The Tiger-Cats and general manager Ted Goveia are taking full advantage of Goveia’s previous relationships with current Winnipeg free agents. On the second day of the 2025 CFL negotiation period, the Tiger-Cats agreed to sign defensive lineman TyJuan Garbutt after Garbutt played the 2024 CFL season with the Blue Bombers. The Tiger-Cats have followed up with two more free agents from Winnipeg, American wide receiver Kenny Lawler, according to multiple media sources, including 3 Down Nation, and National offensive lineman Liam Dobson, according to a tweet by Farhan Lalji of TSN.

Before reaching an agreement on an offer that gives Kenny Lawler $275,000 for two seasons, Lawler was the highest-paid non-quarterback in the CFL, according to a CFL.ca article. Previously, Lawler played four seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and one season with the Edmonton Elks. In 2019, the BC Lions acquired Lawler, but he was later released and signed by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. During the 2019 and 2021 seasons, Lawler played in 29 games and caught 108 passes for 1,657 yards resulting in 10 touchdowns. Lawler significantly contributed to the Blue Bombers” two Grey Cup championships in 2019 and 2021.

In 2022, Lawler left Winnipeg to sign with the Edmonton Elks. During his one season with the Elks, Lawler played in 12 games, caught 58 passes for 894 yards, and scored five touchdowns. After the 2022 season, Lawler returned to Winnipeg for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. In his second stint with the Blue Bombers, Lawler played in 22 games, caught 91 passes for 1,563 yards, and scored ten touchdowns.

Before coming to the CFL, the Seattle Seahawks drafted the 6’2, 199-pound wide receiver for Pomona, California. During the 2016 and 2017 seasons, Lawler spent time on the Seahawks practice squad. Lawler played college football at the University of California from 2012 until 2015, playing in 35 games, catching 143 passes for 1,706 yards, and scoring 27 touchdowns.

In addition to Lawler coming Hamilton from Winnipeg, the Tiger-Cats have also reached an agreement to acquire Winnipeg offensive lineman Liam Dobson. Dobson is a 6’2″, 315-pound offensive lineman who is a native of Winnipeg, Manitoba. The Blue Bombers selected Dobson in the first round of the 2021 CFL Draft, and Dobson played three seasons with Winnipeg from 2022 until 2024.

Prior to coming to the CFL, Dobson played college football at the University of Maine from 2017 until 2019 and one season at Texas State University in 2021. While playing for the Black Bears, Dobson played in 32 games and started 27 of those games. During the 2021 season at Texas State, Dobson played 10 games and started all 10.

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