If the Hamilton Tiger-Cats intend to return to a position where they can contend for a Grey Cup championship in 2025, they must improve one of the worst defensive front seven units in the CFL. The only bright spot for the Tiger-Cats defence was the performance of their defensive backfield. To start the new year, the Tiger-Cats are getting ready to make moves to find solutions to their problems in the front seven of their defence.
The CFL Transactions list shows that the Tiger-Cats have re-negotiated the contracts of standout defensive backs Stavros Katsantonis and Jamal Peters. This move allows the Tiger-Cats to retain the services of two of their best defensive backs and solidifies the strongest portion of their defence. Restructuring the contracts of Katsantonis and Peters creates financial flexibility for the Tiger-Cats so that they can pursue free agents in 2025.
The willingness to re-negotiate their contracts shows that Katsantonis and Peters are aware that they must make some sacrifices if Hamilton is going to be able to improve a porous defensive front. Katsantonis has grown into a leadership role for the Tiger-Cats during the last four seasons, but while he has excelled individually, he does not have a Grey Cup championship for his efforts. In 2024, the Tiger-Cats signed Jamal Peters to bring in players who know what it takes to win a Grey Cup and to make that happen; Hamilton needs to be able to make some moves heading into the 2025 season.
During the 2024 season, the 5’8″, 188-pound Katsantonis played in 14 games for the Tiger-Cats, and he recorded 56 tackles, one quarterback sack, and one interception. Since 2023, Katsantonis has grown into the leader of the Tiger-Cats defensive backfield. Katsantonis has spent his entire CFL career with the Tiger-Cats and has played in 55 games for Hamilton. During that time, he had 131 defensive tackles, 26 special teams tackles, three quarterback sacks, six interceptions, and scored one defensive touchdown.
Jamal Peters was one of the most significant acquisitions for the Tiger-Cats during the free agency period in 2024. During the 2024 season, Peters played in 14 games and recorded 38 tackles and four interceptions. At the same time, those numbers are not all that impressive. Peters has shown the ability to be a big-time playmaker. Before coming to Hamilton, Peters played three seasons with the Toronto Argonauts and won a Grey Cup championship in 2022. Peters’ career stats in the CFL include 15 interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, and 158 tackles, and in 2022, he recorded seven quarterback sacks.
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