Which BC Lions Players Are 2024 Pending Free Agents?
The BC Lions are hoping to take the next step toward winning the West Division and taking another shot at the Grey Cup.
BC finished second in the West Division with a 12-6 record. After beating Calgary in the Western semifinal 40-31, the Lions lost to Winnipeg 24-13 in the Western Final. The Montreal Alouettes beat the Blue Bombers 28-24 in the Grey Cup on Nov. 19.
It’s been more than a decade since BC won a Grey Cup, claiming its last title in 2011. It’s also the last time BC went to a Grey Cup.
The CFL released the free agency tracker to keep tabs on all pending free agents for each of the nine CFL teams. BC had 22 players who will be on the free-agent list.
Here is the full list of Lions players heading into free agency, which opens Feb. 13, broken down by position and whether they are American (A), National (N), or Global (G). We also break down four players to watch entering free agency for the Lions.
BC Lions Pending Free Agents
- QB – Dominique Davis (A), Dane Evans (A)
- RB – Kienan LaFrance (N)
- WR – Jevon Cottoy (N), Keon Hatcher (A), Alexander Hollins (A), Daniel Petermann (N), Lucky Whitehead (A), Terry Williams (A)
- OL – David Knevel (N), Phillip Norman (A)
- DL – Mathieu Betts (N), Tibo Debaillie (G), Sione Teuhema (A), Nick Usher (A)
- LB – Ben Hladik (N), Maxime Rouyer (G), Josh Woods (A)
- DB – Jalon Edwards-Cooper (A), Mike Jones (A), Marcus Sayles (A)
- P – Stefan Flintoft (A)
BC Lions Pending Free Agents
Four important free agents for 2024:
WR Keon Hatcher
If quarterback Vernon Adams is going to lead the CFL in passing yards again, he’s going to need receivers like Hatcher, who was a CFL All-Star and CFL West Division All-Star in 2023 after he caught 78 passes for 1,226 yards and six touchdowns. His receptions and targets led the CFL. This was a career season for him in the CFL, so no better time to cash in.
DE Mathieu Betts
The market should be stiff for Betts, who set a record for most sacks by a Canadian-born defender with 18 last season. He was a CFL All-Star, a CFL West Division All-Star and the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player. BC’s biggest issue will be keeping him away from his hometown Montreal Alouettes, who just won the Grey Cup.
WR Alexander Hollins
Keeping another one of Adams’ targets isn’t a bad thing for the Lions. Hollins earned his first CFL West Division All-Star selection after he caught 78 passes for 1,173 yards and nine touchdowns. Given how well Hatcher and Hollins played this season, it’s not out of line to consider whether the Lions will be able to keep both.
LB Ben Hladik
Hladik didn’t earn All-Star honors after he led the Lions with 102 tackles. But he’s a key part of their defense and he’s worth keeping in 2024. The good news is he’s been with BC for three seasons and the Vernon, B.C., naïve played his college football with the UBC Thunderbirds. Hladik was two-time All-Canadian in college.
BC Lions Sign Seven Players to Roster
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Matthew Postins writes about baseball for Fan Nation/SI and covers Big 12 basketball for Heartland College Sports. He formerly covered the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and USports football for the College Football America Yearbook.