For the first part of the 2026 CFL legal tampering period before free agency, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have taken a conservative approach to pursuing free agents. On the first day, the Tiger-Cats were to officially sign National quarterback Tre Ford and American offensive Eric Lofton. Things may start accelerating soon after the Tiger-Cats and wide receiver Kenny Lawler agreed to a re-worked contract in an effort to create more space in the salary cap.
However, the Tiger-Cats reached agreements with two other free agents, but neither is considered a big-name player. Since both are Canadian players, they will help the Tiger-Cats with the Ratio Rule. The two most recent free agents the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have reached an agreement with are defensive end Kene Onyeka and wide receiver Tyson Middlemost. In addition, both players have the opportunity to be significant contributors on special teams, making them very valuable to the Tiger-Cats.
Kene Onyeka is a 6’3″, 244-pound defensive end who played U Sports football at Carleton. Onyeka has played for the Ottawa Redblacks for the last six seasons, and during that time, Onyeka played in 81 games. During his CFL career, Onyeka has recorded 56 total tackles and 11.0 quarterback sacks. However, during the 2025 season, Onyeka registered only 1 solo tackle across 15 games for the Redblacks.
What Kene Onyeka brings to the Tiger-Cats is his overall athleticism and versatility. While Onyeka has proven that he is a productive pass rusher, he truly shines on special teams. Onyeka can be a better player than he has been so far in his CFL career, but he had a late start because he stayed in college to finish his engineering degree before starting his CFL career.
Tyson Middlemost is a 6’1″, 205-pound wide receiver who played U Sports football at McMaster. Middlemost started his CFL career with the Calgary Stampeders, where he played from 2021 until 2024. During that time, Middlemost caught 8 passes for 87 yards, and he returned 4 kicks for 65 yards. In 2025, Middlemost moved on to the Edmonton Elks, where he played in 15 games and caught 5 passes for 34 yards.
Similar to Onyeka, Middlemost is versatile and has built a reputation for mental toughness. Where Middlemost shines is as a special teams contributor, but his physical play and speed could give him a chance to play an expanded role. Middlemost has struggled with changing direction and has had to deal with injuries during his CFL career, but with some time and development, he could be a valuable asset for the Tiger-Cats.
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