After a 2022 season in which starting quarterback Dane Evans turned the ball over 23 times, the Tiger-Cats are making it a priority to improve their quarterback situation. The first major off-season move for the Tiger-Cats is to acquire the rights to the former starting quarterback of the Calgary Stampeders.
Mitchell is set to be a free agent after a 2022 season that resulted in him being relegated to a backup role in favor of Jake Maier. After going 12/22 for 138 yards for the Stampeders in last week’s Western semi-final game, Mitchell indicated that his time was coming to an end with the Stampeders and that the “writing was on the wall”.
The 32-year-old quarterback also reflected on his career with Calgary “It’s been an amazing ride, and amazing career for that chapter. And I just appreciate it and everybody that’s given me the opportunity. I look forward to the next part.” It appears that the next part could be an opportunity to revitalize his career with the Tiger-Cats.
Bo Levi Mitchell became a Stampeder in 2012, and he had an outstanding career with the Stampeders. Mitchell led the Stampeders to Grey Cup championships in 2014 and 2018. He was also named the CFL’s MOP in 2016 and 2018. Mitchell did begin the 2022 season as the starter for the Stampeders and did produce 2010 passing yards, 9 touchdowns, and threw 6 interceptions.
After Calgary started the process of establishing Jake Maier as the new starting quarterback, it had been reported that Mitchell was not interested in finishing his career as a backup. With that in mind, it can be assumed that this acquisition by the Tiger-Cats is an effort to bring in an established starting quality quarterback to lead their offence in 2023.
At this time the Tiger-Cats do have a very full quarterback room with last year’s starter Dane Evans, backups Matt Shiltz and Jamie Newman. With Evans holding the title and contract of a starting quarterback it seems as if the Tiger-Cats will need to decide Evan’s future with the Tiger-Cats. Evans struggled with inconsistent efforts in his first year as the Tiger-Cat’s starting quarterback, but even with these struggles, he most likely will not embrace his relegation to a backup quarterback position.
This will be among the challenges the Tiger-Cats face this off-season as they make moves to put themselves back into position to play for the Grey Cup in 2023. We will keep a close eye on Hamilton’s quarterback situation in response to this interesting move to acquire the rights to Bo Levi Mitchell.
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