It’s time to rank the CFL’s top pending linebackers ahead of free agency.
This class offers a few impact starters with impressive resumes, plus plenty of veteran depth. Even if the rising salary cap has robbed much of the talent from the market, this is one position where musical chairs seem possible.
The league’s free agency communications window, often referred to as the legal tampering window, will be open from Feb. 1-8. During this time, all pending free agents will be allowed to negotiate with teams across the CFL without restrictions.
Some players will agree to terms on contracts with new teams during this time, though they can’t be signed until free agency officially gets underway on Feb. 10.
3DownNation has already ranked this year’s pending free-agent quarterbacks, running backs, fullbacks, receivers, offensive linemen, and defensive linemen. Check back tomorrow for our defensive back rankings.
These rankings were made based on feedback from 3DownNation contributors as well as CFL personnel people, who were granted anonymity.
Please note that “N” denotes National players (ie. Canadians), “A” denotes American players, and “G” denotes Global players.
Linebackers
1) A.J. Allen, Saskatchewan Roughriders (N)
Allen had his coming-out party during the Riders’ Grey Cup campaign in 2025, amassing 87 defensive tackles, four special teams tackles, four sacks, three interceptions, and three forced fumbles. Ratio-breaking Canadians rarely become available in their primes, and the Guelph product is just entering his at 27 years old. He may not have received all-star honours last season, but there should be accolades in his future if he maintains this clip.
Photo courtesy: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography
2) Wynton McManis, Toronto Argonauts (A)
It wasn’t long ago that Mr. Great Business was the consensus top linebacker in the CFL, earning league all-star recognition in 2022 and 2023. The 31-year-old is still firmly in that conversation when healthy, but he has missed significant time with injury in each of the last two seasons. Age, passport, and availability are the only things that bump McManis to the number two spot here, as he and his iconic toothpick managed 62 tackles, four sacks, two interceptions, and a forced fumble in 13 games last year.
3) Jovan Santos-Knox, Ottawa Redblacks (A)
The six-foot-one, 233-pound defender from Waterbury, Conn., is quietly consistent and largely underrated as one of the CFL’s best run defenders. Santos-Knox put up 80 defensive tackles and made one interception last season, earning the third-highest PFF grade among true linebackers who played starting minutes. The 31-year-old still has gas left and can be a stabilizing presence on any defence.
4) Josh Woods, Free Agent (A)
Woods had all the makings of a budding star coming off a brilliant performance in the 2023 playoffs, but tore his ACL four games into the 2024 campaign. The player who returned last season never quite looked the same, though he still finished with 62 defensive tackles, three special teams tackles, and one sack. After an early release by the B.C. Lions, the 28-year-old could be an intriguing reclaimation candidate.
5) Micah Awe, Free Agent (A)
Awe’s nomadic CFL career has featured stops with six different teams, and there are undeniable limitations to his game that make those stays brief. However, the 32-year-old is a magnet for tackles and has led the league in total defensive plays multiple times, including last year with the B.C. Lions. The Nigerian-born defender notched 114 defensive tackles, three special teams tackles, two interceptions, and a forced fumble in 2025, and still got released in favour of another veteran, but can be a valuable bridge player for yet another franchise.
6) C.J. Avery, Saskatchewan Roughriders (A)
Avery played just 34 snaps in 2025 before suffering a season-ending injury, but his lone season of production as a rookie in 2024 makes him an intriguing gamble. A 17-game starter at weakside linebacker, he posted 50 defensive tackles, nine special teams tackles, one sack, three interceptions, and a forced fumble. Still just 26 years old, the Louisville product is young enough to bounce back from a year on the sideline.
Photo courtesy: Steven Chang/B.C. Lions
7) Adam Auclair, B.C. Lions (N)
The 2025 campaign was not a banner one by Auclair’s standards, as he was limited to 10 games due to injury and finished with a career-low eight tackles, just one of which came on defence. Even so, the former Presidents’ Trophy winner has a well-established reputation for being able to start games at weakside linebacker if needed. At 29 years old, the Laval native should still have a few more productive years left.
8) Kyle Wilson, Calgary Stampeders (A)
Cut by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats just two games into the 2025 season, Wilson found a temporary home with Calgary and performed admirably as a stopgap. He concluded the year with 67 defensive tackles, six special teams tackles, and a forced fumble in 14 games between the two clubs. The 30-year-old is unlikely to be a team’s first option at either linebacker spot, but can be a valuable insurance policy.
9) Frankie Griffin, Ottawa Redblacks (A)
The six-foot, 205-pound weakside backer has spent some productive seasons with the Redblacks, but was limited to just five games last year after suffering a fractured wrist that required surgery. While that is not a career-threatening ailment, the 30-year-old has missed time in every year he’s played in the CFL, which could prompt some pause from potential suitors.
10) Brian Cole II, Hamilton Tiger-Cats (A)
The 28-year-old saw his defensive reps decrease in his first season with Hamilton, and is unlikely to ever be more than a rotational contributor at this stage. Still, Cole brings tremendous special teams value and finished with 19 tackles in kick coverage last year. He could be a target for a team looking to beef up their depth and add physicality.
11) Davion Taylor, Ottawa Redblacks (A)
A former third-round NFL draft pick who was once clocked at 4.39 in the forty-yard dash, Taylor’s elite athleticism has yet to translate into dominant play on either side of the border. The 27-year-old started seven of the 11 games he played last season at weakside linebacker, but collected just 23 defensive tackles to go along with eight on special teams, plus a sack and a forced fumble. At his age, the Colorado alum’s traits are still worth another look.
Best of the rest: Aubrey Miller Jr., Saskatchewan (A) | Tyron Vrede, Ottawa (G) | Trevor Hoyte, Hamilton (N) | Shayne Gauthier, Winnipeg (N) | Jonathan Jones, Ottawa (A) | Adam Bighill, Calgary (A) | Brian Harelimana, Toronto (N) | Gary Johnson Jr., Calgary (A) | Maxime Rouyer, B.C. (G) | Michael Brodrique, Edmonton (N) | Justin Herdman-Reed, Calgary (N) | Les Maruo, Ottawa (G)
Strong-side linebackers
Photo: Reuben Polansky/3DownNation. All rights reserved.
1) C.J. Reavis, Saskatchewan Roughriders (A)
The 30-year-old is the unquestioned top SAM available, even if he did finish the 2025 campaign by playing safety in the Grey Cup. Reavis made 61 defensive tackles, two sacks, an interception, and a forced fumble last year, while earning All-CFL honours in each of the past two seasons. The native of Chester, Va., brings a special combination of range and physicality into the back, which should be highly coveted.
2) Branden Dozier, Free Agent (A)
Granted an early release by the Argonauts, Dozier hits the market with time served for five different CFL franchises already. The 32-year-old has established himself as the person you call when your starter goes down or the one you lean on until they get healthy. Split between Hamilton and Toronto last year, he saw action in 13 games and produced 45 defensive tackles, five special teams tackles, and five sacks.
3) Bailey Devine-Scott, Calgary Stampeders (G)
One of the Global program’s great overachievers, Devine-Scott has made seven career starts at either SAM or safety despite being a third-round pick out of a Division III college program. The hard-working Aussie made 13 defensive tackles, seven special teams tackles, and a sack last year, plus forcing a controversial forced fumble at the goalline in the regular season finale.
4) Kenneth George Jr., Toronto Argonauts (A)
Primarily utilized at corner or halfback during his first two CFL seasons, George transitioned to strong-side linebacker last year and lasted less than two games before suffering a gruesome leg injury that cost him the season. It remains to be seen if the 28-year-old will be able to rebound from that illegal block.
Best of the rest: Enock Makonzo, Winnipeg (N)
