The start of the CFL Free Agency is a couple of months away and already teams are re-signing players for the 2024 season. Some notable free agents have yet to re-sign with their teams and will test the free-agent market. Unless these players agree to new contracts with their current teams, these players might be wearing different jerseys in 2024.
5. William Stanback
William Stanback is six foot and weighs 233 pounds. The 29-year-old from Hempstead, New York, had 147 carries for 800 yards, two touchdowns, 36 catches for 241 yards, and one touchdown in 14 games for the Montreal Alouettes in 2023. In the 110th Grey Cup, Stanback scored a 32-yard touchdown in a 28-24 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
In five seasons in Montreal, Stanback has 625 carries for 3,716 yards, 11 touchdowns, 107 catches for 1,058 yards, four touchdowns, and 19 kick returns for 464 yards in 16 games. Stanback is a two-time CFL All-Star (2019, 2021), a two-time CFL East All-Star (2019, 2021), CFL rushing yards leader in 2021, and the winner of the Terry Evanshen Trophy (East Division’s Most Outstanding Player) in 2021.
Before Montreal, Stanback signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2017. In 2018, Stanback signed with the Montreal Alouettes as an undrafted free agent. He played two seasons in Montreal before the Alouettes released him to sign with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020. After the Raiders released him, Stanback returned to Montreal in 2021.
Collegiately, Stanback played three seasons at UCF (2013-15) with 307 carries for 1,152 yards, 16 touchdowns, 27 catches for 244 yards, three touchdowns, and 11 kick returns for 218 yards in 25 games for the Knights, of which he made seven starts. He was a First Team All-AAC in 2014.
Then, Stanback transferred to Virginia Union in 2016 with 207 carries for 1,299 yards, 15 touchdowns, 12 catches for 165 yards, and three touchdowns in ten games for the Panthers. He was named First Team All-CIAA in 2016.
With the reports of Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Brady Olivera looking to head to the NFL. The Blue Bombers will need to have a backup plan in place. Adding Stanback would be a nice option for the short term if Olivera does not get to the NFL. The other teams Stanback could go to are the Calgary Stampeders, Toronto Argonauts, and Ottawa Redblacks.
4. Dane Evans
Dane Evans is six foot one and weighs 218 pounds. The 29-year-old from Chickasha, Oklahoma, completed 71 of 103 passes (71%) for 829 yards, four touchdowns, six interceptions, and six carries for 30 yards in six games for the B.C. Lions in 2023. The Lions acquired Evans from the Ticats on February 23, 2023, for a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2024 CFL Draft.
Evans signed with the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2017 but was released at the end of training camp. Then, Evans signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats a month later.
Evans spent four seasons in Hamilton completing 698 of 1,019 passes (68.5%) for 8,807 yards, 45 touchdowns, 34 interceptions, 125 carries for 511 yards, and ten touchdowns in 63 games. He led the Ticats to two Grey Cup appearances in 2019 and 2021.
Collegiately, Evans played four seasons at Tulsa (2013-16) completing 904 of 1,577 passes (57.3%) for 11,680 yards, 84 touchdowns, 47 interceptions, 244 carries for 72 yards, and ten touchdowns in 46 games for the Golden Hurricanes, of which 43 were starts.
There is no question that one of the weaknesses this CFL season was the quarterback position. There were a ton of inconsistent plays from the likes of Dustin Crum, Taylor Cornelius, and Jake Dolegala that filled in for injured guys like Jeremiah Masoli and Trevor Harris while Cornelius lost the starting job to Tre Ford.
Dane Evans is still young and could help a team become contenders in 2024. Teams like Ottawa, Saskatchewan, and Calgary need a quarterback. I think the team who will win Evans’s services will be the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The Roughriders need a backup plan in case Trevor Harris does not return to start the 2024 season. Plus, Evans would be set up to lead the Roughriders in the future. Saskatchewan has some pieces on their roster and if they add guys like Rasheed Bailey, the Roughriders can get right back into the playoff hunt in 2024.
3. A.C. Leonard
A.C. Leonard is six foot two and weighs 250 pounds. The 31-year-old from Palatka, Florida, made 45 tackles, 12 sacks, two forced fumbles, two catches for 55 yards, and one touchdown in 18 games for the Elks in 2023.
Before Edmonton, Leonard signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2014. After Minnesota, Leonard played in the FXFL for the Brooklyn Bolts and Hudson Valley Fort. In addition, he played in the Arena Football League with the New Orleans Voodoo (2014-15), and Jacksonville Sharks (2016).
Leonard has played 110 career games with the B.C. Lions (2015), Saskatchewan Roughriders (2016-17, 2021-22), Edmonton Elks (2023), and Ottawa Redblacks (2018). Leonard has 278 tackles, three tackles on special teams, 51 sacks, one interception, and eight forced fumbles. He was named a CFL East All-Star in 2018.
Collegiately, Leonard played one season with the Florida Gators in 2011 as a tight end with eight catches for 99 yards in nine games. Then, he transferred to Tennessee State (2012-13) with 85 catches for 1,174 yards and 11 touchdowns for the Tigers.
A.C. Leonard is a guy who still has not won a Grey Cup. I think Leonard will join a contending team next season. That team will be the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Blue Bombers have a chance at losing some of their defensive players like Jesse Briggs, Alden Darby Jr., Shayne Gauthier, Jackson Jeffcoat, and Winston Rose.
Winnipeg needs to have a backup plan ready in case they lose some of these guys and adding Leonard gives them more veteran help and keeps the Blue Bombers contenders for the Grey Cup.
2. Ka’Deem Carey
Ka’Deem Carey is five foot nine and weighs 206 pounds. The 31-year-old from Tucson, Arizona, had 89 carries for 476 yards, and 29 catches for 156 yards in nine games for the Calgary Stampeders in 2023.
Before Calgary, Carey was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the fourth round (117th pick) of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played three seasons in Chicago with 111 carries for 443 yards, two touchdowns, 13 catches for 131 yards, and one touchdown in 37 games.
After Chicago, Carey signed with the Stampeders as a free agent on October 3, 2018. He was on the practice squad when the Stampeders won the Grey Cup over the Ottawa Redblacks. Carey has played four seasons in Calgary with 492 carries for 2,855 yards, 19 touchdowns, 127 catches for 732 yards, and one touchdown in 44 games. Carey is a two-time CFL West All-Star (2021-22) and a CFL All-Star in 2022.
Collegiately, Carey played three seasons at Arizona (2011-13) with 743 carries for 4,239 yards, 48 touchdowns, 77 catches for 679 yards, and four touchdowns in 36 games for the Wildcats. He was a two-time First Team All-Pac 12 (2012-13), two-time All-American (2012-13), and the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year in 2013.
Calgary continues to trend downward and they need a full rebuild which means letting go of some of their veteran players like Carey. For Carey, there will be teams that want to sign him and he would have a chance to compete for a Grey Cup.
The first team that comes to mind as to where he could end up is the Toronto Argonauts. Right now, running back A.J. Ouellette will also be a free agent but I think they will re-sign him. Their backup, Andrew Harris, retired and they need a backup running back.
Like Stanback, Carey would fit the role of a backup running back and can split carries with Ouellette in hopes the Argonauts can get back to the Grey Cup after a 16-2 season in 2023 but lost to the Montreal Alouettes in the Eastern Final.
1. Dru Brown
Dru Brown is five foot eleven and weighs 191 pounds. The 26-year-old completed 62 of 89 passes (70%) for 983 yards, 9 touchdowns, 11 carries for 30 yards, and 2 touchdowns in 18 games, of which he appeared in 8 games and started three of them.
The Blue Bombers signed Brown as a free agent on March 11, 2020, but the season was canceled. Brown concluded his third season in Winnipeg completing 102 of 153 passes (67%) for 1,484 yards, 14 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 37 carries for 113 yards, and 5 touchdowns in 38 games. He is a member of the 2021 Winnipeg Blue Bombers Grey Cup championship team.
Collegiately, Brown played one season at San Mateo in 2015 completing 104 of 194 passes (53.6%) for 1,879 yards, 21 touchdowns 8 interceptions, 63 carries for 188 yards, and 6 touchdowns in 11 games for the Bulldogs.
Next, Brown transferred to Hawaii (2016-17) completing 463 of 747 passes (62%) for 5,273 yards, 37 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, 146 carries for 313 yards, and 6 touchdowns in 25 games for the Rainbow Warriors. During his time in Hawaii, Brown was named Hawaii Bowl MVP in 2016 after leading the Rainbow Warriors to a 52-35 win over Middle Tennessee State.
Then, Brown transferred to Oklahoma State (2018-19) completing 72 of 107 passes (67.3%) for 810 yards, 7 touchdowns, 1 interception, 23 carries for 6 yards, and 1 touchdown in 8 games for the Cowboys.
In his three starts for the Blue Bombers, Brown completed 47 of 68 passes (69.1%) for 756 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 2 carries for 13 yards. Brown showed in those three starts that he can lead a team to victory if you give him an offensive-minded coach, an offensive line to protect him, and playmakers.
Dru Brown is one of the most interesting free agents heading into 2024. Brown will be a starter in the CFL. He is another young quarterback who can help any team become contenders for the Grey Cup. Teams like Calgary, Saskatchewan, and Ottawa need a quarterback.
While I had written earlier this year that Calgary should sign Brown. I’m starting to believe that the Ottawa Redblacks will be the ones to sign Brown. Brown would help put the Redblacks back on the map in a very competitive Eastern Division if they can add pieces around Brown like an offensive line and weapons like Rasheed Bailey and re-sign Braylon Addison.
Where do you think these players will sign in 2024? Leave a comment below.
