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January 31, 2025

CFL Free Agency Preview: Defensive Line

EDMONTON, AB –  The defensive line will be a position for Elks fans to keep an eye on come CFL Free Agency.

Elks VP of Football and Operations and General Manager Ed Hervey made it known during the CFL Winter Meetings that the trenches, particularly the D-Line, was a point of emphasis for the Green and Gold

“I think our defensive line is an area that is under the microscope coming in,” Hervey said. “Speaking to Mark and our staff, that is an area we believe we can improve.”

The answer to who will join the Green and Gold is quickly approaching, with CFL Free Agency set to begin at 10:00 a.m. MT on Feb. 11.

To prime Double E fans for the weeks 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 fifth of the 2025 instalments in the series, we’ll take a look at the defensive line.

Currently under contract for 2025: Antonio Alfano, Noah Curtis, Daniel Joseph, J-Min Pelley, Micah Roane, Jordan Strachan, Noah Taylor

Pending free agents: Sam Acheampong, Demarcus Christmas, A.C. Leonard, Romeo McKnight, Shawn Oakman, Jacob Plamondon

CFL top 30 free agents: Malik Carney (27) Saskatchewan Roughriders (extended), Michael Wakefield (25) Ottawa RedBlacks (extended), Lorenzo Mauldin IV (16) Ottawa RedBlacks (extended), Jake Ceresna (14) Toronto Argonauts, Mathieu Betts (9) B.C. Lions (extended), Willie Jefferson (8) Winnipeg Blue Bombers (extended).

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

If there is one area of the Elks defensive line that enters free agency without needing significant additions, its their National talent pool. Of the seven players currently under contract for the Green and Gold, five of them hold a Canadian designation with 2024 starters Noah Curtis and J-Min Pelley currently in the fold.

Curtis, in particular, came on strong last season. The 26-year-old set a new career high with six sacks in 17 games — good enough for second among all National players in 2024.

Edmonton has already added to their depth this offseason, with Montreal Alouettes 2024 fourth-round pick Micah Roane being added as a free agent in mid December.

The American talent is where The Elks will likely see plenty of changes. The biggest loss for the Elks has been the release of last season’s sack leader Elliott Brown, who was let go to sign a deal in the National Football League.

Big mid-season addition Shawn Oakman was recently names an Assistant General Manager for the Beaumont Renegades of the National Arena League and seems unlikely to continue his pro career. Veteran pass rusher A.C. Leonard was brought in late in the season by former interim GM Geroy Simon and recorded four tackles in five games.

The only American talents currently under contract are Noah Taylor, who showed flashes of promise before his season was ended by a shoulder injury, and Jordan Strachan who is yet to suit up for a CFL game.

When it came to the premium pass rushers in free agency, most teams did their best to lock them up before they hit the market. Six defensive linemen were named to the CFL’s top-30 Free Agents, but only one remains unsigned heading into February and that is former EE defender Jake Ceresna.

The 30-year-old racked up 35 sacks in four seasons while wearing the Green and Gold, before an offseason trade saw him dealt to the Toronto Argonauts for Kurleigh Gittens Jr.. Ceresna continued to show he is a premier CFL pass rusher in 2024, tying for the league lead in sacks with eight, while winning the Grey Cup with the Argos.

If a reunion is not in the cards, several other defensive linemen have recently hit free agency before the league unveiled their top-30 rankings with players such as Mike Rose from the Calgary Stampeders and DeWayne Hendrix form the Hamilton Tiger-Cats fitting the bill as an established pass rusher the Elks desire.