During the pre-free agency negotiation, the Tiger-Cats agreed with three defensive free agents. Media sources have reported that linebacker Jameer Thurman, defensive lineman Casey Sayles, and defensive end Kwaku Boateng have reached agreements with Hamilton. All three players bring skill sets that could help the Hamilton defence return to a championship performance level.

Linebacker Jameer Thurman is a 6’0″, 227-pound linebacker that has played four seasons with the Calgary Stampeders. During the 2022 season, Thurman produced 73 tackles, three interceptions, and two forced fumbles. The 28-year-old linebacker has played 64 games with Stampeders since 2017. During those 64 games, he accumulated 269 defensive tackles, 31 special teams tackles, six sacks, and six interceptions. In addition, to his time with the Stampeders, he also spent time with the Chicago Bears in 2019 and the XFL’s DC Defenders in 2020.

Defensive lineman Casey Sayles is a 6’4″, 282-pound defensive lineman that spent the 2021 and 2022 CFL seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. In 2021, Sayles provided 28 tackles and five sacks for the Grey Cup Champion Blue Bombers. In 2022, he produced 36 tackles, six sacks, and two forced fumbles. Sayles played college football at Ohio University from 2013 to 2016; at Ohio, he accumulated 110 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, six batted passes, and three recovered fumbles.

Defensive end Kwaku Boateng missed the 2022 season with a torn Achilles tendon. The injury occurred while Boateng participated in the 2022 training camp with the Ottawa Redblacks. Before joining the Redblacks, Boateng played four seasons with the Edmonton Elks. During his four seasons with the Elks, the 6’2″, 260-pound Boateng accumulated 83 tackles, 25 sacks, and one forced fumble while playing 64 games. Boateng is a former standout USports athlete while playing at Wilfrid Laurier University. While playing at Laurier, he produced 20.5 sacks and helped lead his team to a 2016 Yates Cup Championship.

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