B.C. Lions right tackle Lions right tackle Jovan Olafioye shakes hands with Wally Buono. Olafioye, the CFL's offensive liineman of the year, is the top free agent available on Friday.
Ask the CFL’s eight general managers what they think of this year’s free agency crop, and you’re very likely to get eight answers of varying degrees.
Free agency, which starts Friday at noon EST, means different things to different GMs. Some step up to the table and start throwing around cash like a drunken sailor on leave, while others wait for the talent to come to them.
This year’s class features talented players who could help any team. It also has lunch-bucket guys who are always good to have on your team. There are also no-names who could blossom under the right growing conditions.
Argos GM Jim Barker, who put together last year’s Grey Cup championship squad, predicts this year’s free agency period will be a busy one.
“There’s more players available now than in recent years, as I recall,” Barker said. “More quality players. There’s going to be a lot of movement. There’s going to be some higher-profile guys."
