Photo: Reuben Polansky/3DownNation. All rights reserved.
The CFL negotiating window is set to open on Sunday, February 4 at noon ET, allowing all pending free agents to speak to interested teams without restrictions.
While players cannot officially move on to a new franchise until the official opening of free agency on Tuesday, February 13, most of the biggest deals will be agreed to in principle during this week-long window. In anticipation of all the action, 3DownNation will be counting down the top free agents potentially available at each position.
Today, we focus on the backfield, where there is no shortage of all-star calibre running backs available. The biggest question heading into free agency will be just how much teams will be willing to pay for a premier ball carrier, as discussions around positional value seep north from the NFL.
Please note that “N” denotes National players (ie. Canadians) and “A” denotes American players.
Running backs
1. Brady Oliveira, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (N)
The 26-year-old had one of the greatest seasons by a running back in CFL history in 2023, rushing for 1,534 yards and nine touchdowns and making 38 receptions for 482 yards and four touchdowns. He became one of only two Canadian running backs ever to reach 2,000 yards from scrimmage and was named the West Division’s Most Outstanding Player and the CFL’s Most Outstanding Canadian.
The Winnipeg native made just over $120,000 this past season after reaching incentives for rushing yards and year-end awards. Per sources, he’s looking to double that number and earn well over $200,000 in 2024, which might be difficult for his hometown team to manage given how many other star players remain pending free agents.
2. A.J. Ouellette, Toronto Argonauts (A)
The five-foot-nine, 208-pound ball-carrier had a breakout year in 2023, rushing for 1,009 yards and eight touchdowns and catching 16 passes for 163 yards and four touchdowns. He was named an East Division all-star for the second consecutive season and did a nice job blocking for franchise quarterback Chad Kelly in passing situations.
The native of Covington, Ohio made just under $115,000 in 2023 and is looking for a significant raise following his strong performance. His former position coach, Edwin Harrison, is now the offensive line coach with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, drawing speculation that Ouellette could be heading for Riderville.
3. William Stanback, Montreal Alouettes (A)
The six-foot, 233-pound ball-carrier is no longer the perennial all-star he once was, though his production was solid this past season. He ran for 800 yards and two touchdowns, caught 27 passes for 241 yards and one touchdown, and ripped off a sensational 32-yard touchdown in the Grey Cup to help the Alouettes upset the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The Hempstead, N.Y. product was the highest-paid running back in the CFL in 2023 and, while he’s no longer worth that distinction, he could still start for several CFL teams. Stanback will turn 30 shortly after the 2024 season gets underway.
Photo courtesy: Calgary Stampeders
4. Ka’Deem Carey, Calgary Stampeders (A)
A dream 2022 season turned into a nightmare for Carey in 2023 as he dressed for only nine games due to injury, recording 632 yards from scrimmage and zero touchdowns. The native of Tuscon, Ariz. averaged 5.3 yards per carry, a 1.3-yard dropoff from the previous year, and 0.3 yards behind teammate Dedrick Mills, who recently signed back with the Stampeders for 2024.
The two-time West Division all-star and former fourth-round NFL draft pick is already 31, which is relatively old for a player at his position. Though he surely has some gas left in the tank, it seems fair to question whether or not he’s capable of finding his old form at this stage of his career.
5. Devonte Williams, Ottawa Redblacks (A)
The 26-year-old was a bright spot for the Redblacks in 2023, rushing for 1,002 yards and three touchdowns and making 37 receptions for 327 yards. He became Ottawa’s first 1,000-yard rusher since William Powell in 2018 and was the team’s nominee for Most Outstanding Player.
What hurts the Southeastern Louisiana product’s value is his lack of size at five-foot-nine and 170 pounds and his challenges in pass protection. There’s no doubt that Williams is dangerous with the ball in his hands, though the Redblacks might be looking to add a more well-rounded running back.
6. Jamal Morrow, Saskatchewan Roughriders (A)
The five-foot-eight, 205-pound ball-carrier recorded 1,256 yards from scrimmage and five touchdowns this past season, though he averaged only 4.5 yards per carry. This was one of the worst marks of any running back in the league and a 0.8-yard dropoff from 2022, which was Morrow’s second in the CFL.
The 29-year-old native of Menifee, Calif. brings added versatility as a kick returner, though it’s hard to overlook how his production dipped in 2023. Perhaps with a better offensive line in front of him, he’ll be able to reclaim some of his former glory in 2024.
7. Walter Fletcher, Montreal Alouettes (A)
The Ball State product had every opportunity to unseat William Stanback in 2023 but failed to do so, averaging only 4.6 yards per carry. His best production came through the air as he managed 23 catches for 176 yards, though it’s hard for teams to make room on a roster for an American back who only poses a threat in the passing game.
Fletcher remains only 27, so he should have plenty of football left in him. The question is how he’ll fit into an offensive scheme considering he’s not as well-rounded as many of the other players on this list.
Photo courtesy: Ticats.ca
8. Sean Thomas-Erlington, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (N)
The Montreal native played only 11 games this past season due to injury and wasn’t terribly productive on offence, rushing 16 times for 88 yards and one touchdown and catching eight passes for 88 yards and one touchdown.
Age could work against the former eighth-round pick as he’ll turn 32 in July, though Canadian utility players always have value. Thomas-Erlington can run, catch, block, and tackle, which means he should be on a roster come training camp.
9. Greg McCrae, Winnipeg Blue Bombers (A)
Whether McCrae deserves to be on this list is a subject of debate, as the five-foot-ten, 173-pound athlete has made 11 starts at receiver and none at his listed position of running back. He also hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire at either spot, catching 31 passes for 346 yards and three touchdowns while carrying the ball 44 times for 310 yards in 26 games.
The 26-year-old has also done some work on special teams, posting 222 yards on 13 kick returns, 203 yards on 21 punt returns, and 117 yards on two missed field goal returns. That versatility could make him an attractive depth addition, but it won’t come with a substantial pay bump.
10. Ante Milanovic-Litre, Ottawa Redblacks (N)
The six-foot, 229-pound bruiser is the type of lunch-pail Canadian that every team needs to flesh out their roster, with the ability to pinch-hit at running back, block as a fullback, or contribute on special teams.
The days of stealing carries from Ka’Deem Carey are rightfully behind the 29-year-old, but he still set a career-high with three touchdowns in 2023. In 89 career games, the Simon Fraser product has carried 165 times for 647 yards and six majors, caught 42 passes for 329 yards, and notched 40 special teams tackles.
11. Kienan LaFrance, B.C. Lions (N)
LaFrance has had a very respectable eight-year CFL career but produced very little in 10 games for B.C. in 2023. He’ll be 33 by the start of the 2024 season and may not have much more to give.
In 116 CFL games with the Redblacks, Blue Bombers, Riders, and Lions, the Canadian stalwart has rushed 172 times for 708 yards and four touchdowns, caught 50 passes for 365 yards and two majors, and added 40 special teams tackles.
Fullbacks
Photo: Reuben Polansky/3DownNation. All rights reserved.
1. James Tuck, Montreal Alouettes (N)
Set to turn 34 years old at the start of next season, Tuck is having a storybook final chapter to his career. In his ninth season, he won his first Grey Cup and set a new career-high with nine catches for 57 yards. The Alouettes’ playoff run would have counted as his second-most productive season, as he caught four passes for 44 yards in three victories.
The six-foot, 230-pound native of Aurora, Ont. can still contribute as an in-line blocker, though his special teams production has decreased significantly. In 106 career games, the York product has notched 65 tackles in kick coverage but had none last year.
2. Albert Awachie, Saskatchewan Roughriders (N)
A staple in Saskatchewan since he was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2017, Awachie has never padded the stat sheet, managing just 10 catches for 74 yards and 15 special teams tackles in 67 games.
The 31-year-old’s impressive six-foot-three, 262-pound frame has allowed him to contribute as a package tight end and has situational value, though he’s far closer to the end of his career than the start of it.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.
The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.
Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.
There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.
Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.
But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.
The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”
The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.
Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.
Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.
Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.
Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.
“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”
“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.
Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.
Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.
The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.
Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.
Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.
Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.
Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.
Canada Roster
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).
Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).
Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
