Free-agent primer

There is just a week left until about 75 veteran CFL players hit the market. The free-for-all starts Feb. 16 at 12:01 a.m. (a time that needs to be changed in the future as interest increases in this process) and there are a few names of interest.

Need a running back? How about a 9,000-yard rusher (Joffrey Reynolds) or a former Grey Cup MVP (Avon Cobourne)?

Need offensive line help? How about a two-time CFL most outstanding lineman (Rob Murphy)?

Need a receiver? How about a former most outstanding Canadian (Andy Fantuz)?

Need some ratio changers? How about linebacker or two (Kevin Eiben and Jay Pottinger) or an emerging defensive tackle (Winnipeg’s Donny O)?

There are a few teams that could make some noise on the market, and clearly Andy Fantuz is the biggest fish to land. Behind Fantuz, there isn’t a real game-changer at that position, which makes him even more attractive.

There are plenty of lineman available on both sides of the ball, and the Toronto Argonauts could be hit hard if Murphy, Taylor Robertson and Dominic Picard all decide to leave.

The Calgary Stampeders have the fewest free agents with only four hitting the market. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers — despite signing two quarterbacks last week — have the most with 11.

There are some stocked positions and some depleted ones. There are a plenty of Canadian running backs/fullbacks available, but there isn’t much for quarterbacks.

Here is the breakdown of free agents by position. This isn’t going to be a complete list, as there are hundreds of former players who no longer have jobs and could resurface. These are players who finished the season on active rosters.

There are a few former NFLers (such as Rashad Jeanty, who signed with the Edmonton Eskimos Monday) that could also come back to the CFL, but only a couple are listed here.

Those players designated x means they are Canadians. Ones with y mean they are already free agents after getting released, while z designates players expected to retire but haven’t officially yet.

Quarterback
Dalton Bell, Toronto
Alex Brink, Winnipeg
y-Ryan Dinwiddie, Saskatchewan
y-Jarious Jackson, B.C.

Running back
x-Agustin Barrenechea, Hamilton
x-Graeme Bell, Saskatchewan
Wes Cates, Saskatchewan
x-Stu Foord, Saskatchewan
x-Sam Fournier, Edmonton
x-Jamall Lee, B.C.
y-Joffrey Reynolds, Calgary
y-Avon Cobourne, Hamilton

Receiver
x-Matt Carter, Hamilton
Greg Carr, Winnipeg
Aaron Hargreaves, Winnipeg
z-Jason Clermont, Saskatchewan
x-Andy Fantuz, Saskatchewan
Cary Koch, Saskatchewan
x-Arjei Franklin, Calgary
x-Andrew Nowacki, Edmonton
y-Jason Armstead, Edmonton
y-Freddie Barnes, Saskatchewan
y-Terrence Nunn, Saskatchewan
y-Jason Barnes, Edmonton

Offensive line
x-Scott Flory, Montreal
Rob Murphy, Toronto
x-Dominic Picard, Toronto
x-Taylor Robertson, Toronto
Jason Jimenez, Hamilton
Andre Douglas, Winnipeg
Glenn January, Winnipeg
x-Brendan LaBatte, Winnipeg
x-Steven Morley, Winnipeg
x-Marc Parenteau, Saskatchewan
x-Tim O’Neill, Calgary
x-Patrick Kabongo, Edmonton
x-Andrew Jones, B.C.
xy-George Hudson, Saskatchewan
y-Chris Patrick, Edmonton
xy-Alex Gauthier, Saskatchewan

Defensive line
Jermaine McElveen, Montreal
x-Jeff Robertshaw, Montreal
Alex Buzbee, Toronto
Ben Ishola, Toronto
Justin Hickman, Hamilton
Matt Kirk, Hamilton
z-Doug Brown, Winnipeg
Phillip Hunt, Winnipeg
x-Don Oramasionwu, Winnipeg
Greg Peach, Edmonton
Aaron Hunt, B.C.
y-Joe Sykes, Edmonton
y-Remond Willis, Saskatchewan

Linebacker
x-Walter Spencer, Montreal
x-Kevin Eiben, Toronto
x-Jason Pottinger, Toronto
Isaac Brown, Hamilton
Rod Davis, Edmonton
Mark Restelli, Edmonton
y-Barrin Simpson, Saskatchewan

Defensive back
Mark Estelle, Montreal
x-Paul Woldu, Montreal
Byron Parker, Toronto
Willie Pile, Toronto
Jason Shivers, Hamilton
Tristan Jackson, Saskatchewan
x-Leron Mitchell, Saskatchewan
Brandon Isaac, Calgary
Dante Marsh, B.C.
Ryan Phillips, B.C.
xy-Tamon George, Saskatchewan
y-Wopamo Osaisai, Edmonton
y-John Eubanks, Saskatchewan
y-Tad Kornegay, B.C.
y-Lin-J Shell, Toronto

Kicker-Punter
Justin Medlock, Hamilton
Eddie Johnson, Saskatchewan
x-Burke Dales, Calgary
xy-Luca Congi, Saskatchewan
y-Damon Duval, Edmonton

— Buz