Offtackle

Mar 1, 2026

CFL Roster Deadline Passed. Hamilton Got Stronger. Toronto Lost Its Defensive Anchor.

McManis from Toronto to Hamilton is a double move — it helps the Tiger-Cats and hurts the Argonauts simultaneously. Winnipeg stayed quiet. Saskatchewan added depth.

The CFL's roster deadline for finalizing free agency commitments passed Sunday, and the league's nine teams now have a clearer picture of what they're building toward when training camp opens in May. Hamilton's addition of Wynton McManis gives the Tiger-Cats a legitimate defensive anchor for the first time since they parted with Simoni Lawrence three years ago. McManis arriving from Toronto also removes a player who had been consistently problematic for Hamilton in late-season games — the kind of rival-to-roster move that helps twice. Hamilton's defense was functional in 2025; with McManis, the ceiling rises.