B.C. Lions: Three things about Day 1 of CFL free agency

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The B.C. Lions are bigger and — after a cursory glance on paper — better than in 2024.

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Day 1 of official free agency came and went in the CFL on Tuesday, with the Lions making a flurry of signings, and making some locker-room whispers official. It’s welcome back for Micah Awe and David Foucault. It’s goodbye to Sukh Chungh and T.J. Lee. And welcome home Rysen John.

GONE, NEVER FORGOTTEN

Lee had been a Lions’ lifer, spending his entire decade-spanning CFL career with the Leos. The 33-year-old defensive back tore his Achilles tendon in the 2023 West Final in Winnipeg, but made a supercharged recovery and took the field in 2024, making two picks and 61 tackles in 12 games.

Chungh had been a mainstay on the offensive line for the past five seasons, after the Port Coquitlam native spent the first four years of his career with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Like Lee, injuries slowed the 32-year-old, keeping him from being as productive as he once was.

“Both these guys have been absolute warriors for us. T.J. was the longest-tenured lion; we signed him at an open workout in Seattle, I think 10 or 11 years ago. Both of these guys are very, very special,” said Lions general manager Ryan Rigmaiden, before confirming officially what had been speculated on for the past few weeks. 

“We are going to be moving on from them. We’ve been talking to them throughout this process. I talked to T.J. yesterday, and then I talked to Sukh this morning. That may change in the future. Injuries dictate that. Salary dictates that. And so if something is available in the future, we’d consider it, but for now, we felt like the best decision was to move on.”

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HAPPY HOMECOMINGS

Awe just can’t quit the Lions. After two years in Calgary, the all-star linebacker returns to the Leos’ den for his fourth go-round with the team.

His two years with the Stamps was productive, and he made the league and divisional all-star teams in 2023 after notching career-highs in defensive tackles (134) and interceptions (three) to go with a pair of sacks and a forced fumble. 

He’ll add versatility to the linebacking corps, which also saw the addition of two Adamses — U Sports standout Adam Auclair and former Lion and Vancouver native Adam Konar.

“Obviously, a player (Awe) we’re familiar with,” said Rigmaiden. “We wanted to get more physical with the linebackers, and so not just Micah, but with both Adams as well. Micah can play either spot. He’s tough, he’s physical, he can run. He’s got the hands for the interception, so he gives us a lot of flexibility with what we want to do on defence.”

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Also back in the black and orange: Left guard David Foucault, a 6-foot-7, 315 pound bulldozer via the Edmonton Elks.

“We want to win upfront. Everybody talks about it. We need to execute it better. And so we started there,” said Rigmaiden. “We talked about (wanting) a little bit more size, and so him being six-seven-plus, and 320-plus, fits our scheme maybe a little bit better than he did in the past.”

Another ‘big’ signing came in the addition of Burnaby’s John. The former Simon Fraser University star made his way south to the NFL after making waves in the NCAA. The 6-foot-7, 237-pounder who ran a 4.6 40-yard dash parlayed his 10 touchdowns and 861 yards receiving into a practice squad contract with the New York Giants. But his NFL career stalled before he returned to the CFL with Calgary.

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“He’s a size/speed guy. We’ve had success with guys like that before, with Jevon Cottoy, and then obviously (Justin) McInnis. We’re going to move him all over,” said Rigmaiden.

“But the thing I really stressed with him was grit and toughness. He knows where he’s got to be with his body, and I think that’s been a challenge for him, in the sense that, coming from the NFL and being a tight end, and then coming to Calgary to play wide receiver, I think he had to change his body style a little bit.

“He knows what we want him to do, obviously, making plays over the middle, and being tough and blocking is going to be a part of that.”

EXPERIENCE AND SKILL FOR QB ROOM

The Lions had success with one former Oregon Duck in Vernon Adams Jr., and now they have added another to their locker-room: Jeremiah Masoli.

The 36-year-old veteran has come through two major injuries in the past few years and remains a viable CFL quarterback, throwing for over 1,000 yards in 12 appearances last year in Ottawa.

Chase Brice remains the third member of the QB room.

Pivot Nathan Rourke has been locked in this off-season, even shovelling snow off of the artificial field next to the Lions’ facility earlier this week so he could get in a throwing session.

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