$11 million of the new deal is guaranteed money. Prior to this contract, Singleton had already earned $20.6 million in the NFL.

Singleton played 16 games during the 2025 regular season, registering 135 total defensive tackles, 54 solo, four passes defended, one sack and one forced fumble. He was a key piece in Denver’s postseason run, forcing a key fumble to propel the team to the AFC Championship game.

The 32-year-old underwent surgery to remove a cancerous tumour in November after a regular NFL drug test flagged unusual hormone levels. He played a game for the Broncos with the knowledge of his illness, then missed just one game before returning to the lineup after the operation. His teammates recently voted him as the recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award.

The six-foot-two, 240-pound linebacker has now spent eight seasons south of the border with the Philadelphia Eagles and Broncos. He’s notched 768 total tackles, 25 tackles for loss, 22 QB hits, 17 pass knockdowns, five sacks, five fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles, and three interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns, in 95 regular-season games.

The Thousand Oaks, Cal., native, who qualified for Canadian citizenship through his mother, played three seasons with the Calgary Stampeders after he was selected sixth overall during the 2016 CFL Draft. He recorded 123 tackles over his final two years and earned two CFL all-star selections along with a Most Outstanding Defensive Player award. Singleton hoisted the Grey Cup in 2018 with the Stamps before taking advantage of his renewed NFL opportunity.

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Doxtater played 11 games last season, starting all of them at left guard. He originally signed with the team in October 2024, finishing the season on the practice roster.

The six-foot-seven, 317-pound blocker’s arrival in Toronto was highly anticipated, as he was originally selected by the Argonauts in the second round of the 2021 CFL Draft.

Doxtater used an extra year of NCAA eligibility to return to New Mexico State University in 2022 and later signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent. He was waived following training camp with an injury designation before spending time on the practice roster with the Arizona Cardinals and Saints that same year.

The 27-year-old started five games at left tackle for the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL in 2023. A member of the Oneida Nation of the Thames, he signed with the UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks in January 2024 but was unable to play due to injury.

Doxtater started 48 games over five seasons at left tackle for New Mexico State. He recorded 27 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press at his pro day along with a 5.40-second forty-yard dash, 28-inch vertical, 101-inch broad jump, 4.99-second short shuttle, and 8.17-second three-cone drill.

The Toronto Argonauts added several key free agents this winter, including offensive lineman Dakoda Shepley, defensive lineman DeWayne Hendrix, strong-side linebacker Adarius Pickett, and defensive back DaShaun Amos. The team’s key losses included receiver Dejon Brissett (Calgary Stampeders) and linebacker Wynton McManis (Hamilton Tiger-Cats).

The Argonauts hold the second overall pick in the 2026 CFL Draft, which is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28 at 7:00 p.m. EDT. All CFL training camps are scheduled to open on May 10. Toronto will play its first preseason game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday, May 23, then its first regular-season game against the Montreal Alouettes on Friday, June 12.

In 2025, Toronto finished third in the East Division standings with a 5-13 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Mike Miller was promoted to the role of head coach following the departure of Ryan Dinwiddie.

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The Alouettes have done exactly that this offseason, maintaining most of their Grey Cup roster. Let’s take a look at Montreal’s updated depth chart. The information below isn’t official and is based on informed speculation.

The Alouettes have kept virtually their entire offence intact from 2025, save for receivers Austin Mack and Charleston Rambo. Mack was released ahead of an offseason roster bonus and subsequently signed with the Edmonton Elks, while Rambo remains a free agent.

Alexander Hollins seems like the favourite to take over at boundary wideout. The 29-year-old only caught eight passes for 163 yards last season but was named All-West Division with the B.C. Lions in 2023 before battling knee problems. Assuming he’s healthy, Hollins could be the perfect budget-friendly veteran to replace Rambo.

Jerreth Sterns, who was signed from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, is the most likely candidate to replace Mack. The former Western Kentucky standout has been quietly consistent over three CFL seasons with Saskatchewan and Winnipeg, making 131 catches for 1,471 yards and seven touchdowns over 37 regular-season games.

Davis Alexander is back under centre and signed a contract extension tying him to Montreal through 2028. Dustin Crum appears primed to be his new backup, replacing McLeod Bethel-Thompson, with E.J. Perry, Anthony Brown Jr., and Dresser Winn rounding out the quarterback room.

The offensive line is identical to last year and Stevie Scott III and Travis Theis have returned to share duties at running back. Braydon Noll was a depth addition along the offensive line after stints with the Toronto Argonauts and Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Montreal released Darnell Sankey in December, citing an impending ratio change. Geoffrey Cantin-Arku, who has made 82 total tackles, nine sacks, three forced fumbles, and two interceptions over two seasons, appears primed to replace him at middle linebacker to give the Alouettes another Canadian starter on defence. Tyrice Beverette remains a stalwart at weak-side linebacker, while Najee Murray is consistent at strong-side linebacker.

The defensive line is essentially the same as last season, save for Dylan Wynn, who departed for the Ottawa Redblacks. Mustafa Johnson spent most of last year recovering from a serious knee injury and will be looking to return to his dominant form beside Kori Roberson Jr., who played seven regular-season games as a rookie in 2025. Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund and Lwal Uguak give the Alouettes talented Canadian bookends with Joshua Archibald filling a key depth role.

Montreal’s secondary is the same as last season with the exception of local star Marc-Antoine Dequoy, who elected to retire. Jonathan Sutherland has been pencilled-in as his replacement after spending parts of three seasons in the NFL. Arthur Hamlin, who started four games last season, is also a strong candidate to replace Dequoy, though second-round draft pick Nate Beauchemin could also play a significant role in Noel Thorpe’s defence.

Between their defensive end, linebackers, and defensive backs, the Alouettes might have the most Canadian talent on any CFL defence.

Montreal has maintained most of their special teams unit, which ranked first in opponent net punting but struggled to generate big returns. The two additions were return specialists DeVonte Dedmon and Phillip Brooks, who will look to replace James Letcher Jr. following his departure to the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

If you’re a diehard Alouettes fan, you might not even need a program come the preseason. The vast majority of this team is the same as 2025, which shouldn’t be considered a bad thing as this team came awfully close to winning the Grey Cup.

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Onyemata is a pending free agent and was allowed to negotiate with teams beginning on Monday. He cannot officially sign his deal until the start of the new league year on Wednesday, March 11.

The 33-year-old has spent the past three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, appearing in 48 games for the organization and starting 47 of them. He amassed 157 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, eight sacks, two forced fumbles, and four batted passes with the organization.

Onyemata was selected in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints out of the University of Manitoba. He played 106 games over seven seasons with the team, recording 244 total tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 23 sacks, six knockdowns, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, and one interception.

The six-foot-three, 300-pound defender was born in Lagos, Nigeria and immigrated to Winnipeg in 2011 to pursue postsecondary studies. He was recruited to play football for the Bisons despite never having played before and became one of the top players in U Sports, winning the prestigious J. P. Metras Trophy in 2015.

The Saints traded up on draft day to select Onyemata at 120th overall, dealing fifth-round picks in 2016 and 2017 to Washington to secure the necessary selection. The U Sports product has since earned over $65 million in the NFL.

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Alford is a pending free agent and was allowed to negotiate with teams beginning on Monday. He cannot officially sign his deal until the start of the new league year on Wednesday, March 11.

The 28-year-old has spent the past four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, appearing in 64 games and making 23 starts, including seven last season. He has recorded 216 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 37 pass knockdowns, two forced fumbles, and four interceptions.

The five-foot-eleven, 180-pound defender originally went unselected in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Tusculum University, a Division II program located in Tennessee. He then signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and made his debut with the team in 2021 once the CFL returned to the field following the COVID-19 pandemic.

Alford made 48 tackles, four interceptions, and one forced fumble over 14 games with the Blue Bombers, earning an All-CFL selection and helping the team win the Grey Cup.

According to Spotrac, Alford has earned $5.47 million USD playing in the NFL.

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Gallimore is a pending free agent and was allowed to negotiate with teams beginning on Monday. He cannot officially sign his deal until the start of the new league year on Wednesday, March 11.

The native of Ottawa, Ont., played for the Indianapolis Colts in 2025, appearing in all 17 games and making eight starts. He set new career highs with 38 tackles, four tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and three batted passes.

Gallimore played for the Los Angeles Rams in 2024, dressing for 14 games and making four starts. He recorded 19 total tackles, helping the team reach the postseason.

The 29-year-old was originally a third-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in the 2020 NFL Draft. He played 52 games over four seasons with the team, making 90 total tackles, 11 tackles for loss, four sacks, and three pass knockdowns.

The six-foot-two, 310-pound defender played collegiately at the University of Oklahoma, where he was named second-team All-Big 12 in 2019. He made 147 total tackles, 17 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, and two pass knockdowns with the Sooners.

Gallimore’s exclusive CFL rights belong to the Saskatchewan Roughriders after he was selected in the eighth round of the 2020 CFL Draft. He has earned $9.3 million USD in the NFL, according to Spotrac.

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Finn spent last season at Miami University in Ohio, starting eight games for the Redhawks. He completed 106-of-181 passes (58.6 percent) for 1,451 yards, nine touchdowns, and six interceptions, while rushing 89 times for 395 yards and four majors.

The 24-year-old sparked controversy when he chose to leave Miami in November with several games remaining on the schedule. Head coach Chuck Martin stated he left to begin preparations for the NFL Draft. At the time, the Redhawks were tied for second place in the Mid-American Conference and had a chance at a conference championship.

Finn transferred from Baylor University, where he played three games and made two starts. He applied for a medical hardship waiver to get a seventh season of collegiate eligibility.

The six-foot-two, 206-pound pivot spent his first five seasons at the University of Toledo, dressing for 45 games and making 32 starts. In 2022, he was named second-team All-MAC, before earning a first-team selection and conference Most Valuable Player honours in 2023.

In his college career, the Detroit, Mich., native completed 59.7 percent of his passes for 8,841 yards, 75 touchdowns, and 31 interceptions while rushing for 2,302 yards and 31 majors. He went 28-14 in 42 games as a starter.

Finn is eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft and recently took part in the American Bowl all-star game. According to Pro Football Network’s consensus big board, he is not in the top 25 prospects at the QB position.

CFL teams can claim the rights to up to 45 players via the negotiation list on a first-come, first-served basis, provided that they are not eligible for the Canadian or Global Drafts, and have never played in the league before. These players can be added, traded, or removed from the list at any time.

Being added to a negotiation list does not mean that the player has expressed interest in the CFL, and some are unaware that their rights have even been claimed. Players can only force their removal from the list if the team does not provide them with a minimum contract offer at their request.

The B.C. Lions signed defensive lineman Casey Sayles and linebacker Darnell Sankey after they were released by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Montreal Alouettes, respectively, though the team was relatively inactive in free agency. The team’s major departure was All-CFL offensive lineman Jarell Broxton, who signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The Lions hold the seventh overall pick in the 2026 CFL Draft, which is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28, at 7:00 p.m. EDT. All CFL training camps are scheduled to open on May 10. B.C. will play its first preseason game against the Edmonton Elks on Saturday, May 23, and its first regular-season game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday, June 13.

In 2025, B.C. finished second in the West Division standings with an 11-7 record. They beat the Calgary Stampeders in the West Semi-Final but lost the West Final to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Franchise quarterback Nathan Rourke threw for 5,290 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions to be named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player.

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The six-foot-four, 320-pound guard wrapped up his collegiate career with the University of Cincinnati, appearing in 30 games and making 21 starts. In 2023, he helped the Bearcats finish fifth in the nation in rushing at 217 yards per game.

The native of Owensboro, Ky., transferred from Kentucky Christian University, where he earned first-team all-conference recognition in both seasons he played.

Tinsley signed with the Cleveland Browns as an undrafted free agent in 2025, but was waived prior to the conclusion of training camp.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders kept most of their big names in free agency but still suffered some key losses, including quarterback Jake Maier (Ottawa Redblacks), receiver Tommy Nield (Winnipeg Blue Bombers), defensive lineman Malik Carney (Edmonton Elks), linebacker A.J. Allen (Ottawa Redblacks), and strong-side linebacker C.J. Reavis (Ottawa Redblacks). Micah Johnson retired to become the team’s defensive line coach, while receiver Dohnte Meyers departed for an NFL shot with the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Roughriders hold the ninth overall pick in the 2026 CFL Draft, which is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28 at 7:00 p.m. EDT. All CFL training camps are scheduled to open on May 10. Saskatchewan will play its first preseason game against the Calgary Stampeders on Monday, May 18 and its first regular-season game against the B.C. Lions on Saturday, June 13.

In 2025, Saskatchewan finished first in the West Division standings with a 12-6 record. The team went on to defeat the Montreal Alouettes in the 112th Grey Cup in Winnipeg, marking the club’s first championship in 12 years.

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The Ed Block Courage Award has been awarded to one player on every NFL team since 1984, recognizing their professionalism, strength, dedication, and community involvement. Winners are selected by their teammates and were honoured at a ceremony on Sunday.

Leonard is one of three Canadian players to receive the honour this year. He is joined by Denver Broncos linebacker Alex Singleton and Los Angeles Rams left tackle Alaric Jackson.

The 26-year-old overcame a leg injury to play eight games last season with the Chargers, making five tackles. Leonard was originally selected by the team with the 236th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft.

The native of Calgary, Alta., has dressed for 46 NFL games and made three starts, collecting 46 total tackles, two tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery, and six pass breakups. He’s also seen action in three playoff contests, adding three tackles, a pass breakup, and an interception.

The son of former Stampeders defensive back Kenton Leonard, Deane was a two-time All-Canadian at cornerback for the University of Calgary, producing 47 total tackles, six interceptions, two forced fumbles, and a punt return touchdown in three seasons with the Dinos. He transferred to Ole Miss to finish his collegiate career and made 64 tackles, one tackle for loss, one fumble recovery, and 11 pass breakups in 19 games over two seasons.

Leonard is currently slated to become a free agent when the NFL league year ends on Wednesday, March 11. He has earned more than $4.5 million to date in his NFL career.

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats own Leonard’s exclusive rights should he ever play in the CFL.

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The 28-year-old stated there were no contract extension discussions with the Edmonton Elks leading into the negotiation window.

“It was very quiet, but it’s a business and you can’t take things too personal. I didn’t hear anything from their side,” Gittens Jr. said. “For me, it was trusting my agent [Rob Fry] and the process, everything’s going to work out the way it’s supposed to.”

Gittens Jr. did not know what to expect when he was able to communicate with other CFL teams coming off a 2025 season as the seventh-highest paid pass catcher in the three-down league. He played in 17 games for the Green and Gold last year, recording 62 receptions for 777 yards with four touchdowns.

“I feel like from the start, Hamilton showed the most interest, so it was about being patient. We explored a little bit with Toronto. Montreal a little interest, I don’t think it was much really there like put out an offer, but the interest was there. A little bit from Calgary. A little interest from teams feeling the waters and whatnot,” Gittens Jr. said.

“It was Hamilton from the get-go. They had a plan for me and you go where you’re wanted. I felt like Hamilton wanted me the most and I wanted to be there. I wanted to get back to winning football. It was, ‘Let’s make it happen.’ They were really interested in me. It made sense for me.”

Head coach Scott Milanovich spoke with Gittens Jr. during free agency, as did franchise quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell. His former Toronto Argonauts teammate, defensive back Jamal Peters was in his ear as well. He heard from players past and present how great the organization treats its players in Steeltown. That all led to him signing a two-year contract with the Tiger-Cats.

The five-foot-11, 191-pound receiver produced the best campaign in his career to date in 2022. He registered 81 receptions for 1,101 yards with five touchdowns to help Toronto win the 109th Grey Cup. The Wilfrid Laurier University product was named a CFL all-star and earned a three-year, $620,000 contract extension. However, there has not been a 1,000-yard year on his resume since.

“I don’t feel like that level ever left, to be quite honest with you. I feel like with the situations I’ve been in, I’ve made the most out of it. I don’t think it’s me necessarily getting back to that level, but I feel like my game has evolved and has gotten better from that point,” Gittens Jr. said.

“I’ve gotten smarter, I’ve gotten faster, I’ve gotten stronger. It’s about the situations that I’ve been in. If you go put on the tape, I feel like I haven’t lost a step. My IQ and my knowledge of the game is growing. Being put in certain situations, I feel like I’ve made the most out of it and coming out of it, it’s going to help me grow stronger as a player with the back end of my career.”

Teaming up with Mitchell could boost Gittens Jr.’s numbers. The 36-year-old has thrown for over 5,200 yards in back-to-back seasons. Two receivers went over 1,100 yards in 2024 with Hamilton while two more finished at 933. Last year, Kenny Lawler, Kiondre Smith and Tim White posted 1,443, 1,126, and 1,016 yards respectively.

White was released by the Ticats and signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. His departure left many targets open for Gittens Jr. and Keric Wheatfall who were added to Hamilton’s receiving group while Shemar Bridges was re-signed. Mitchell has a stacked unit on paper to distribute the football to within Milanovich’s proven offensive scheme. Is it the No. 1 pass catching core in the CFL?

“I feel like the only right answer to that is yes. I’m going to say yes, not just because those guys are my teammates, but I’m saying yes because of the way we compliment each other. If you put the film on, what we all do individually, I feel like it all compliments each other,” Gittens Jr. said.

“With Bo being a gunslinger, I feel like all you got to do is be you and make the plays that are there to be made. Bo’s definitely not slowing down. We got to be in the positions we need to be in and make the plays that are there to be made. Everything else is going to work out itself.”

Hamilton hopes its dynamic receivers can help the Ticats win the team’s first Grey Cup since 1999 and end the league’s longest CFL championship drought.

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