In an annual disclosure mandated since the 2018 Winter Meetings, the nine franchises of the Canadian Football League (CFL) have lifted the veil on ten players each from their negotiation lists this fall. The specified bi-annual revelations, happening in September and December, allow enthusiasts and analysts alike to speculate on the dynamics and strategies that the teams might adopt in the forthcoming seasons.

Under CFL by-laws, teams enjoy the exclusive rights to negotiate with up to 45 players, a list that is dynamic and permits additions, removals, and trades at any given moment. The recently disclosed names join the ranks of previously noted players such as Dustin Crum, Tevin Jones, and Lucky Whitehead, among others, bringing fresh narratives and speculations to the CFL landscape.

Let’s delve into the details of the newly unveiled talents and what they bring to each team:

BC Lions

Seizing the spotlight are a significant number of Quarterbacks including Arizona’s Jayden De Laura and Coastal Carolina’s stand-out, Grayson McCall. Also on the list are wide receivers like Devron Harper from Mercer who are anticipated to make a substantial impact.

• Jayden De Laura | QB | Arizona
• Devron Harper | WR | Mercer
• Smoke Harris | WR | Louisiana Tech
• Jermaine Jackson | WR | Idaho
• Grayson McCall | QB | Coastal Carolina
• Gevani McCoy | QB | Idaho
• Tommy Mellott | QB | Montana State
• Chandler Morris | QB | TCU
• Garrett Nussmeier | QB | Louisiana State
• Cameron Ward | QB | Washington State

Edmonton Elks

Maryland’s own Dontay Demus finds a spot in the negotiation list, along with a sturdy lineup of quarterbacks including Holton Ahlers from East Carolina, promising an intensified offense in the upcoming season.

• Holton Ahlers | QB | East Carolina
• Troy Brown | LB | Mississippi
• Dontay Demus | WR | Maryland
• Matt McDonald ​ | QB | Bowling Green
• Nicolas Melsop | OL | Delta State
• Cameron Rising | QB | Utah
• Spencer Sanders | QB | Mississippi
• Spencer Waege | DL | North Dakota State
• BJ Wilson | OL | Quincy
• Dresser Winn | QB | Tennessee Martin

Calgary Stampeders

The Stampeders are bolstering their roster with a mix of offensive and defensive potentials. Names like Austin Aune from North Texas and Florida State’s Auden Tate speak volumes about the team’s forward-thinking approach.

• Austin Aune | QB | North Texas
• James Blackman | QB | Arkansas State
• Davis Brin | QB | Georgia Southern
• Jalen Dalton | DL | North Carolina
• Jerome Kapp | WR | Kutztown
• Pita Taumoepenu | DL | Utah
• Auden Tate | WR | Florida State
• Adarius Taylor | LB | Florida Atlantic
• Kyle Vantrease | QB | Georgia Southern
• Chris Westry | DB | Kentucky

Saskatchewan Roughriders

With the introduction of Mississippi’s Jordan Ta’Amu and Georgia’s wide receiver Javon Wims, the Roughriders are clearly eyeing an augmented offensive line, coupled with the fortified defensive line prospects like Nebraska’s Carlos Davis.

• Carlos Davis | DL | Nebraska
• Sebastian Gutierrez | OL | Minot State
• Lewis Kidd | OL | Montana State
• Storey Jackson | LB | Liberty
• Scott Lashley | OL | Mississippi State
• Caleb Sanders | DL | South Dakota State
• Jordan Ta’Amu | QB | Mississippi
• Brayden Thomas | DL | North Dakota State
• John Ursua | WR | Hawaii
• Javon Wims | WR | Georgia

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Notre Dame’s quarterback Ian Book and Syracuse’s Garrett Shrader headline the Blue Bombers’ list, promising an upgraded offensive strategy in the next season that CFL enthusiasts should keenly watch out for.

• Levi Bell | DL | Texas State
• Quinton Bell | DL | Prairie View
• Ian Book | QB | Notre Dame
• Carter Bradley | QB | South Alabama
• Kuony Deng | DL | California
• Darren Grainger | QB | Georgia State
• Mark Gronowski | QB | ​ South Dakota State
• Oliver Martin | WR | Nebraska
• Garrett Shrader | QB | Syracuse
• Ontaria Wilson | WR | Florida State

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

With names like Blake Shapen from Baylor and Florida Atlantic’s Casey Thompson, the Tiger-Cats are seemingly concentrating on fostering a strong quarterback line, hinting at a strategic shift in their game play.

• Dequan Finn | QB | Toledo
• Daniel Isom | DB | Washington State
• Johnny King | WR | Southeast Missouri State
• Jason Lewan | DL | Illinois State
• Travez Moore | DL | Arizona State
• Blake Shapen | QB | Baylor
• Casey Thompson | QB | Florida Atlantic
• Badara Traore | OL | Louisiana State
• David Vereen | DB | Newberry
• Jalen Wayne | WR | South Alabama

Toronto Argonauts

Rocky Lombardi from Northern Illinois and John Rhys Plumlee from Central Florida highlight the Argonauts’ negotiation list. The choices reflect an aspiration for a more robust and dynamic offense in the upcoming seasons.

• Jordan Ferguson | DL | Middle Tennessee State
• Justin Ford | DB | Montana
• Eric Garror | DB | Louisiana
• Maalik Hall | DL | Southeastern Oklahoma State
• Nolan Henderson | QB | Delaware
• Rocky Lombardi | QB | Northern Illinois
• John Matocha | QB | Colorado School of Mines
• Anthony Montalvo | DL | Central Florida
• John Rhys Plumlee | QB | Central Florida
• Matt Sluka | QB | Holy Cross

Ottawa Redblacks

The Redblacks are betting on quarterbacks like Ben Bryant from Northwestern and running back Kylin Hill from Mississippi State to bring vibrancy and depth to their offensive strategy, promising a reinvigorated performance in the future.

• Ben Bryant | QB | Northwestern
• Jayden Daniels | QB | Louisiana State
• Tim Demorat | QB | Fordham
• Kylin Hill | RB | Mississippi State
• Mac Hippenhammer | WR | Miami (Ohio)
• Garett Maag | WR | North Dakota
• Matthew McKay | QB | Elon University
• Tanner Morgan | QB | Minnesota
• David Perales | DL | Fresno State
• Kalil Pimpleton | WR | Central Michigan

Montreal Alouettes

Cade McNamara from Iowa and EJ Perry from Brown find themselves in the negotiation list of the Alouettes, marking a strategic move towards strengthening both their offensive and defensive lines with fresh talents.

• Shawn Davis | DB| Florida
• Kenderick Duncan | LB | Louisville
• Grant Hermanns | OL | Purdue
• Cade McNamara | QB | ​ Iowa
• TD Moultry | DL | Auburn
• Daviyon Nixon | DL | Iowa
• EJ Perry ​ | QB | Brown
• Lindsey Scott Jr. | QB | Incarnate Word
• Nigel Warrior | DB | Tennessee
• Christian Young | LB | Arizona

As CFL aficionados, analysts, and the franchises themselves weigh the potential impacts of these negotiations, it is certain that the unveiling has set the stage for an exhilarating discourse in the CFL community. Stay tuned as we continue to bring you the detailed analyses and predictions on how these negotiations might shape the forthcoming CFL season, only on your trusted source for all things football.