CFL Expansion Roster Composed of Players Not Currently on a CFL Team Mid Preseason

This article’s goal is to showcase the breadth of football players that aren’t currently playing for a CFL team. This is a fictitious roster that a 10th CFL team has assembled using players who are currently available. Despite lacking draft picks, this hypothetical team appears to have the potential to be a respectable on-field product on paper.

 

QB1: Quarterbacks Barriere Eric

Eric Barriere will have a chance to prove himself worthy of the starting quarterback position. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers just released him today. In the Bombers’ opening preseason game, he had a difficult debut, finishing only three of his seven throws for 23 yards and two interceptions.

After throwing for Eastern Washington for 5,000 yards and 46 touchdowns in 2021, Barriere won the Walter Payton Award. His ceiling is absolutely unknown because we haven’t seen much of him play professionally, but there’s a real chance he has what it takes to be a franchise quarterback. His arms are like cannons, and he can extend plays with his legs while looking.

Kai Locksley, QB-2

Last season, Locksley began the campaign with Edmonton before being released and being promptly acquired by Hamilton. He was Hamilton’s QB2 and QB3 at various times during the season. During his time in the Hammer, he even lined up as a receiver, resulting in a 75-yard touchdown score.

Locksley had the second-most throwing yards in the 2023 preseason despite just having one pass attempt during the regular season the previous year. He completed 30 passes for 44 yards (68.2%) and 341 yards and two touchdowns while playing for Edmonton.

QB3 Tyrell Pigrome

During the 2023 preseason, Pigrome was outstanding, completing 7 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown. Moreover, he had the second-most rushing yards.

Running backs

Jamal Morrow, RB1

Last season, Morrow ran for 907 yards and four touchdowns while playing for Saskatchewan. With a team that had just the 7th-highest graded run blocking, he averaged 4.49 yards per rush. He gained 5.29 yards per rush on average in 2022.

Shannon Brooks, RB2

I found Shannon Brooks’ touches impressive last year. 36 rushes for 175 yards (4.86 average) were his total. On eight catches, he added 101 receiving yards.

Leading the 2023 CFL preseason in running, Brooks gained 144 yards (6 yards per carry) on 24 rushes.

RB3 McCrae, Greg

Another name that comes to me is Greg McCrae. Over the past two seasons with Winnipeg, he hasn’t gotten many touches on the ground, but he has made the most of