Toronto Argonauts hit hard as CFL Free Agency negotiation opens

Toronto Argonauts fans were certainly justified in their concerns about what could happen to their team in the off-season because that reality is starting to set in.

After going 16-2 in the regular season, the Argos knew their free agents were going to be in high demand and CFL free agency can be a tough business with every team having to make tough choices on who to keep and who to let walk.

So far the team has seen running back A.J. Ouellette, returner Javon Leake, linebacker Adarius Pickett, cornerback Jamal Peters, kicker Boris Bede, defensive linemen Brandon Barlow and Dewayne Hendrix head out the door plus Qwan'tez Stiggers is on a path to be drafted to the NFL. How many more leave remains to be seen but it should be expected.

The negotiation window for CFL free agents opened Sunday which allows teams to speak with all pending free agents until next Sunday. During this time, players can agree to deals but they can't be made official until free agency begins at noon ET on Feb. 13.

Many fans are probably wondering how the team is going to handle the mass exodus of talent that is leaving, some even down the road to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

However, perspective is needed in this situation because sometimes it's easy to forget that some of the grunt work was laid out by the front office.

What made the Argos a big success last season, especially on offence was their offensive line keeping the quarterback upright (allowing the fewest sacks in the league in 2023) and helping Ouellette set a new career-high in rushing yards. The entire starting offensive line will be back which means the attention can be paid to other areas now.

On defence, the team brought back Wynton McManis who is a vital player on the field but also an important voice in the locker room. They also have a great group of Canadian talent on both sides of the ball which remains an underrated trait for most CFL teams to have success.

Looking ahead to what the team will need to accomplish in free agency? The list became apparent with the players that will need to be replaced by new signings or internal options.

The team will likely target a running back in free agency and reports said that the team is in conversations with Ka’Deem Carey who was also linked to the B.C. Lions. This was before the Lions agreed to a deal with William Stanback, taking away a landing spot for Carey.

Toronto has also found a replacement for Leake signing receiver Savon Scarver who, as Ben Grant of Xs and Argos, is a dynamic return specialist.

Damonte Coxie and Dejon Brissett were also retained which means the top three receivers in yards last season which is good news for the Argos offence maintaining continuity.

Bede was quickly replaced by former kicker Lirim Hajrullahu who returns to the CFL after four seasons in the NFL and USFL. Whether he will be handling just kickoffs and field goals or if he will be punting remains to be seen.

On defence there will be some holes to fill, especially with the trio of Hendrix, Barlow and Peters expected to join Hamilton. Fortunately, Toronto made sure to have Maurice Carnell back but could use some depth in the defensive backfield.

Don't forget the team's deal to trade Kurleigh Gittens Jr. to Edmonton for defensive lineman Jake Ceresna which was an important move that avoided the need to add another player on the defensive front. Of course, trading Jordan Williams took away another strong player from their linebacker room as well.

Then there comes replacing Pickett who was the Defensive Player of the Year nominee for the East. He's viewed as one of the top SAM linebackers in the league so finding his replacement is easier said than done. It's been suggested that DaShaun Amos or Tarvarus McFadden could play that position or the team could try to search for options in free agency.

Expecting the Argos to bring back the entire 2023 team was unrealistic, almost impossible, and expecting some form of regression from their 16-2 record is probably likely. However, this is a team that remains in a strong position to still compete in the East with more moves to come.