I by no means am will attempt to predict who will and who won’t be signed, but here are the ten best free agents still on the market, in no particular order.
Avon Cobourne, RB
Last team: Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Why he became a free agent: Hamilton signed former CFL Rookie of the Year Martell Mallett. His potential, young age and high salary meant the Tiger-Cats had to show Cobourne the door.
Why he should be signed: At 33 years of age, Cobourne still has some game left in him, as is evident by the 961 rushing yards he posted in 2011, along with 459 receiving yards. He is only one season removed from being a back-to-back Grey Cup Champion, and his leadership ability complements his talents on the field.
Why nobody has signed him: First and foremost, his age. 33 is old for a football player, especially a running back, and the type of salary which Cobourne would ask for might be too much for a cap-conscious group of general managers
Who could use him: Saskatchewan, Edmonton
Wes Cates, RB
Last team: Saskatchewan Roughriders
Why he became a free agent: Became an unrestricted free agent when his contract expired
Why he should be signed: Like Cobourne, he’s still got game. He wasn’t able to show it as much last year, but he can still provide a team with a solid powerback option.
Why nobody has signed him: Again like Cobourne, his age. That and his speed isn’t quite what it used to be.
Who could use him: Edmonton
Fred Reid, RB
Last team: Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Why he became a free agent: The emergence of Chris Garrett in the Bomber backfield while Reid was sidelined with an season-ending knee injury provided the Blue Bombers with a younger, cheaper option at running back.
Why he should be signed: He is definitely the fastest running back available, and the shiftiest.
Why nobody has signed him: His injury may have deprived him of some of that speed and shiftiness, and it is becoming an unfortunate trend that fewer teams are willing to take a chance on someone coming back from a major injury.
Who could use him: Edmonton
Joffrey Reynolds, RB
Last team: Calgary Stampeders
Why he became a free agent: Jon Cornish exploded onto the CFL scene, starting out the season splitting carries with Reynolds before taking over completely. Reynolds became especially expendable when LaMarcus Coker also emerged as a legitimate CFL threat.
Why he should be signed: Reynolds is one of the league’s best at reading the line and finding the hole.
Why nobody has signed him: His age, put together with the fact that he doesn’t have flashy speed or the ability to power through linebackers.
Who could use him: Saskatchewan
Mark Estelle, DB
Last team: Montreal Alouettes
Why he became a free agent: Became an unrestricted free agent when his contract expired.
Why he should be signed: Estelle over the past few seasons has been one of the premier shutdown corners. He doesn’t put up great statistics in terms of interceptions and tackles, but that’s because teams don’t throw to his side.
Why nobody has signed him: Estelle is a grizzled veteran; maybe too grizzled for some teams, who are going for faster, stronger corners as opposed to straight up cover men.
Who could use him: Montreal, Saskatchewan, Edmonton
Stevie Baggs, DE
Last team: Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Why he became a free agent: Hamilton asked Baggs if he’d be willing to take a pay cut, Baggs said he wasn’t, and he got released.
Why he should be signed: The man is dominant. Easily one of the best ends in the league during his time in Saskatchewan and was just as good with Hamilton over the past season and a half.
Why nobody has signed him: Baggs was one of the highest-paid defensive players in the CFL in Hamilton. Other teams might echo Hamilton’s views and not want to pay him that much money.
Who could use him: Montreal, Winnipeg, Saskatchewan, Calgary
Anwar Stewart, DL
Last team: Montreal Alouettes
Why he became a free agent: Montreal released him in February.
Why he should be signed: Stewart might just be one of the best defensive players over the age of 35 in the game of football. His work ethic is second to none, his desire to play allows him to play either end or tackle, and his leadership qualities are unrivalled by any other defensive lineman currently in the CFL.
Why nobody has signed him: He’s 36 years old, and teams might choose to look at that with some skepticism when talking about someone who isn’t a quarterback or kicker, which is unfortunate.
Who could use him: Montreal, Winnipeg, Calgary
Eric Wilson, DT
Last team: Montreal Alouettes
Why he became a free agent: Like Stewart, was released by Montreal.
Why he should be signed: Wilson has been the most underrated defensive lineman in the league for the past three or four seasons. Playing defensive tackle means taking a lot of abuse and double teams, and Wilson not only takes those on, he embraces them. Wilson has also been recognized as a great teammate, and was a huge part of the Als’ defence which helped win back-to-back championships in 2009 and 2010.
Why nobody has signed him: He is 34 years old, and teams are looking for massive young players to plug up the middle. At 6’4 300lbs, Wilson might not be big enough for what some GMs are looking for.
Who could use him: Winnipeg, Toronto, Calgary
Barrin Simpson, LB
Last team: Saskatchewan Roughriders
Why he became a free agent: Became an unrestricted free agent when his contract expired
Why he should be signed: Simpson has long been hailed as one of the best leaders in the CFL. His uncanny ability to read the play has been the strong point of his career by far, and throughout his career he has delivered some bone-jarring hits. Last season he finished 15th in league tackles with 67.
Why nobody has signed him: Simpson, at 35, is also getting up there in years, and it seems as though most teams around the league are set at middle linebacker, with established starters ready to go, or will draft a linebacker in May.
Who could use him: Edmonton
Rob Murphy, OL
Last team: Toronto Argonauts
Why he became a free agent: Became an unrestricted free agent when his contract expired
Why he should be signed: Murphy is one mean guy to go up against. Playing right tackle, or really any spot on the O-Line, requires some meanness, and Murphy has enough of that for an entire O-Line. The 2006 and 2007 Most Outstanding Lineman has seen his play decline since arriving in Toronto, but some people might not look at that as a coincidence. A change of scenery could be beneficial to the man voted as the league’s dirtiest player by the players.
Why nobody has signed him: You guessed it, age. 35-year-old Murphy might have a tough time competing against the speedy young ends the league is bringing in. He also might have an issue cracking a lineup on rosters which seem fairly deep at tackle, and a draft which boasts some strong tackle prospects. Teams might be hesitant to take on the type of money a player like Murphy would ask for.
Who could use him: Edmonton, Saskatchewan, Hamilton
An interesting trend which is developing league-wide is the hesitant nature teams are showing towards players in their 30s, choosing instead for more inexperienced options or building through the draft.
Also, unique to this season, but most teams at this point in the off-season have fairly complete rosters, albeit with a couple of glaring examples (See: Winnipeg receivers, Edmonton running backs), and as anyone who has been to a CFL training camp can attest to, a crowded camp is a no-fun camp.
All that being said, it will be very interesting to see how everything plays out with these and with other remaining free agents, especially after the seven rounds of the draft unfold on May 2.
*Author’s Note: Many apologies for the lack of blog over the past two weeks; as a student, school is still a priority (unfortunately), but rest assured readers have not been forgotten.
Zrayzorblade, I have seen american players who have been cut following a week when they were player of the week. With an endless talent pool south of the border, american CFL vets need to think less about their own perceived value and more about the cost to replace them on the field.
ReplyDeleteBeing a leader is great but most of the CFL GM's would agree that you find new, young leaders on a team, even if that younger guy cost the team $20,000 less per year.
So, I know you are a great football enthusiast WrayzorBlade, but this free agent article really comes down to business plain and simple. Dollars and cents, and nothing else.
I wish all of these guys all the best, especially Anwar Stewart, who contributed to so much on Montreal, both on and off the field. But hey, it is nothing personal, it is only business!!!