Elks make big CFL free agency splash, sign trio of veterans

The Edmonton Elks made a big splash on the first day of CFL free agency.

The Elks signed receiver Kenny Lawler and defensive back Ed Gainey, both Americans, as well as Canadian offensive lineman Mark Korte on Tuesday, less than two hours after the start of free agency.

Lawler's one-year deal is reportedly worth $300,000, which would make him the CFL's highest-paid non-quarterback.

The six-foot-three, 197-pound Lawler had 64 catches for a CFL-high 1,014 yards with six TDs in 13 games last season with Winnipeg. He helped the Bombers win consecutive Grey Cups during his two seasons with the club.

Gainey joins the Elks after five seasons with Saskatchewan. The five-foot-11 193-pounder registered 309 tackles, 36 special-teams tackles, one sack and 23 interceptions in 126 career CFL regular-season games with the Riders (2016-19, 2021), Hamilton (2014-15) and Montreal (2012-13).

The six-foot-two, 293-pound Korte returns home after spending his first three CFL seasons with Ottawa (2018-19, 2021). The native of Spruce Grove, Alta., played collegiately at Alberta.

Roughriders get linebacker Darnell Sankey

Linebacker Darnell Sankey is on the move.

Sankey, who had a league-leading 97 tackles last season with Calgary, signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

The six-foot-one, 245-pound Sankey also had one special-teams tackle, one sack and one forced fumble last season.

Before coming to Canada, Sankey spent time with the NFL's Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts, Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens and New Orleans Saints.

Saskatchewan also signed Canadian offensive lineman Josiah St. John to a contract extension. The six-foot-five, 305-pound St. John appeared in 14 regular-season games last season, making one start, as well as the West semifinal and division final.

Tiger-Cats re-sign veteran Canadian Ted Laurent

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats re-signed Canadian defensive tackle Ted Laurent and American defensive back Jumal Rolle.

Laurent, a five-time East Division all-star, will return for his eighth season with the club.

The 34-year-old started 11-of-13 games for Hamilton last season, registering 14 tackles.

Laurent missed last year's Grey Cup due to appendicitis.

The six-foot-one, 299-pound Laurent has started 131-of-155 career CFL regular-season games with Edmonton (2011-13) and Hamilton (2014-19, 2021). He has accumulated 200 tackles, one special-teams tackle, 48 sacks, seven forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Rolle, 31, started all 14 regular-season games for Hamilton last season, registering 40 tackles, two special-teams tackles and two interceptions. He was named a CFL all-star for the first time.

Lions sign Canada's Sean Whyte

The B.C. Lions signed Canadian free agent kicker Sean Whyte.

The 36-year-old native of White Rock, B.C., originally signed with B.C. in 2007 as a territorial exemption. He began his CFL career with the Lions (2009-10) before spending time with Montreal (2011-14) and Edmonton (2015-19, 2021).

Whyte has appeared in 168 career regular-season games. He has hit 382-of-441 field goals (87 per cent) and sports a 42.6-yard punting average. He's 14th in all-time CFL scoring with 1,515 points.

B.C. also signed American defensive backs Loucheiz Purifoy and Delvin Breaux, American defensive lineman Steven Richardson, Canadian quarterback Michael O'Connor and Canadian defensive linemen David Menard and Mathieu Betts as free agents.

Breaux retired prior to the '21 campaign following four seasons with Hamilton (2013-14, 2018-19). The former CFL all-star also spent time with the NFL's New Orleans Saints (2015-17).

Breaux, 32, appeared in 49 career regular-season games with Hamilton, registering 110 tackles, six forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries, three tackles for loss, two interceptions and a sack.

Purifoy, 29, spent the last three seasons with Saskatchewan, registering 106 tackles, eight interceptions and a forced fumble in 40 regular-season games. He began his CFL career with B.C. in 2016 and spent two seasons with the club before heading to Ottawa in 2018.

Purifoy joined the Riders later that season.

O'Connor, 25, adds to the Lions' Canadian content at quarterback.

Nathan Rourke, a 23-year-old Victoria native entering his second CFL season, will come into training camp as B.C.'s starter following the off-season retirement of American veteran Michael Reilly.

O'Connor dressed for six games with Calgary in 2021. O'Connor suited up for nine games as a rookie with Toronto in 2019, completing 15-of-25 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown.

O'Connor played collegiately at the University of British Columbia (2015-18), leading the Thunderbirds to a Vanier Cup title in 2015.

Menard, 31, returns to the Lions after spending 2021 with Montreal, where he registered eight sacks, 18 defensive tackles and two forced fumbles.

Hailing from Chicoutimi, Que., Menard played six seasons for B.C. (2014-19), recording 52 defensive tackles, 18 sacks and three forced fumbles.

Betts spent the last two seasons with Edmonton, registering 13 tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble in 19 regular-season contests. The Montreal native played collegiately at Laval (2015-18).

Richardson joins the Lions after two seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He recorded 38 tackles, six sacks and a forced fumble in 25 regular season contests.

Argonauts sign Andrew Harris

The Toronto Argonauts landed one of the biggest free agents available Tuesday, coming to terms with Canadian running back Andrew Harris.

The 34-year-old Winnipeg native was unable to strike a deal to stay with the Blue Bombers, opening the door to Toronto.

"Respectfully, the best running back in the Canadian Football League," Argos GM Michael [Pinball] Clemons said in a statement. "Homegrown through junior football, he is not defined by his birth certificate but refined by our Canadian game. His will to win is only paralleled by his love of the game.

"Andrew is a gift, a game-changer."

Harris arrives with a bulging trophy case. He has won three Grey Cup championships (2011, '19, '21) and was named the championship games' Most Valuable Canadian twice (2011, '19) and MVP once (2019).

Named the league's Most Outstanding Canadian in 2017, he has led the league in rushing three times (2017-19) and is the CFL career leader for rushing yards by a Canadian.

Harris has accumulated 9,661 rushing yards, 576 receptions, 5,223 receiving yards and 83 total touchdowns in 176 career games.

The Argonauts also agreed to terms with American defensive lineman Ja'Gared Davis.

The six-foot-one, 238-pound Davis had 39 tackles and six sacks in 13 regular-season games last season with Hamilton. But Davis had seven tackles, five sacks and a forced fumble in the Ticats' three playoff games, helping the club reach the Grey Cup for a second straight season.

Davis, 31, began his CFL career with Calgary (2016-18) before moving to Hamilton (2019, 2021). He has played in the Grey Cup in each of his five seasons in Canada, winning in 2018 with the Stampeders.

Davis has appeared in 75 career CFL regular-season games, recording 216 tackles, four special-teams tackles, 42 sacks, three interceptions and 10 forced fumbles.

Toronto also signed American linebacker Wynton McManis.

McManis, 27, appeared in one game last season with the New Orleans Saints before finishing the year on the Miami Dolphins practice squad.

The six-foot-one, 225-pound linebacker spent three seasons with Calgary (2017-2019), registering 104 tackles, 41 special-teams tackles, four sacks, and two forced fumbles in 43 career regular-season games. He had a CFL-best 25 special-teams tackles in 2018, helping the Stamps win the Grey Cup that year.

McManis began his pro career in 2016 with the San Francisco 49ers after signing with the NFL club as an undrafted free agent.

Bombers add veteran Ellingson

The Blue Bombers agreed to terms with veteran American receiver Greg Ellingson.

Winnipeg GM Kyle Walters confirmed the move during a conference call.

Ellingson, 33, had 47 catches for 687 yards and a TD in 10 games last season with Edmonton.

The six-foot-three, 197-pound Ellingson is entering his ninth CFL season.

He has appeared in 117 career CFL games with Hamilton (2013-14), Ottawa (2015-18) and Edmonton (2019, '21), registering 549 catches for 7,952 yards with 42 TDs.

The move reunites Ellingson with Winnipeg quarterback Zach Collaros as the two were teammates with Hamilton in 2014.

The Ticats went to the Grey Cup that year, losing 20-16 to Calgary.

Walters also confirmed that veteran Canadian running back Andrew Harris, who has helped Winnipeg win consecutive Grey Cups (2019, '21), will hit the free-agent market after the two sides couldn't agree on a new deal.

Redblacks bring in OLine help, Darvin Adams among other moves

Burke made a commitment Tuesday to protect his quarterback, signing offensive linemen Hunter Steward, Darius Ciraco and Ucambre Williams. Steward and Ciraco are Canadian.

Williams spent his first five CFL seasons with Calgary, appearing in 63 career regular-season games. Steward, 30, is a seven-season CFL veteran who has spent his entire career with the B.C. Lions.

Ciraco, 25, played the previous three seasons with Hamilton.

Ottawa's first move was signing American defensive lineman Davon Coleman to a one-year extension. The six-foot-one, 282-pound Coleman had 32 tackles and four sacks with the Redblacks last season.

The Redblacks then added veteran running back William Powell, receiver Darvin Adams, Canadian defensive linemen Kwaku Boateng and Lorenzo Mauldin IV, and defensive back Ty Cranston, also a Canadian. Ottawa also signed running back Jackson Bennett and receiver Llevi Noel, both Canadians. 

Stampeders re-sign veteran Shawn Lemon

The Calgary Stampeders re-signed American defensive lineman Shawn Lemon on Tuesday.

The six-foot-one, 249-pound Lemon started nine-of-11 games with Calgary last year, registering 26 tackles, a team-high eight sacks, two forced fumbles and two knockdowns.

The well-travelled Lemon, who has played for six CFL clubs over his 10-year career, has 78 sacks in 118 career regular-season contests.