The Toronto Argonauts continue to be active before the CFL free-agent market officially opens on Valentines’ Day. The Boatmen have struck a deal with pending free agent and rising star defensive end Folin Orimolade.

Sources indicate the soon-to-be former Calgary Stampeder will reportedly become the CFL’s highest-paid defensive end. In a two-year contract, that will average nearly 250k per the 2023 and 2024 seasons. The deal will reportedly include a $100,000 signing bonus.

It’s the first big contract doled out by Double Blue for a player outside their building. The early word is that Canadian superstar wide receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr. re-signed with Toronto on a three-year deal that will average 208k per season. With an undisclosed guarantee in the third year of the pact.

It’s a hefty price tag for Toronto to shell out and an indication that the Grey Cup Champion Argos will be parting ways with free-agent JaGared Davis. One former Corey Mace ally exits, and another enters.

Toronto Argonauts Strike Deal With Rising Star DE Folarin Orimolade

Folin Orimolade, 27, is a former Grey Cup champion who has been in the CFL since 2018. The D.C. native played college football for the Dartmouth Big Green from 2013 to 2016. Playing in 39 games, he had 143 total tackles, 23.5 sacks, ten forced fumbles, and eight pass breakups.

At 5’11 and 238lbs, despite his stellar college production. NFL scouts largely ignored Orimolade primarily due to his measurables. Before making his way to Canada, he briefly signed with the LA Rams as an undrafted free agent. In Calgary, Folarin was primarily a reserve pass rusher early on. He struggled to stay healthy but is coming off a breakout campaign in 2022, where he led the league in pressures and registered 37 tackles and six sacks.

Adefolarin Adebayo Orimolade’s rise as a burgeoning star couldn’t have arrived at a better time in his career. He is set to cash in with his first big-league contract.

The Boatmen are banking on Orimolade’s upside. And a changing of the guard is happening on defence for Double Blue. Toronto has traded for Most Outstanding linebacker Jordan Williams from B.C. Signaling a potential parting of ways with future hall of famer Henoc Muamba. And now, Orimolade will likely replace JaGared Davis as Toronto’s lead pass rusher.