Four Toronto Argonauts players to terms with other CFL clubs

All four players helped Toronto (16-2) post the CFL's best regular season record last season. The 16 wins were an Argos club record and tied the league single-season mark for wins.

However, Toronto's promising campaign ended with a 38-17 East Division final home loss to Montreal. The Alouettes defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 28-24 in the Gray Cup game.

The Bombers signed Winnipeg native Brady Oliveira to a two-year contract extension on Tuesday. The CFL's top Canadian punter is eligible to become a free agent next Tuesday after rushing for a league-high 1,534 yards last season.

But Winnipeg cornerback Demerio Houston, who led the CFL in interceptions (seven) and defensive tackles (10) last season, has agreed to a two-year deal with Calgary. According to an anonymous league source, Houston's deal is worth more than $275,000, making him one of the league's highest-paid defensive backs.

Defensive back Jalon Edwards-Cooper has agreed to a one-year deal with Saskatchewan. The contract is worth $128,000, making Edwards-Cooper one of the league's highest-paid defensive backs, a source said.

The five-foot-nine, 208-pound Ouellette was a big part of Toronto's offensive success in 2023. He added 16 catches for 163 yards and rushed for a career-best 1,009 yards on 178 carries (5.7-yard average) with eight TDs. and two touches.

Ouellette, 28, spent four seasons in Toronto, helping the franchise win the 2022 Gray Cup. He appeared in 37 regular-season games and rushed for 1,782 yards with 10 touchdowns on 322 carries (5.5-yard average).

Ouellette also had 59 catches for 552 yards and four touchdowns.

The six-foot, 205-pound Leake was the CFL's best special teams player last season. He led the league in punt returns (81 for 1,216 yards, 15-yard average) and recorded a club-record four punt return TDs, one short of the league mark.

Leake spent the last two seasons in Toronto.

The six-foot-two, 220-pound Peters spent three seasons in Toronto (2021-23). In 36 regular-season contests with the Argos, Peters, 27, recorded 120 tackles, one special teams tackle, one sack, 11 interceptions and two forced fumbles.

He also won a Gray Cup ring with Toronto in 2022, the same year Peters recorded a career-high six games. Last season, Peters appeared in 13 regular season games and had 32 tackles, two interceptions and two forced fumbles.

The six-foot-four, 260-pound Barlow played in 14 games with Toronto last year, starting two. He recorded six tackles, 30 tackles, two special teams fumbles and two forced fumbles.

Barlow, 26, joined Toronto in 2022. He appeared in 10 games during the regular season and had 18 tackles, one special teams tackle and one sack.

Edwards-Cooper, 11, 175 pounds, had 36 tackles, one special teams tackle, an interception and a forced fumble in 14 regular-season games with BC in 2023. The 26-year-old Texans joins the Riders after three seasons with the Lions.

BC signed veteran William Stanbeck to a one-year contract on Tuesday. The 29-year-old American spent the last five seasons with the Montreal Alouettes before being released last week.

The CFL's negotiating window opened Sunday, giving teams until next Sunday to talk to all pending free agents. Players can agree to deals through 2024, but they won't be made official until free agency begins on Feb. 13 at noon ET.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published on February 6, 2024.

Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press