. Both of Webb’s pick-sixes came in a Week 14 victory over the visiting Toronto Argonauts, including a 96-yard return. Webb also started the Eastern Semi-Final and made four tackles.
The Ohio State alum began his CFL career with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2021 and played 12 games for the Roughriders before signing with the Redblacks in 2022.
In 55 career CFL contests, he has 191 tackles including 14 tackles for loss, three sacks, 10 interceptions, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery for a touchdown and 13 knockdowns.
In 41 career games with the Buckeyes, Webb made 131 tackles and intercepted six passes including two that he returned for touchdowns.
Moncrief has agreed to terms with the Stampeders after seven years combined with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Edmonton Elks.
The NCAA Oklahoma State Cowboys graduate played one game with the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams in 2021 before returning to the CFL.
Moncrief, 32, has played 89 career CFL regular-season games with the Elks and the Roughriders. The Alabama native was a CFL all-star in 2019 and was the Elks nominee for Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2022.
In 2024, he signed on for his second stint with the Elks and started the final 14 games of the season at the strong-side (SAM) position. He made 50 tackles including four tackles for loss and added three sacks, one interception and one knockdown.
Moncrief, a 6-foot-1, 220-pounder, has 298 career tackles including 11 tackles for losses, nine special-teams tackles, 10 interceptions, one forced fumble and 19 knockdowns. He has played four playoff games and recorded 13 tackles, one special-teams stop, one forced fumble and two knockdowns.
Sopik, a 27-year-old Toronto native, was a fourth-round draft pick by the Stamps in 2019 and played 44 games over three seasons for the Red and White.
The former U SPORTS’ Western Ontario Mustangs star signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats as a free agent in 2023 before joining the Argos last year.
He played 15 games for the Boatmen last season and set a new career high with 57 defensive tackles. Sopik, a 6-foot, 209-pounder, also had six special-teams stops, one sack, one forced fumble and three knockdowns.
In 71 combined regular-season contests with the Stampeders, the Tiger-Cats and the Argonauts, Sopik has 90 defensive tackles including four tackles for losses, 45 special-teams tackles, five sacks, four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and four knockdowns.
Greene, 25, played 42 games for the Lions over the past three seasons. Over that period, he had 42 defensive tackles, 18 special-teams tackles, three interceptions, one forced fumble and five knockdowns.
The U SPORTS’ Saint Mary’s Huskies product also has seven defensive tackles and one special-teams stop in five career playoff appearances.
In 2024, the 6-foot-1, 185-lb. Toronto native played 16 regular-season games and made 14 starts. He shared the team lead with two interceptions, including one that he returned 50 yards in a Week 18 game against the Stampeders.
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