Toronto Argonauts: What is the Plan as Free Agency Opens?
The Toronto Argonauts find themselves in a tough position, as they head into free agency without a general manager and head coach.
The Toronto Argonauts have a tough road ahead of them as free agency opens Tuesday in the CFL. With assistant Spencer Zimmerman currently running the team operations, it is hard to say business is running as usual for the double blue.
Zimmerman reached agreements with pending free agents Anthony Coombs, Lirim Hajrullahu,Tyler Holmes, Jake Reinhart, and Chris Van Zeyl. However, despite the work he has done to build a team for next season, many questions remain.
Wide receivers Kenny Shaw and Diontae Spencer rare still unsigned and should be the team’s highest priorities to bring back. After that, the Argos should focus on Matt Black, Andre Durie, Bryan Hall, Brandon Isaac, AJ Jefferson and Greg Van Roten.
WR Kenny Shaw has an offer from @TorontoArgos and is mulling it over. Still some time left to get it done @cfl #cfl
— gary lawless (@garylawless) February 13, 2017
Hearing @TorontoArgos have told RB Brandon Whitaker they won't be bringing him back. Looks like LB Cory Greenwood will hit market #cfl @cfl
— gary lawless (@garylawless) February 13, 2017
While it is tough to understand why Brandon Whitaker and Cory Greenwood were let go, one explanation could be their contract demands. Another could be the team simply exploring other options.
Donnovan Bennett wrote a piece for Sportsnet, detailing the best players at each position in free agency. On the list of potential free agents the Argos should be interested in, Bennett included the following players; Mitchell Gale, Shakir Bell, Ernest Jackson and Abdul Kanneh.
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Scott Mitchell of the Toronto Sun also shared his five free agent targets for the Argos. They include; Chad Owens, Kenny Shaw, LT Derek Dennis, OL J’Michael Deane and QB Rakeem Cato.
It will be important for the Argos to address the running back position. They will hope that Bell has them at the top of his list of teams to talk with.
Kienan LaFrance would be a nice backup option if Bell signs elsewhere, considering how well he played in the East Final against Edmonton. Travon Van could be brought in as a bargain addition, given the strong group of free agent running backs available.
The receiver position went through a major change last season, when the Argos released Tori Gurley, Kevin Elliott and Vidal Hazelton. The team should do their best to bring back Shaw and Spencer, while trying to gauge Jackson’s interest.
Jackson would be an ideal dependable option, considering he had no drops and 10 TDs with Ottawa. Owens would be a nice welcome back after seeing him play for Hamilton, but would the feeling be mutual?
Offensive line is an area that desperately need an upgrade and Dennis should be at the top of the list to bring in. The question is, does the situation in Toronto attract him?
If they are willing to pay, the Argos should want the player that recently won the award for best lineman in the league. Deane was a part of a Grey Cup winning squad that would bring valuable experience to the team.
In the secondary, Kanneh makes the most sense, because it is rare to see an All-Star hit the market. In addition, the Argos need to find a replacement for T.J. Heath.
John Ojo could be a bargain on a one-year deal, after suffering a torn Achilles last season. Emanuel Davis is a play maker the Argos secondary needed last season, but he could come at a high price.
The tough part for the Argos is the interest of these free agents in coming to Toronto with no GM or head coach in place. Hopefully the team can show off some financial muscle and attract free agents that way.
Next: Where do the Argos go from here?
Whatever the plan is, Zimmerman has the authority to make deals in CFL free agency according to the Canadian Press, but to what extent and how aggressive will the team be? Hopefully for Argos fans, Valentine’s Day does not add to the heartache they suffered these past few months.