The Victoria, B.C. native was the highest-paid player in the CFL last year, earning $624,200. Rourke completed 70.4 percent of his passes for 5,290 yards with 31 touchdowns, 16 interceptions and ran 61 times for 564 yards, 9.2 yards per carry, plus 10 majors. That provided a great return on investment for general manager Ryan Rigmaiden.

The 27-year-old’s compensation for the 2026 three-down league season was not altered when the new deal was agreed upon. He’s scheduled to earn $684,700 in hard money. That total comes from a $275,000 base salary, $210,000 February 5 active roster bonus, $160,000 in marketing money, $14,700 in housing and a $10,000 training allowance.

In 2027, Rourke’s slated to earn $699,700 in hard money. He could receive a $300,000 base salary, $215,000 February 1 active roster bonus, $160,000 in marketing money, $14,700 in housing and a $10,000 training allowance.

For the final year in his current agreement, the six-foot-one, 209-pound dual-threat QB is expected to earn $704,700 in hard money for the 2028 season. He should receive a $310,000 base salary, $220,000 February 1 active roster bonus, $150,000 in marketing money, $14,700 in housing and a $10,000 training allowance. Half his base salary — $155,000 — is guaranteed.

Each season includes $9,000 in additional all-star and award incentives: $1,000 for West all-star, $2,000 for CFL all-star, $3,000 for Most Outstanding Canadian and $3,000 for league MOP. The Lions would happily pay those bonuses if Rourke’s performing at elite levels for every year in the contract and putting B.C. in Grey Cup contention in the process.

Whether Rourke earns extra money, his contract has spiked compared to his CFL rookie paperwork, which saw him earn $71,500 in hard money along with $3,749.94 in playtime cash during the 2022 season. That year, he completed 78.7 percent of his passes for 3,349 yards with 25 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and ran 39 times for 304 yards with seven majors.

After one season learning behind Michael Reilly, Rourke proved he could play at a high level in the CFL, and it’s led to Grey Cup expectations on the West Coast with a big-money contract extension to match.

The post EXCLUSIVE: Canadian QB Nathan Rourke’s CFL contract extension details with B.C. Lions appeared first on 3DownNation.

9:35 a.m. EST — If you’re not already, be sure to follow our Instagram page. It’s growing fast and we’ve got slick graphics with all the latest news over there.

9:22 a.m. EST — Tre Ford recently told 3DownNation why he chose the Hamilton Tiger-Cats after being released by the Edmonton Elks. Check out the full podcast episode here.

9:05 a.m. EST — Justin Dunk, John Hodge, and JC Abbott analyzed all the CFL’s reported signings and more on the latest edition of the 3DownNation Podcast. Check out the episode here and don’t forget to subscribe on your favourite podcast provider.

8:44 a.m. EST — Many of 3DownNation‘s top 50 pending free agents still do not have agreements for 2026, including Kurleigh Gittens Jr., Dominique Rhymes, McLeod Bethel-Thompson, Jovan Santos-Knox, Anthony Lanier II, Joshua Coker, William Stanback, Sean McEwen, Dalton Schoen, Lorenzo Mauldin IV, and C.J. Avery.

8:23 a.m. EST — Follow our news breakers Justin Dunk, John Hodge, and JC Abbott on Twitter/X and Bluesky so you don’t miss anything all day long.

8:03 a.m. EST — It’s time for the first coffee of the day. Never underestimate the importance of coffee during CFL free agency.

8:00 a.m. EST — Pending free agents were able to negotiate with teams across the CFL during the “legal tampering” window from February 1 to 8. Many agreements were reached during this time, though they can’t become official until free agency opens on Tuesday at 12:00 p.m. EST.

Offensive players with agreements in place include Jake Maier (Ottawa), Taylor Powell (Edmonton), Dustin Crum (Montreal), Greg Bell (Ottawa), Dejon Brissett (Calgary), Joe Robustelli (Edmonton), Tommy Nield (Winnipeg), Ayden Eberhardt (Ottawa), Jerreth Sterns (Montreal), Brendan O’Leary-Orange (Edmonton), Tyson Middlemost (Hamilton), Jarell Broxton (Winnipeg), Coulter Woodmansey (Edmonton), Jordan Murray (Edmonton), Brendan Bordner (Edmonton), and Eric Lofton (Hamilton).

Defensive players with agreements in place include Dylan Wynn (Ottawa), Malik Carney (Edmonton), Habakkuk Baldonado (Ottawa), James Vaughters (Saskatchewan), Jonathan Kongbo (Toronto), Kene Onyeka (Hamilton), A.J. Allen (Ottawa), Brian Cole II (Ottawa), Michael Brodrique (Ottawa), C.J. Reavis (Ottawa), Jonathan Moxey (Winnipeg), DaShaun Amos (Toronto), Demerio Houston (Ottawa), Devodric Bynum (Calgary), Scott Hutter (Ottawa), and Robert Priester (Toronto).

Some players entered free agency earlier and have already officially signed with new teams. These include Darnell Sankey (B.C.), Chris Kolankowski (Hamilton), Casey Sayles (B.C.), Adarius Pickett (Toronto), Peyton Logan (Toronto), DeWayne Hendrix (Toronto), Dakoda Shepley (Toronto), Tim White (Winnipeg), Austin Mack (Edmonton), DeVonte Dedmon (Montreal), Tre Ford (Hamilton), Deonta McMahon (Calgary), Jake Ceresna (Winnipeg), Josh Woods (Saskatchewan), Wynton McManis (Hamilton), and James Letcher Jr. (Saskatchewan).

Welcome to the 3DownNation 2026 CFL free agency live blog!

We will be around all day to provide the latest news, insight, analysis, and rumours surrounding CFL free agency. We’ve done many live blogs in the past and we’re excited you’ve chosen to join us for this year’s edition. There’s lots of fun to be had over the day, so let’s get rocking.

The post 2026 CFL free agency: LIVE appeared first on 3DownNation.

The Memphis Fire Department responded to a call in the Orange Mound neighbourhood at 2:00 a.m. local time on Friday, February 6. They found an unresponsive victim in the rear hallway who was pronounced dead at the scene. A representative of the Wilburn family later confirmed that the individual was Barry.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Wilburn was originally selected in the eighth round of the 1985 NFL Draft by the Washington Football Team and rose to become a starting cornerback, earning NFL All-Pro honours after a nine-interception season in 1987. He capped that year with a start in Super Bowl XXII, picking off John Elway twice in a rout of the Denver Broncos.

The Ole Miss product saw his career derailed by a drug suspension in 1989, and he was out of football for two seasons before staging a comeback with the Cleveland Browns in 1992. When that was unsuccessful, he headed north and joined the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1993, earning a CFL all-star selection in his first season.

Wilburn would be released following his first campaign in Saskatchewan and signed with the Kansas City Chiefs, though he was waived in training camp. He joined the B.C. Lions in September, where he contributed to the 1994 Grey Cup victory over the Baltimore Stallions. With the win, Wilburn became one of the few players in pro football history to win a championship in both the CFL and NFL.

The six-foot-two, 196-pound coverman returned to the NFL that offseason and spent two seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. In 1999, he staged a brief CFL comeback with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and was also drafted by the Memphis Maniax in the inaugural XFL.

In 29 CFL games, Wilburn made 58 defensive tackles, two special teams tackles, and three interceptions. Across 91 NFL games, he was credited with 246 tackles and 20 interceptions, scoring one touchdown.

The post Grey Cup winner, Super Bowl champion Barry Wilburn killed in house fire appeared first on 3DownNation.

The Canadian Football League and its Players’ Association struck the deal to bring the Frenchman’s status in line with that of other foreign-born U Sports alumni, who are allowed to qualify as Nationals under the current collective bargaining agreement, so long as they have played at least three seasons and graduated from their U Sports institution. That rule was not in force when Rouyer graduated from McGill University, which limited him to Global status.

Traditionally, a player’s roster status at the time of his entry into the CFL is permanent and gets grandfathered in with all future changes. The special exception granted to Rouyer is believed to be the first of its kind under the current rules.

Notably, kicker Boris Bede, who hailed from France and attended Université Laval, continued to be counted as an American until his final season in 2024 because neither the current National rules nor the Global program existed when he was a rookie. Australian punter Josh Bartel was also famously considered a National until his final season in 2019, even though the rule that made him one was changed in 2014.

Argonauts defensive back Jonathan Edouard, who is American but played at Carleton University, is the most notable example of a player who counts as a National due to the U Sports pathway. Other recent draft picks to qualify in this way include Mexican offensive lineman Diego Alatorre, who was selected in the third round by Saskatchewan out of UBC in 2022, and French defensive back Yani Gouadfel, who was taken in the sixth round by Ottawa out of Bishop’s in 2024.

Rouyer was the only active Global player for whom the U Sports pathway rule could be applied retroactively.

The 31-year-old was selected fourth overall in the first round of the 2019 CFL European Draft, the precursor to the modern Global Draft, by the Edmonton Elks. He spent two seasons with the team before being released.

Rouyer spent the first part of the 2022 season with the Wroclaw Panthers in the European League of Football, amassing 89 tackles, 4.5 sacks, 7.5 tackles for loss, three fumble recoveries and one defensive touchdown. The native of Troyes, France, later signed with the B.C. Lions in September of that year, and has been with the team for four seasons, playing a key role on special teams and becoming one of the organization’s CFLPA player representatives.

In 60 career CFL games, Rouyer has collected eight defensive tackles, 26 special teams tackles, and a forced fumble.

Prior to his professional career, the six-foot-one, 225-pound linebacker attended McGill from 2015 to 2018, registering 103 total tackles and 4.5 sacks in 23 total games with the Redbirds. He moved to Canada at the age of 16 to attend Cégep de Jonquière.

Since 2019, CFL teams have been required to dress one Global player, hailing from outside the United States or Canada, as part of their gameday roster. Teams may also elect to use the 45th spot on the roster for either a second Global player or a 21st Canadian, with the majority of franchises in 2025 electing to use the spot for an international athlete. In addition, three extra practice roster spots are available for teams to use on Global players.

While those roster rules have forced teams that were reluctant to play international athletes to do so, Global status has become highly limiting as the level of talent available in the program has increased. While teams initially believed that they could play three or more Globals so long as those additional players replaced American roster spots, pushback from the CFLPA has capped the number at exactly two.

In the case of Rouyer, the Lions were only able to play him in eight games in 2025 due to the presence of South African punter Carl Meyer and Belgian defensive tackle Tibo Debaillie. While the team may have opted to dress the linebacker over other players for special teams value, they could not while their other two Globals were healthy and contributing.

That dynamic has deflated the value of some Global players in free agency and changed the way that teams approach the Global Draft, further entrenching the emphasis on punters and encouraging teams already comfortable with their incumbents to opt for futures picks rather than bring in talent to compete immediately.

The CFLPA has indicated to 3DownNation that they have no plans to pursue further exceptions like the one granted to Rouyer or re-examine the Global roster rules at this time.

Rouyer, who is slated to become a free agent on February 10, no longer has to worry about those problems. He’ll be able to sign his next contract as if he were a Canadian, which could improve his job prospects considerably.

The post CFL grants Maxime Rouyer one-time exception to change from Global to National status appeared first on 3DownNation.

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The six-foot-two, 204-pound target spent four seasons with the New Orleans Saints after signing with the team as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He played 45 regular-season games, made 17 starts, and caught 83 passes for 1,069 yards and seven touchdowns. Callaway also returned four kickoffs for 94 yards and 14 punts for 149 yards.

The 27-year-old signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2024 and played two regular-season games, though he didn’t register a catch. He was also a member of the Denver Broncos, Las Vegas Raiders, Pittsburgh Steelers, and San Francisco 49ers, though he didn’t dress for any of those teams during the regular-season.

The native of Warner Robins, Ga. played collegiately at the University of Tennessee where he made 92 receptions for 1,646 yards and 13 touchdowns, returned 40 punts for 543 yards and three scores, and returned nine kickoffs for 86 yards over 35 games. He was named second-team All-SEC in 2019.

Callaway earned $3.25 million over the course of his NFL career, according to Spotrac.

The B.C. Lions finished second in the West Division standings in 2025 with an 11-7 record and beat the Calgary Stampeders in the West Semi-Final before losing the West Final to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Nathan Rourke threw for 5,290 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions over 16 regular-season starts, posting an 11-5 record. He was also named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player.

The Lions ranked first in net offence, fourth in net defence, and sixth with a turnover differential of minus-four. James Butler rushed for 1,213 yards, Keon Hatcher led the CFL with 1,688 receiving yards, and Micah Awe led the league with 117 tackles. B.C. finished third in attendance with average crowds of 27,124, which was a 0.9 percent increase from the previous year.

The post B.C. Lions sign former NFL receiver Marquez Callaway appeared first on 3DownNation.

The six-foot, 200-pound passer spent the first three seasons of his collegiate career at Western Carolina University, an NCAA FCS program located in Cullowhee, N.C.

Gonzales completed 63.6 percent of his passes for 6,682 yards, 51 touchdowns, and 22 interceptions over 27 games with the Catamounts. He also rushed 161 times for 562 yards and three scores.

The native of Salt Lake City, Utah initially transferred to the University of Oklahoma in 2025, though he entered the transfer portal again during the spring and ended up at the University of Pittsburgh. He played three games with the Panthers, completing 50.0 percent of his passes for 118 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.

Gonzales entered the transfer portal again after the 2025 season and has committed to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte for the upcoming season.

CFL teams can claim the rights to up to 45 players via the negotiation list on a first-come, first-served basis, provided that they are not eligible for the Canadian or Global Drafts, and have never played in the league before. These players can be added, traded, or removed from the list at any time.

Being added to a negotiation list does not mean that the player has expressed interest in the CFL, and some are unaware that their rights have even been claimed. Players can only force their removal from the list if the team does not provide them with a minimum contract offer at their request.

The B.C. Lions finished second in the West Division standings in 2025 with an 11-7 record and beat the Calgary Stampeders in the West Semi-Final before losing the West Final to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Nathan Rourke threw for 5,290 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions over 16 regular-season starts, posting an 11-5 record. He was also named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player.

The Lions ranked first in net offence, fourth in net defence, and sixth with a turnover differential of minus-four. James Butler rushed for 1,213 yards, Keon Hatcher led the CFL with 1,688 receiving yards, and Micah Awe led the league with 117 tackles. B.C. finished third in attendance with average crowds of 27,124, which was a 0.9 percent increase from the previous year.

The post B.C. Lions add QB Cole Gonzales to negotiation list appeared first on 3DownNation.

The league’s communication window, also known as the legal tampering window, opened on Sunday, February 1, and teams wasted no making decisions.

Even though teams have until Sunday, February 8, at 12 p.m. EST to speak to pending free agents, and no deals can become legally binding until Tuesday, February 10, more than 30 players have agreed to terms on contracts with new teams. That included over 25 of 3DownNation‘s top 50 available players entering the day.

All nine franchises took different approaches. The Ottawa Redblacks turned over much of their roster, striking deals with 11 players. The Edmonton Elks and Winnipeg Blue Bombers weren’t far behind, each making a series of key additions. Other teams opted to stand on early signings, like the B.C. Lions, who did not have a single contract reported.

Here is a look at what every team has accomplished — who they had signed, who they added, and who they lost.

Please note that “N” denotes National players (ie. Canadians), “A” denotes American players, and “G” denotes Global players.

Photo: Paul Yates/B.C. Lions

B.C. Lions

Pre-signings: LB Darnell Sankey (A), DL Casey Sayles (A)

Agreed to terms: None

Reportedly departing: OL Jarell Broxton (A), REC Ayden Eberhardt (A)

Photo: Bob Butrym/3DownNation. All rights reserved.

Edmonton Elks

Pre-signings: REC Austin Mack (A)

Agreed to terms: OL Brendan Bordner (A), DL Malik Carney (A), OL Jordan Murray (A), QB Taylor Powell (A), REC Joe Robustelli (A), OL Coulter Woodmansey (N), REC Brendan O’Leary-Orange (N)

Reportedly departing: LB Michael Brodrique (A), DB Devodric Bynum (A), DL Jake Ceresna (A), DL Jonathan Kongbo (N)

Retired: FB Tanner Green (N)

Photo courtesy: David Friederich/B.C. Lions

Calgary Stampeders

Agreed to terms: DB Devodric Bynum (A), REC Dejon Brissett (N)

Reportedly departing: None

Signed: RB Deonta McMahon (A)

Photo: Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Saskatchewan Roughriders

Agreed to terms:  DL James Vaughters (A) 

Signed: RET James Letcher Jr. (A), LB Josh Woods (A)

Reportedly departing: LB A.J. Allen (N), DL Habakkuk Baldonado (G), DL Malik Carney (A), QB Jake Maier (A), REC Tommy Nield (N), SAM C.J. Reavis (A), REC Joe Robustelli (A)

Photo courtesy: Steven Chang/B.C. Lions

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Pre-signings: REC Tim White (A)

Agreed to terms: OL Jarell Broxton (A), DL Jake Ceresna (A), DB Jonathan Moxey (A), REC Tommy Nield (N)

Reportedly departing: DB Demerio Houston (A), OL Eric Lofton (A), REC Jerreth Sterns (A), DL James Vaughters (A)

Photo courtesy: Paul Yates/B.C. Lions

Hamilton Tiger-Cats

Pre-signings: OL Chris Kolankowski (N)

Agreed to terms: OL Eric Lofton (A), REC Tyson Middlemost (N), DL Kene Onyeka (N)

Signed: QB Tre Ford (N), LB Wynton McManis (A)

Reportedly departing: DB DaShaun Amos (A), RB Greg Bell (A), OL Brendan Bordner (A), LB Brian Cole II (A), DB Jonathan Moxey (A), OL Jordan Murray (A), QB Taylor Powell (A), OL Coulter Woodmansey (N), REC Brendan O’Leary-Orange (N)

Photo courtesy: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography

Toronto Argonauts

Pre-signings: DL DeWayne Hendrix (A), RB/KR Peyton Logan (A), SAM Adarius Pickett (A), OL Dakoda Shepley (N)

Agreed to terms: DB DaShaun Amos (A), DL Jonathan Kongbo (N), DB Robert Priester (A)

Reportedly departing: REC Dejon Brissett (N), LB Wynton McManis (A)

Arthur Ward/CFL.ca

Ottawa Redblacks

Trade acquisition: LB Nyles Morgan (A)

Agreed to terms: LB A.J. Allen (N), DL Habakkuk Baldonado (G), RB Greg Bell (A), LB Michael Brodrique (N), LB Brian Cole II (A), REC Ayden Eberhardt (A), DB Demerio Houston (A), DB Scott Hutter (N), QB Jake Maier (A), SAM C.J. Reavis (A), DL Dylan Wynn (A)

Reportedly departing: QB Dustin Crum (A), DB Robert Priester (A)

Photo courtesy: Andrew Mahon/CFL.ca

Montreal Alouettes

Pre-signings: KR DeVonte Dedmon (A)

Agreed to terms: QB Dustin Crum (A), REC Jerreth Sterns (A)

Reportedly departing: DB Scott Hutter (N), RET James Letcher Jr. (A), DL Dylan Wynn (A)

Retired: DB Marc-Antoine Dequoy (N)

The post Where every pending CFL free agent agreed to terms in tampering window: updated appeared first on 3DownNation.

The six-foot-two, 235-pound passer dressed for 18 regular-season games in 2025, through he played sparingly behind Nathan Rourke and Jeremiah Masoli. Brice completed three-of-four pass attempts for 29 yards and rushed three times for two yards.

The 28-year-old has spent the last three years with the Lions, dressing for 38 regular-season games and completing 25-of-33 pass attempts for 261 yards and one touchdown. He has also rushed five times for three yards.

The native of Grayson, Ga. played collegiately at Clemson, Duke, and Appalachian State, winning a CFP National Championship with the Tigers in 2018 and earning a third-team All-Sun Belt selection with the Mountaineers in 2021.

The B.C. Lions finished second in the West Division standings in 2025 with an 11-7 record and beat the Calgary Stampeders in the West Semi-Final before losing the West Final to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Nathan Rourke threw for 5,290 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions over 16 regular-season starts, posting an 11-5 record. He was also named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player.

The Lions ranked first in net offence, fourth in net defence, and sixth with a turnover differential of minus-four. James Butler rushed for 1,213 yards, Keon Hatcher led the CFL with 1,688 receiving yards, and Micah Awe led the league with 117 tackles. B.C. finished third in attendance with average crowds of 27,124, which was a 0.9 percent increase from the previous year.

The post B.C. Lions extend QB Chase Brice through 2027 appeared first on 3DownNation.

The 32-year-old played 43 regular-season games with the Toronto Argonauts from 2018 to 2024, helping the team win two Grey Cups.

The native of Chicago, Ill. most recently started at left tackle for the Argonauts in 2024. He became a free agent in February 2025 and did not play in the CFL all that year.

The six-foot-four, 315-pound blocker started his professional career with the Indianapolis Colts in 2016 and spent his entire rookie season on injured reserve.

Cage played collegiately at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire.

Jarell Broxton, B.C.’s incumbent starter at left tackle, recently agreed to terms on a two-year contract with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The B.C. Lions finished second in the West Division standings in 2025 with an 11-7 record and beat the Calgary Stampeders in the West Semi-Final before losing the West Final to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Nathan Rourke threw for 5,290 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions over 16 regular-season starts, posting an 11-5 record. He was also named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player.

The Lions ranked first in net offence, fourth in net defence, and sixth with a turnover differential of minus-four. James Butler rushed for 1,213 yards, Keon Hatcher led the CFL with 1,688 receiving yards, and Micah Awe led the league with 117 tackles. B.C. finished third in attendance with average crowds of 27,124, which was a 0.9 percent increase from the previous year.

The post B.C. Lions sign two-time Grey Cup champion Isiah Cage appeared first on 3DownNation.