CFL free agency: Tiger-Cats on the hunt for talent across the board
The Canadian Football League‘s free agency floodgates officially opened just after noon Eastern Time Tuesday, allowing teams to attract talented players to restock and improve their rosters.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats already made the biggest splash in the offseason with the signing of new No. 1 quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell and the front office has been working to add more elite players to the mix.
The Ticats reportedly signed a number of players during the CFL’s free agency negotiation window from Feb. 5-12, including middle linebacker Jameer Thurman of the Calgary Stampeders, B.C. Lions running back James Butler and defensive lineman Casey Sayles of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The club has yet to officially confirm those contracts have been signed.
Tuesday afternoon, the franchise confirmed defensive back Javien Elliott had signed to a two-year deal with the Cats.
Elliott, 29, registered eight defensive tackles in four games with the Calgary Stampeders in 2022.
The 5’10, 185-pound native of Panama City, Florida has played five games over two seasons with the Stampeders (2021-22) registering 12 defensive tackles.
We've signed 🇺🇸 DB Javien Elliott
✍️ | https://t.co/DdlOWB1AGY#Ticats | #CFL pic.twitter.com/JQvxKD2nxn
— Hamilton Tiger-Cats (@Ticats) February 14, 2023
Receiver D’haquille “Duke” Williams was also brought on by the Cats Tuesday.
Williams, 29, suited up in eight regular season games for the Saskatchewan Roughriders last season, registering 29 receptions for 480 yards and four receiving touchdowns.
He’s played 43 games over four seasons in the Canadian Football League with the Roughriders (2021-22) and Edmonton (2017-18).
We've signed 🇺🇸 WR Duke Williams
✍️ | https://t.co/dge8lc2nG2#Ticats | #CFL pic.twitter.com/M1X9Mu2seO
— Hamilton Tiger-Cats (@Ticats) February 14, 2023
Find the CFL’s free-agent tracker on their website.
The Tiger-Cats were said to be targeting other free agents, including B.C. left tackle Joel Figueroa, Toronto Argonauts defensive end Ja’Gared Davis and DE Kwaku Boateng from the Edmonton Elks.
Hamilton, which finished last season in third place in the East Division at 8-10, has also lost some familiar names to other teams, including defensive end Julian Howsare to Calgary and defensive back Cariel Brooks to the Ottawa Redblacks.
In other marquee signings across the league, Edmonton has inked receiver Geno Lewis, Winnipeg is bringing receiver Kenny Lawler back into the fold, and Montreal has signed QB Cody Fajardo.
by 900 CHML
