Now that the 2026 schedule has been released for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, the process of determining which free agents will return for 2026 picks up steam. The Tiger-Cats have numerous players who will become free agents when free agency starts in February 2026. But for the players the Tiger-Cats know they want to bring back, they need to be proactive about getting them extended for the future.
The first key player the Tiger-Cats have reached an agreement with is cornerback Jamal Peters, who has agreed to a 2-year contract extension.
The Tiger-Cats’ secondary has been a dominant force for Hamilton’s defense and is a big factor in the team’s big turnaround during the 2025 season. For the last two seasons, Jamal Peters has been an outstanding player in the Hamilton Tiger-Cats‘ defensive secondary. Extending Peters is an early indication that Hamilton is committed to bringing back the players that helped the Tiger-Cats turn the corner away from mediocrity.
Since signing with the Tiger-Cats before the 2024 season, Peters has played in 30 games for Hamilton. During that time, he has recorded 88 solo tackles and 10 interceptions. The 2025 season was Peters’ best with Hamilton, with 50 solo tackles, 6 interceptions, and one defensive touchdown. Peters shared the lead for the most interceptions in the CFL with Tiger-Cats safety Stavros Katsantonis.
Other Additions to the Tiger-Cats Roster
In addition to extending the contract for Jamal Peters, the Tiger-Cats have also recently signed two other additions to their 2026 roster. According to the CFL Transactions list, the Tiger-Cats have signed American defensive back Cameron Stone and American wide receiver Blayne Taylor. Both players join the Tiger-Cats roster with hopes to prove that they have what it takes to make an impact on the field for Hamilton.
American defensive back Cameron Stone is a 5-10, 200-pounder who spent part of the 2025 CFL season with the BC Lions. While playing for the Lions, Stone appeared in two games and posted 6 solo tackles. Before coming to the CFL, Stone played college football at the University of Wyoming from 2020 until 2022 and at the University of Hawaii from 2023 until 2024. While playing for Wyoming, Stone played in 28 games, recording 32 solo tackles, 13 assists, two interceptions, and a defensive touchdown. During his time with the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors, Stone played in 23 games and registered 44 solo tackles, 18 assists, and three interceptions.
Blayne Taylor is a 6-3, 212-pound American wide receiver who spent time with the Indianapolis Colts during the 2025 NFL season. Taylor started his college football career at Cisco Junior College, where he played from 2020 until 2021 and caught 22 passes for 261 yards. In 2022, Taylor transferred to Abilene Christian University, where he played in 36 games for the Wildcats from 2022 until 2024. While playing for Abilene Christian, Taylor caught 133 passes for 2,026 yards and scored 17 touchdowns.
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