As the 2024 team continues to take shape the Stampeders have had a busy May of cutting and signing players. From the 2024 draft they chose to sign six players to the team.

Primary among them is fourth overall pick Ben Labrosse. The McGill defensive back returned to the Stamps after attending a rookie mini camp with the New York Giants which wrapped up Sunday.

Standing six feet tall and weighing in at 189lbs Labrosse spent 2023 focusing on his education. In 2022 he managed 35 tackles and 3 interceptions. On 4 punt returns he averaged 19.8 yards per and on 6 kick returns he averaged 20.2 yards.

Some were surprised to see the Stamps using their first pick to take a player who hasn’t played since 2022. In an interview with TSN General Manager and Head Coach Dave Dickenson said he is excited to have Labrosse on the team. Dickenson said he sees Labrosse as “different than anyone else in the draft.”

The Stampeders have signed six other players from the 2024 draft. With their 8^th overall pick the Stamps acquired offensive lineman Christy Nkanu who started at nearly every spot across the offensive line.

Two defensive linemen were among those signed. Third round pick George Idoko and fourth rounder Jason Janvier-Messier were signed. Calgary product Idoko suited up for Sask U where he had 40 tackles in 4 seasons including 4 sacks. Janvier-Messier missed 2023 due to an elbow injury. Between 2021 and 2022 he got 37 tackles and 5.5 sacks.

Additional signings from the draft class were fullback Paul-Antoine Ouellette (fifth round), and defensive backs Jackson Sombach (7^th round) and Kaylyn St-Cyr (8th round).

Thursday the 15^th required teams to reduce their roster to 75 players, not counting Canadian rookies. The Stampeders cut 10 players.

The most noticeable cuts made were American quarterback Chris Reynolds and Canadian defensive lineman TJ Rayam who each spent last season with the Stamps. Reynolds made only 2 passes for the Stamps last season but threw over 10,266 yards in college with 84 touchdowns and 35 interceptions. Rayam had spent two years with the Stamps. He managed 10 tackles and 3 sacks.

“It’s never easy,” Dickenson said of the cuts. “It doesn’t mean we don’t care about those guys. But it is just the reality of our business.”