The Hamilton Tiger-Cats continue to make moves to re-sign critical players on the eve of the official start of the CFL free agency period. Today, the Tiger-Cats announced that veteran defensive back Richard Leonard has agreed to re-sign with the Tiger-Cats. Hamilton also decided to re-sign American wide receiver Terry Godwin, according to 3 Down Nation. Leonard and Godwin are the latest Tiger-Cats to commit to returning to Hamilton for the 2024 season, joining defensive lineman Casey Sayles, who agreed to restructure his contract at the end of last week.
Defensive back Richard Leonard played in 16 games for the Tiger-Cats during the 2023 season. During those 16 games, Leonard had 48 defensive tackles, two for loss, one quarterback sack, three interceptions, nine pass deflections, and one fumble recovery. Leonard will join standout defensive back Jamal Peters after Peters agreed to terms with the Tiger-Cats during the pre-free agency negotiation period.
Leonard is a six-year CFL veteran who has played in 96 games during his career in the CFL. Leonard spent five of his six seasons with the Tiger-Cats (2017-2019, 2022-2023) and the 2021 season with the Calgary Stampeders. During his CFL career, Leonard had recorded 317 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, three quarterback sacks, 20 interceptions, 52 pass deflections, forced four fumbles, recovered five fumbles, and scored three defensive touchdowns.
Wide Receiver Terry Godwin has signed a one-year extension to remain with the Tiger-Cats during the 2024 season. During the 2023 season, Godwin had his best season in the CFL while playing in 17 games for the Tiger-Cats and catching 68 passes for 864 yards and six touchdowns. Godwin started his CFL career in 2022, playing in two games with Hamilton and catching six passes for 107 yards.
The 5’11”, 185-pound Godwin played college football at the University of Georgia from 2015 until 2018. While playing at Georgia, Godwin played in 52 games, caught 134 passes for 1,800 yards, and scored 11 touchdowns. Before coming to the CFL, the Carolina Panthers selected Godwin in the seventh round of the 2019 NFL draft, and he played in three games for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020.
Role Player Cross Extends His Career in Hamilton
Along with re-signing Leonard and Godwin, the Tiger-Cats also re-signed National linebacker Nick Cross, according to the CFL Transactions list. Cross has played for Hamilton for three seasons (2021-2023) and in 34 games. During his career with Hamilton, he has recorded 38 special teams tackles and two defensive tackles, forcing one fumble. Cross played U Sports football at the University of British Columbia.
Chris Edwards Announces Retirement From the CFL
Strong-side linebacker Chris Edwards has announced that he has decided to retire from the CFL. The Tiger-Cats signed Edwards after he had helped the Toronto Argonauts win the Grey Cup during the 2022 season. Hamilton had previously indicated that they were not interested in re-signing Edwards after Edwards had been penalized and suspended by the CFL multiple times for unsportsmanlike behavior.
During his CFL career, the 31-year-old Edwards played for the Edmonton Elks, BC Lions, Toronto Argonauts, and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. During his career, Edwards recorded 231 defensive tackles, ten special teams tackles, ten interceptions, eight quarterback sacks, and five forced fumbles, and he scored one defensive touchdown. Edwards was a CFL All-Star during the 2021 season.
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