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January 21, 2025

CFL Free Agency Preview: Quarterbacks and Running Backs

EDMONTON, AB – New year, new EE.

CFL Free Agency is quickly approaching, with the frenzy set to begin at 10:00 a.m. MT on Tuesday, February 11. The Elks have seen quite a few changes off the field with the additions of VP of Football Operations and General Manager Ed Hervey and Head Coach Mark Kilam. With it, comes changes on the field as the Elks look to add to a team that went 7-4 in their final 11 games of 2024.

To prime Double E fans for the week to come, GoElks.com has compiled a list of all the players currently under contract with the club, those whose contracts will expire on Feb. 11, and a list of the top CFL free agents at each position as compiled by the league.

For the first of the 2025 instalments in the series, we’ll take a look at the quarterbacks and running backs.

Currently under contract for 2025: Tre Ford, Cody Fajardo, Jarret Doege, Justin Rankin, Javon Leake,

Pending free agents: Dakota Prukop

CFL top 30 free agents: Kadeem Carey (29) Toronto Argonauts, William Stanback (26) B.C. Lions (signed), Walter Fletcher (23) Montreal Alouettes (extended), Javon Leake (15) Edmonton Elks (extended)

WHO’S IN, WHO’S OUT & WHO’S AVAILABLE?

Edmonton enters the free agent window with most of the questions behind the line of scrimmage firmly answered by new their new General Manager.

The first order of business for Hervey was locking in the CFL’s top ranked free agent in quarterback Tre Ford. The 26-year-old inked a three-year extension with the Green and Gold on Dec. 6, providing the electric Canadian the opportunity to enter 2025 training camp as the starting quarterback for the Elks.

The work wasn’t done for Hervey, who picked up the CFL’s finest insurance policy in 2023 Grey Cup Most Valuable Player Cody Fajardo in a trade with the Montreal Alouettes. The 32-year-old provides the Elks one of the best one-two punches in a league which saw no team start the same quarterback for all 18 games in 2024. Outside of Ford, the only other CFL Top-30 Free Agent quarterback was former EE pivot Trevor Harris, who re-upped with the Saskatchewan Roughriders shortly before Ford signed.

The Elks still have short-yardage specialist Dakota Prukop on the roster until February 11. The 31-year-old has racked up 24 rushing touchdowns over the past four seasons and is one of the best options available if he wishes to continue his CFL career. The final QB on the roster is 27-year-old Jarret Doege who attempted three passes in 2024 as the Elks third option behind Ford and the traded McLeod Bethel-Thompson.

When it comes to the Elks league-leading run game, continuity will be the key. Edmonton will have their 1-2 punch of Justin Rankin and Javon Leake returning for next season. Rankin is on the second year of his rookie deal, while the Elks extended CFL #15 free agent Javon Leake to secure their thunder and lightning duo for 2025.

Leake was a big factor on the Elks offence, setting career highs in carries (102), rushing yards (661), rushing touchdowns (6), receptions (34), receiving yards (301), and receiving touchdowns (1). The 2023 CFL Most Outstanding Special Teams Player is also expected to be back as the team’s primary returner.

Edmonton could look to fulfill the hole left by Kevin Brown, who was made a free agent immediately following the season after finishing the year on the practice roster. The former Elks starter has gone on to sign with the Toronto Argonauts – the team with the only top-30 free agent in rusher KaDeem Carey, who sits at #29 on the list. However, with a pair of rushers that combined for 1,779 total yards and 13 total touchdowns, it would be hard to imagine that running back is a priority for the Elks come February 11. Instead, Hervey has stated the importance of investing in the offensive line which will be the next unit explored in the 2025 CFL Free Agent previews.