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The CFL's 2025 offseason is about to get crazy as there is an enormous amount of talent entering free agency.
The league released its top 30 CFL free agents for the 2025 offseason on Friday. Staff and analysts at CFL.ca determined the list. It features all players whose contracts expire on February 11 and doesn't include any players who have been released.
Here's a look at the top 30 pending free agents and a breakdown of the top five free agents according to CFL.ca.
2025 Pending CFL Free Agents Ranked 30-6
The Top 5 Pending Free Agents, per https://t.co/1mfD1tZyvd
— CFL (@CFL) November 29, 2024
Check out the full list of 30 HERE: https://t.co/7pMEj0eQaA pic.twitter.com/DTowQEdl50
30. Calgary Stampeders WR Jalen Philpot
29. Toronto Argonauts RB Ka'Deem Carey
28. Toronto Argonauts DB DasShaun Amos
27. Saskatchewan Roughriders DL Malik Carney
26. BC Lions RB William Stanback
25. Ottawa Redblacks DL Michael Wakefield
24. Saskatchewan DB Marcus Sayles
23. Montreal Alouettes RB Walter Fletcher
22. Hamilton Tiger-Cats OL David Beard
21. Edmonton Elks LB Nyles Morgan
20. Winnipeg Blue Bombers OL Stanley Bryant
19. Winnipeg Blue Bombers WR Dalton Schoen
18. Winnipeg Blue Bombers WR Kenny Lawler
17. Ottawa Redblacks DB Damon Webb
16. Ottawa Redbacks DL Lorenzo Mauldin IV
15. Edmonton Elks RB/Returner Javon Leake
14. Toronto Argonauts DL Jake Ceresna
13. Edmonton Elks WR Eugene Lewis
12. Ottawa Redblacks DB Adarius Pickett
11. Saskatchewan Roughriders LB Jameer Thurman
10. Edmonton Elks OL Martez Ivey
9. BC Lions DL Mathieu Betts
8. Winnipeg Blue Bombers DL Willie Jefferson
7. Toronto Argonauts WR/Returner Janarion Grant
6. Saskatchewan Roughriders QB Trevor Harris
Top 5 2025 CFL Free Agents
5. Ottawa Redblacks WR Justin Hardy
Consistency is always key in the CFL, and Justin Hardy has shown that and plenty of growth in his play over the last two years in Ottawa. Hardy posted his second straight 1,000-yard season with a career-high 1,343 yards, leading the CFL in receptions with 97. The Redblacks would be crazy not to bring back Dru Brown's top receiver to keep stability on an Ottawa offense that is one good running back away from a Grey Cup run.
4. Winnipeg Blue Bombers DB Tyrell Ford
While Tyrell Ford's teammate Willie Jefferson got all the attention, Ford had a dominant 2024 campaign. The first-time All-CFL selection was second in the league in pass breakups (12) and interceptions (seven). The Bombers defense had a historically great season and the team will hope to keep the unit together with Ford staying in the secondary.
3. Toronto Argonauts LB Wynton McManis
One of Toronto's longest-term players hits the market as the best defensive player available. Wynton McManis had 57 tackles in 12 games, but shined the brightest in the playoffs, contributing six tackles, three pass deflections and an interception in the Argos' Grey Cup win over the Bombers. Whoever nabs McManis will get the emotional leader for their defense.
2. BC Lions WR Justin McInnis
Canadian offensive players had a field day in 2024, with Justin McInnis flexing his muscles as the best playmaker in the league. McInnis led the CFL in receiving yards with 1,469 yards and seven touchdowns for the Lions, resulting in his first All-CFL selection. The Lions have salary cap concerns in the offseason, but if they have the money, all of it should be put on McInnis.
1. Edmonton Elks QB Tre Ford
It's rare to have a multi-talented quarterback from Canada, which is why Tre Ford will be sought after by multiple CFL teams in the offseason. Ford was 4-1 as the starting quarterback while throwing for 1,137 yards and 10 touchdowns to go with 206 yards on the ground. Everyone sees Ford as the Lamar Jackson of the North. Any team that is quarterback-needy will go all out to make Ford potentially one of the highest-paid players in the CFL.
More must-reads:
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TODAY'S BEST
Vancouver Canucks Top Prospect Braeden Cootes Injured at World Junior Summer Showcase
Vancouver Canucks top prospect Braeden Cootes has been injured during the World Junior Summer Showcase, which was revealed by Team Canada coach Dale Hunter. The 2025 World Junior Summer Showcase came to a close this past Saturday after a week of competition among some of hockey's brightest young stars, such as Vancouver Canucks first-rounder top prospect Braeden Cootes, who represented Team Canada. Team Canada had a tough time in the event, dropping their opening two games to Team Finland and Sweden by a 14-7 total score. Injuries added to the problems, with some key players out of the lineup, and it hit the Canucks especially hard. Braeden Cootes suited up for Canada's split-squad contest on Tuesday as well as their game versus Finland on Wednesday. He was scheduled to dress against Sweden on Friday, but was suddenly not in the lineup. After the 8-4 blowout loss, head coach Dale Hunter informed the media that Braeden Cootes, Michael Misa, and Henry Mews were all battling injuries and were going to be game-time decisions for Saturday's final game against the U.S. Michael Misa and Henry Mews were back for that game, but Cootes was still out, which meant he was sitting out his second consecutive game. The Injury to Cootes is Expected to be a Short-Term One Luckily, the injury is not viewed as serious and is not of a long-term nature, which can allow Vancouver and their fans an opportunity to take a sigh of relief. 'Light stuff, not heavy stuff.' - Dale Hunter on Braeden Cootes' injury Though Cootes is going to be okay, missing those games was certainly a disappointment, especially since he was hoping to make an impression on Canada's World Junior staff before the final cuts are due in December. Cootes should be good to go for training camp with the WHL's Seattle Thunderbirds in a few weeks, as the club is set to begin its preseason on September 2 vs. the Prince Albert Raiders.
Lakers insider updates LeBron James' immediate future
LeBron James wasn't present at Luka Doncic's contract extension news conference. That doesn't necessarily mean anything, and he's more than entitled to some time off the clock just like everybody else. However, given all that has been said about his future with the Los Angeles Lakers, it didn't take long before people speculated whether there was something else going on. The Athletic's Dan Woike reports that there's nothing to it. "James has not asked for a trade or a contract buyout, team and league sources have said. He’ll turn 41 on Dec. 30," wrote Woike. James' agent and friend, Rich Paul, also made it loud and clear that he hasn't even talked about potentially leaving the Lakers, and while he still doesn't know if he'll re-sign with them or will continue to play beyond this season, that's a bridge they'll cross when they get there. Lakers GM Rob Pelinka also shut down rumors by pointing out that he's been in constant talks with James and his camp. “Yeah, so all the interactions we’ve had with LeBron and his camp, Rich (Paul) in particular, have been positive and supportive. So very professional and Rich has been great,” Pelinka said. “The dialogue with him has been open and constant.” The Lakers are doing the right thing by pivoting towards their younger star. Whether this will be the end of the line for James in Southern California remains to be seen.
Steelers Trade Package for Micah Parsons Predicted
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Packers’ Matt LaFleur’s Bold Three-Word Message on Jordan Love
The Green Bay Packers made significant investments in Jordan Love’s supporting cast over the past two offseasons, including adding rookies Matthew Golden and Savion Williams to the receiving corps in hopes that the young quarterback makes a leap. So far, as training camp grinds on, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur is already seeing a significant difference in Love. “Night and Day,” LaFleur told ESPN, of Love’s improvement from last season to this summer. Where Matt LaFleur and Packers See Jordan Love Improving Most Last season, Love and the Packers’ season came to a careening halt in an NFC Wild Card loss in Philadelphia to the eventual Super Bowl champion after the quarterback and several top offensive weapons battled through nagging injuries throughout the 2024 campaign. LaFleur says that he’s seeing a new and improved version of Love this summer, as the 2025 season nears. “Even from last year,” LaFleur told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. “And I thought he took a big jump last year. Way more presence. As the kids say, he’s got aura.” Love completed 63 percent of his passes last season for 3,389 yards with 25 touchdowns to 11 interceptions, but if the 26-year-old is fully healthy and makes the kind of strides LaFleur believes he’s capable of, those numbers could be the floor for the Packers’ star quarterback this fall. “You can see the urgency he’s playing with right now,” LaFleur said. “A lot of times in this [era], you’re going to go as far as your quarterback goes. But it does take everybody around him playing at a high level.”
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