After what seemed like a long wait for Tiger-Cats fans, the Tiger-Cats and Tim White have agreed on a two-year contract that allows White to return to Hamilton for the 2024 and 2025 seasons; multiple media sources, including Dave Naylor at TSN and 3 Down Nation, have reported that the two-time CFL All-Star White has re-signed with the Tiger-Cats. Since the start of free agency in 2024, there have been many rumors that White desired to return to Hamilton, but he was asking for a more significant contract than the Tiger-Cats wanted to pay White.
The sticking point between the Tiger-Cats and White revolved around White’s belief that he deserved to be one of the highest-paid receivers in the CFL. During the 2023 free agency period, the Tiger-Cats agreed to pay White $213,000, but this offseason, White was attempting to get a contract worth $300,000. White’s perceived value is a product of an inflated market for CFL receivers created the last two seasons by the Edmonton Elks, who have been willing to overpay for wide receivers the previous two years.
Regardless of the value of White’s contract in 2024, the Tiger-Cats’ leading wide receiver in 2023 looks to be the shining crown jewel of the 2024 offseason. Hamilton has been strengthening its defensive unit, both the offensive and defensive lines, this offseason. They have also restructured quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell’s contract and picked up role players at wide receiver and running back during this free agency period. By bringing White back, they are ensuring they have a legitimate #1 wide receiver to balance their strong running game led by running back James Butler.
White has spent his entire CFL career with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats since 2021. While playing for Hamilton from 2021 until 2023, he caught 224 passes for 3,308 yards and 18 touchdowns. During the 2023 season, White had 75 receptions for 1,269 yards and eight touchdowns; in 2022, he had 94 catches for 1,265 yards and eight touchdowns. A two-time CFL All-Star in 2022 and 2023, White has become the go-to receiver for the Tiger-Cats offence since signing with Hamilton in 2021.
The 5’10, 185-pound wide receiver is a native of Santa Clarita, California. White played college football at Arizona State, where he played in 25 games and caught 113 passes for 1,346 yards and 10 touchdowns. Before coming to the CFL, White spent time with the Baltimore Ravens in 2017 and 2018, and he spent 2019 with the New York Jets.
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