The Toronto Argonauts have re-signed six pending free agents for the 2024 season. Two months before CFL free agency begins. Prior to these latest transactions, the Argos had 32 players scheduled to become free agents in the new league year.
There seems to be a significant amount of mainstream sports interest in Toronto happenings or nonoccurrences with MLB superstar free-agent Shohei Otani. But the 150-year-old Argonauts were also making noise today.
Back for another year with the Boatmen is Canadian Offensive lineman Dylan Giffen, who played in 13 games this past season. The versatile 6’8 Ontario native has been with Toronto since being drafted out of Western University as a third-round selection in 2020.
The Argonauts have re-signed two other Canadians who are recent draft picks by the club. Offensive Linemen Edouard Paradis (5th round 2023) and Wide Receiver Richard Burton (6th round 2023).
Returning to the Argonauts’ secondary is American DB Maurice Carnell IV. The California-born Carnell had a breakout campaign with four interceptions for the 2022 Grey Cup Argos Championship squad. But a knee injury derailed his entire 2023 season.
Two Global players have re-upped with Toronto. Linebacker Emmanuel Falola and Kicker Alfredo Gachuz Lozada. Both players played in one game each last season. The re-upping of Falola and Lozada, like last year’s Canadian late-round draft picks of Richard Burton and Edouard Paradis, is more of a formality.
The unknown elements of free agency are still up in the air.
CFL teams have already begun the process of retaining their best players before the free-agency period opens on February 13th, 2024. For example, the Grey Cup Champion Alouettes have extended the contract of superstar linebacker Darnell Sankey.
The Argonauts front office has some heavy lifting to do heading into that period. The record-tying 16-2 Boatmen, who had a bitter end to 2023 and fell short of a second consecutive CFL championship, have some challenging decisions as some of their key faces on the roster are set to hit free agency.
Running back AJ Ouellette is among those pivotal players that the team is going to have to attempt to lock up. Ouellette rushed for 1,009 yards and eight majors as a leader for the Double Blue in 2023 and is one of the team’s most galvanizing players.
Two other potential prominent Argonauts free agents are defensive back/linebacker Adarius Pickett and linebacker Wynton McManis. Both were named to the East Division All-Star team and led a defence that finished first in sacks (68) and turnovers (54), with Pickett a finalist for the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player awards after registering six sacks and a forced fumble. Superstar Wynton McManis meanwhile finished the 2023 season with career highs in sacks (four), interceptions (four), and defensive touchdowns (two).
What looms large over the Argonauts is the distinct possibility that their now departed defensive coordinator Corey Mace, who is heading up the Roughriders, will be looking to get his band back together in Saskatchewan. McManis, who was lured by Mace after an NFL stint back to Canada, could be a prized target for Corey Mace in his new Riders regime.
McManis and Pickett won’t be the only targets defensively for other CFL teams. At the moment, Toronto has up to ten projected defensive starters set to hit the open market. Players like Defensive Line standouts Shawn Oakman and DeWayne Hendrix.
Toronto is still in the process of hiring their next defensive coordinator to replace Corey Mace; whoever that turns out to be could determine if certain players from that unit return in 2024.
TORONTO ARGONAUTS PENDING 2024 FREE AGENTS
- Brandon Barlow | DL | Boston College
- Boris Bede | K | Laval
- Dariusz Bladek* | OL | Bethune-Cookman
- Dejon Brissett* | WR | Virgina
- Isiah Cage | OL | Wisconsin Eau Claire
- Maurice Carnell | DB | North Alabama- Re-Signed 12/8/23
- Jack Cassar* | LB | Carleton
- Darius Ciraco* | OL | Calgary
- Damonte Coxie | WR | Memphis
- Robertson Daniel | DB | BYU
- Dylan Giffen* | OL | Western- Re-Signed 12/8/23
- Brian Harelimana* | LB | Montréal
- Andrew Harris* | RB | Nanaimo Raiders Jr.
- Jamie Harry* | DB | Ottawa
- Dewayne Hendrix | DL | Pittsburgh
- Trevor Hoyte* | LB | Carleton
- Jonathan Jones | LB | Toledo
- Javon Leake | RB | Maryland
- Benoît Marion* | DL | Montréal
- Wynton McManis | LB | Memphis
- Henoc Muamba* | LB | St. Francis Xavier
- Tommy Nield* | WR | McMaster
- Shawn Oakman | DL | Baylor
- AJ Ouellette | RB | Ohio
- Jamal Peters | DB | Mississippi State
- Cameron Phillips | WR | Virginia Tech
- Adarius Pickett | LB | UCLA
- Robert Priester | LB | Wyoming
- Shane Richards* | OL | Oklahoma State
- Tigie Sankoh^ | DB | London Warriors
- Richard Sindani* | WR | Regina
- Trevon Tate | OL | Memphis
ARGONAUTS TRANSACTIONS: DECEMBER 8, 2023
TORONTO – The Toronto Argonauts Football Club announced the following transactions today:
Re-signed:
- Canadian OL Dylan Giffen (Played 13 games in 2023 in his third CFL season)
- American DB Maurice Carnell (Missed the season with an injury)
- Canadian OL Edouard Paradis (5th round draft choice in 2023 CFL Draft)
- Canadian WR Richard Burton (6th round draft choice in 2023 CFL Draft)
- Global LB Emmanuel Falola (Played one game in 2023)
- Global K Alfredo Gachuz Lozada (Played one game in 2023)
