The CFL offseason is officially in full swing, which means its time to take a look at the league’s top pending free agents.
This list was made through collaboration with colleagues Justin Dunk, JC Abbott, and other 3DownNation contributors. The criteria included age, position, nationality, health, production, and potential.
To see a team-by-team breakdown of this year’s pending free agents, please use the following links: B.C. Lions, Calgary Stampeders, Edmonton Elks, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Toronto Argonauts, Ottawa Redblacks, and Montreal Alouettes.
1) QB Bo Levi Mitchell, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The two-time Grey Cup M.V.P. received his second-straight East Division M.O.P. nomination and did so after setting a new career-high with 36 touchdown passes. Mitchell also did a better job of protecting the ball this year, throwing seven fewer interceptions than he did in 2024. He’ll turn 36 in March, but Mitchell appears to have lots of football left in him.
2) RB Brady Oliveira, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The native of Winnipeg, Man. had another brilliant season with his hometown team, quietly leading the CFL in yards-per-carry (min. 50 attempts) and setting all-new career-highs in receiving with 61 catches for 546 yards. Oliveira wants to sign back with the Blue Bombers but he’ll only do so if he believes he can win a championship and the money makes sense.
3) DL Jaylon Hutchings, Calgary Stampeders
The 25-year-old was virtually unblockable in his first full year as a CFL starter, making 39 defensive tackles, eight sacks, and one forced fumble from the interior of Calgary’s defensive line. Though it seems likely that Hutchings will get an NFL shot in 2026, he arguably deserves to be the highest-paid defensive player in the league if he stays north.
4) REC Keon Hatcher, B.C. Lions
The 31-year-old native of Tulsa, Okla. led the CFL with 102 catches for 1,688 yards and nine touchdowns this season to earn All-CFL honours for the second time in his five-year career. Hatcher believes he’s played on team-friendly deals in recent years and has made it clear he wants to get paid this time around.
5) QB Trevor Harris, Saskatchewan Roughriders
The six-foot-three, 212-pound passer cemented his legacy after leading the Roughriders to a Grey Cup victory and had a strong season overall, throwing for 4,549 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions. Harris hasn’t committed to playing next year and will turn 40 in May but is still a consensus top-four quarterback in the CFL.
6) OL Jermarcus Hardrick, Saskatchewan Roughriders
The six-foot-four, 315-pound blocker was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman for the first time in his 11-year career and was PFF’s top-ranked offensive tackle with a year-long grade of 84.4. Hardrick will turn 36 in May but he’s yet to show any signs of slowing down, playing elite football at one of the game’s most important positions.
7) REC Samuel Emilus, Saskatchewan Roughriders
The 28-year-old native of Montreal, Que. was named the Grey Cup’s Most Valuable Canadian after making 10 catches for 108 yards, finishing only two receptions shy of the all-time record. Emilus failed to record a third-straight 1,000-yard season due to injury but averaged a whopping 84.0 yards per game in which he played.
8) OL Jarell Broxton, B.C. Lions
The Baylor University product was named All-CFL after allowing the best pressure rate in the league among offensive tackles (2.4 percent) over 607 pass-blocking snaps in 2025, per Pro Football Focus (PFF). CFL teams are struggling to find quality edge blockers and Broxton is playing dominant football at left tackle at age 32.
9) REC Tyson Philpot, Montreal Alouettes
The 25-year-old has yet to record his first 1,000-yard season but that’s only due to injuries, which have limited him to 21 regular-season games over the last two years. Philpot has averaged 75.4 yards and 0.48 touchdowns-per-game over that timeframe and was Montreal’s top receiver in the Grey Cup, making five catches for 87 yards.
10) LB A.J. Allen, Saskatchewan Roughriders
The native of Burlington, Ont. was a standout in his first season as a starter and made an instant-classic, game-saving tackle in the dying moments of the West Final. Allen wasn’t shy about his breakout year, suggesting that 3DownNation erred in leaving him off its all-star list, and is a proven ratio-breaker at 27. Clearly, the man deserves a raise.
11) DB Tevaughn Campbell, Saskatchewan Roughriders
The 32-year-old native of Scarborough, Ont. didn’t skip a beat this season following his six-year foray in the NFL, notching six interceptions over 13 starts to earn All-CFL honours. Campbell is a ratio-breaker at cornerback and though he’s already one of the CFL’s highest-paid defensive backs, it stands to reason he could earn even more money in 2026.
12) LB Wynton McManis, Toronto Argonauts
The six-foot-one, 230-pound defender played through injury for much of 2025 but was still highly productive, recording 62 defensive tackles, four sacks, two interceptions, and one forced fumble. The two-time All-CFL selection is as impactful as any linebacker in the league, combining leadership with elite playmaking ability.
13) DB Stavros Katsantonis, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The 29-year-old received his first All-CFL selection after making a career-high six interceptions in 2025. The former fourth-round draft pick out of the University of British Columbia is the league’s tenth-highest-paid defensive back but it stands to reason he’s due a raise after a standout season in Steeltown.
14) DL Jonah Tavai, B.C. Lions
The native of Inglewood, Calif. made 26 defensive tackles and five sacks from his spot along the interior of B.C.’s defensive line, though he also proved he can rush the passer off the edge. Tavai doesn’t have a prototypical frame at five-foot-ten and 283 pounds but he’s proven he can disrupt opposing offences at the age of just 24.
15) DL Malik Carney, Saskatchewan Roughriders
The six-foot-three, 230-pound defender made a career-high eight sacks this season, his fifth in the CFL, to help Saskatchewan win the Grey Cup. Though he didn’t have as much statistical production as some of his counterparts, Carney consistently beats blockers and flushes opposing quarterbacks on film.
16) OL Brandon Revenberg, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The 32-year-old is as consistent as any blocker in the CFL, earning his fourth East Division nomination for Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in 2025. The five-time All-CFL selection and six-time All-East Division selection is a perennial standout and allowed a league-best 2.4 percent pressure rate among guards according to PFF.
17) RB Dedrick Mills, Calgary Stampeders
The five-foot-ten, 238-pound ball-carrier won the CFL’s rushing title in 2025, rushing for 1,409 yards and 11 touchdowns and catching 33 passes for 292 yards. Though his pass-blocking isn’t elite, Mills remains one of the league’s most consistent runners and has now proven he can stay healthy for a full season.
18) REC Nic Demski, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The native of Winnipeg, Man. was named All-West Division for a fifth-straight year after recording his third-straight 1,000-yard season. Demski will turn 32 in December but has proven he can still take the top off opposing defences. He also has a nose for the end zone, scoring 29 touchdowns over the last four years.
19) REC Dohnte Meyers, Saskatchewan Roughriders
The 25-year-old caught 65 passes for 1,056 yards and eight touchdowns this season to earn his first All-West Division selection. Meyers is a proven deep threat, though he can also make opposing defenders miss to produce yards after the catch. If he doesn’t get an NFL opportunity, Meyers should secure a handsome raise in the CFL.
20) OL Coulter Woodmansey, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The native of Toronto, Ont. was PFF’s top-graded centre where he anchored arguably the league’s best offensive line. Woodmansey is a road grader in the run game, he can also play guard, and he’s entering his prime at the age of 28. If he hits the open market, he’ll likely become one of the CFL’s top-five highest-paid offensive linemen.
21) DL Mike Rose, Saskatchewan Roughriders
The 33-year-old made 17 defensive tackles, six sacks, and one forced fumble in his first season with Saskatchewan, though he narrowly missed out on being named All-West Division for a fifth-straight year. Rose is as good as any interior pass-rusher in the CFL and should have plenty of suitors if he hits the open market again this offseason.
22) DB Adarius Pickett, Ottawa Redblacks
The UCLA product is not only one of the CFL’s best strong-side linebackers but also one of the best cover players on special teams, making 98 total tackles, two sacks, and one interception in 2025. Pickett has been named All-East Division for three-straight seasons and only recently turned 29.
23) OL Pier-Olivier Lestage, Montreal Alouettes
The native of Saint-Eustache, Que. was PFF’s second-graded starting guard in the CFL and earned a league-best run blocking grade of 74.6. Lestage was named All-East Division this year and is firmly in his prime at the age of 28. It might be tough for another team to pry him from his hometown but Lestage will be in high demand if he reaches the open market.
24) DB C.J. Reavis, Saskatchewan Roughriders
The soon-to-be 30-year-old excelled at strong-side linebacker and safety this year, making 61 defensive tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles, and one interception. Reavis has a nice combination of athleticism, physicality, and cover skills, which is what allows him to be so versatile in Corey Mace’s defence.
25) DB Redha Kramdi, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Université de Montréal product is a ratio-breaker at strong-side linebacker, though he’s also capable of playing safety and filling several key roles on special teams. Kramdi is consistently praised by his teammates and coaches as essentially an extra coach on the field given how much film study he’s done dating back to his time in U Sports.
26) DB Jamal Peters, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The 28-year-old earned All-CFL honours for the second time in 2025 after making 50 defensive tackles and tying his previous career-high with six interceptions. The six-foot-two, 220-pound native of Bassfield, Miss. has a rare frame for a CFL defensive back and uses it to his advantage in pass coverage.
27) REC Kian Schaffer-Baker, Saskatchewan Roughriders
The native of Mississauga, Ont. has had trouble staying healthy the past few years but he’s consistently produced when on the field and has a rare combination of size and athleticism. Given how many talented pending free agents the Roughriders have in the receiving corps, it seems fair to question if Schaffer-Baker will be on the move this winter.
28) RB James Butler, B.C. Lions
The 30-year-old ball-carrier had a bounce-back season in 2025, setting new career-highs with 1,213 rushing yards and 11 rushing touchdowns. B.C. head coach Buck Pierce likes to run the ball and Butler fits the team’s scheme perfectly as he’s also an accomplished receiver out of the backfield.
29) DL Clarence Hicks, Calgary Stampeders
The 26-year-old had a breakout season for Calgary, earning an All-West Division selection after recording 28 defensive tackles, 12 sacks, and two forced fumbles. Hicks earned the second-highest pass-rushing grade among defensive ends in the CFL from PFF, which should result in a steep raise for 2026.
30) DL Jake Ceresna, Edmonton Elks
The two-time All-CFL selection is coming off a down year during which he was plagued by a knee injury, though Ceresna has consistently proven he can be a top defensive tackle in the CFL. The 31-year-old needs a chance to get healthy and show he’s still an elite defender and he should get that opportunity based on the strength of his resumé.
31) OL Dejon Allen, B.C. Lions
The native of Compton, Calif. played only five regular-season games due to injury this year but remains one of the CFL’s best offensive tackles. Allen won the league’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman award in 2023 while playing for the Toronto Argonauts and is a two-time All-CFL selection at right tackle.
32) DL Julian Howsare, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The six-foot-three, 255-pound defender was named All-CFL for the first time after recording 13 sacks this year — almost double his previous career-high. Though teams might wonder if 2025 was an anomaly, edge rushers are hard to find and Howsare was arguably the best in the league in 2025, winning Most Outstanding Defensive Player in the East Division.
33) REC KeeSean Johnson, Saskatchewan Roughriders
The former NFL draft pick had his first 1,000-yard season this year as he made 86 catches for 1,159 yards and four touchdowns in Riderville. Johnson was named All-CFL for the first time in his career and though he’s had a little bit of a late-career breakout — he turned 29 in October — he should still be a highly-coveted player if he reaches the open market.
34) DB Evan Holm, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The five-foot-eleven, 188-pound native of Edina, Minn. is coming off his best season, having made 55 defensive tackles, six special teams tackles, four interceptions, and two forced fumbles to be named All-CFL. Holm is already among the league’s highest-paid defensive backs but one could argue he deserves to be paid even more.
35) QB Cody Fajardo, Edmonton Elks
The 33-year-old native of Brea, Calif. hasn’t committed to playing again in 2026, though the Elks have made it clear that they want him back as their starting quarterback. Fajardo doesn’t have the CFL’s best deep ball but he makes good decisions, throws with accuracy, leads effectively, and rarely if ever misses games due to injury.
36) DB Destin Talbert, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The native of Darien, Ill. recorded 55 defensive tackles, three special teams tackles, and three interceptions with the Tiger-Cats, starting all 18 regular-season games at boundary halfback, which is arguably the most important position in the secondary. Coming off a rookie contract, Talbert is due to a sizeable raise on his next deal.
37) RB A.J. Ouellette, Saskatchewan Roughriders
The 30-year-old proved he’s still a top ball-carrier in the CFL, rushing for a career-high 1,222 yards and eight touchdowns in 2025. The five-foot-eight, 210-pound native of Covington, Ohio remained effective in the postseason, rushing for 196 yards and one touchdown over two games to help Saskatchewan win the 112th Grey Cup.
38) DB Deatrick Nichols, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
It’s been a few years since Nichols earned an All-CFL selection but he’s still one of the best boundary halfbacks in the league at the age of 31. The native of Miami, Fla. has only made seven interceptions over five CFL seasons, though that’s partly because opposing offences rarely throw the ball his way.
39) KR Isaiah Wooden, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The 25-year-old missed part of the season due to injury but was still impactful on special teams, averaging 26.3 yards on 42 kickoff returns, 15.0 yards on 38 punt returns, and scoring three return touchdowns. The native of San Diego, Calif. could get an NFL look this offseason but should be an impact CFL player in 2026 if not.
40) DB Marc-Antoine Dequoy, Montreal Alouettes
The native of Île Bizard, Que. had a bit of a down year in 2025, recording only one interception, but he remains a top safety in the league. Dequoy has spent his whole career playing for his hometown team, though the Alouettes have a talented Canadian defensive back group that also includes Arthur Hamlin and Nate Beauchemin.
41) LB Jacob Roberts, Calgary Stampeders
The six-foot-one, 233-pound native of Charlotte, N.C. had a breakout season at weak-side linebacker in his first full year as a starter, making 93 defensive tackles, nine special teams tackles, four sacks, and one forced fumble. Roberts could get an NFL look this offseason but if not, it stands to reason he’s still got room to improve at just 24.
42) REC Justin Hardy, Ottawa Redblacks
The native of Washington, N.C. will turn 34 next month, which could hurt his value in free agency, but he recorded a third-straight 1,000-yard season with the Redblacks and scored a career-high eight touchdowns in 2025. For a team looking for a reliable second-down target, the three-time All-East Division selection would be the perfect addition.
43) DL Micah Johnson, Saskatchewan Roughriders
The 37-year-old has already said he’s only willing to continue his career in Regina but that shouldn’t stop others teams from expressing interest if he’s available come February. Johnson was named All-CFL for the fifth time in his career in 2025 and has now recorded 71 sacks over 178 regular-season games in the league.
44) DB Derrick Moncrief, Calgary Stampeders
The six-foot-two, 220-pound defender turned back the clock in 2025, excelling in a Calgary defence that was well-tailored to his strengths. Moncrief made 12 tackles for loss, which was twice as many as any other defender in the league, along with two interceptions, one forced fumble, and one touchdown.
45) LB Jovan Santos-Knox, Ottawa Redblacks
The native of Waterbury, Conn. helped lead a defence that was quietly one of the CFL’s best against the run in 2025, recording 80 defensive tackles and one interception. Santos-Knox is now an eight-year CFL veteran, though he remains as consistent as ever as a run defender and in pass coverage.
46) DL Caleb Sanders, Saskatchewan Roughriders
The six-foot-one, 270-pound native of Glenwood, Ia. has yet to be a full-time starter in the CFL but he’s been highly effective as a rotational player in Saskatchewan, making 11 defensive tackles, three sacks, and one forced fumble. Assuming he wants to be a starter in 2026, Sanders should get that chance whether it’s in Riderville or elsewhere.
47) LB Isaac Darkangelo, Toronto Argonauts
The six-foot-one, 230-pound defender was mostly a rotational player with the Argonauts in 2025 but he was also highly productive, recording 60 defensive tackles, 22 special teams tackles, four forced fumbles, and two sacks. The 25-year-old has looked comfortable in multiple spots on defence and seems primed for a larger role.
48) OL Stanley Bryant, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The eight-time All-CFL left tackle is no longer the best offensive lineman in the CFL, but he still clearly has the respect of his peers as he was voted a CFLPA all-star in 2025. Bryant is the league’s oldest active non-kicker — he will turn 40 in May — but he is still capable of protecting the blindside of whoever’s throwing the ball behind him.
49) REC Tim White, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The 31-year-old is coming off his fourth-straight 1,000-yard season, during which time he’s recorded at least seven touchdown catches per year. The five-foot-ten, 175-pound native of Santa Clarita, Calif. has been plagued by drops at times during his career though there’s no questioning his explosiveness down the field.
50) DL Willie Jefferson, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The six-time All-CFL selection is no longer one of the league’s top pass-rushers — he recorded only three sacks in 2025 — but he also made a league-leading 16 pass knockdowns, which was three more than any other player. In the right system, Jefferson is still capable of making a strong impact.
Best of the rest: QB Dustin Crum, Taylor Powell; RB Daniel Adeboboye, Greg Bell; REC Clark Barnes, Shemar Bridges, Dejon Brissett, Steven Dunbar Jr., Ayden Eberhardt, Kurleigh Gittens Jr., Tevin Jones, Tommy Nield, Charleston Rambo, Dominique Rhymes, Dalton Schoen; OL Quinton Barrow, Jacob Brammer, Joshua Coker, Jordan Murray, Patrick Neufeld; DL Habakkuk Baldonado, Brandon Barlow, Aidan John, Cameron Lawson, Michael Wakefield, Dylan Wynn; LB Adam Auclair, Ben Hladik, Marquel Lee, Tyrell Richards, Darnell Sankey, Josh Woods; DB DaShaun Amos, Devodric Bynum, DaMarcus Fields, Michael Griffin II, Jonathan Moxey, Godfrey Onyeka, Garry Peters; K Sergio Castillo, Sean Whyte; KR Mario Alford, Janarion Grant.
