Position of Strength: Depth defines defensive backs in FA

CFL.ca Staff

TORONTO — The point has been well made that the strength of 2017 free agency is the receiver position. There are, of course, a lot of them, and this is a passing league.

With that said, after a season that witnessed exploding passing offences across the the country, equal consideration should be given to the defensive backs.

Stopping the pass is becoming more and more difficult while elite defenders are at a premium.

While this year’s free agent class boasts only a couple of true elite shutdown defensive backs (two are in the top 10 among CFL.ca’s Top 30 Pending Free Agents), the position is still one of strength this free agency. The reason? Depth.

With a high volume of experienced veterans set to hit the market, we break down a position of strength in this year’s free agent class:

The Elite

Emanuel Davis is the second-ranked DB in free agency according to CFL.ca (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

Abdul Kanneh

The fourth-ranked free agent in all by CFL.ca, Abdul Kanneh will likely be paid top dollar for his ability as a shutdown defensive half. After three seasons in the league, the 26-year-old has proven his worth as a CFL defensive back, playing a key role in the REDBLACKS’ Grey Cup Championship last season while averaging four interceptions a year in the nation’s capital.

Emanuel Davis

Davis, just like Kanneh, is one of the league’s premier halfbacks. After testing the NFL waters a year ago before landing back in Hamilton, the 27-year-old now has a chance to become one of the CFL’s highest-paid defensive backs. Davis is a two-time CFL East All-Star and has been the backbone of a strong Ticats defence since arriving in 2013.

Second Options

Despite his age, Jovon Johnson offers experience and versatility at corner and halfback (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

Jerrell Gavins

The 28-year-old Gavins showed his versatility in 2016, starting 12 of the 13 games he played in and shifting between SAM linebacker and halfback. Yet it wasn’t until Antoine Pruneau shifted back to safety and Gavins moved over the linebacker that Ottawa’s defence really hit its peak. Gavins made one tackle in the 104th Grey Cup, helping his team to an upset victory over the Stamps.

John Ojo

Ojo would have been in the elite category if this were last year. Instead, the 26-year-old suffered a devastating Achilles injury early in training camp and had to miss the entire 2016 season. Ojo showed in his rookie season he can be a shut down corner, providing stellar play opposite Pat Watkins and helping the Esks capture a Grey Cup. Now the question is whether he can follow the path of John White and fight back against what can be a career-limiting injury.

Jovon Johnson

Despite his age (33), Johnson could be one of the most underrated players in all of free agency. The former REDBLACK and Blue Bomber turned in a strong season with the Alouettes despite shifting from corner to halfback, logging 59 tackles, three interceptions and six sacks. He’s played all 18 games in seven of his last eight seasons and has missed only four games in nine seasons since becoming a Bomber in 2008. He can still help, a lot.

A.J. Jefferson

While the Argos’ secondary has been somewhat of a revolving door the last few years, Jefferson has offered consistent play at the corner position. The 28-year-old is strong in coverage but has also shown a propensity to make plays, hauling in six interceptions over 30 career games. With two years of CFL experience under his belt, Jefferson is just hitting his prime as a Canadian Football League defensive back.

Rico Murray

A four-year veteran, Murray shifted from defensive halfback to SAM linebacker in 2016, still providing solid play on Orlondo Steinauer’s defence. The 29-year-old has appeared in two Grey Cups for the Ticats but has struggled to stay on the field consistently, missing 15 games over the last two seasons alone.

Cord Parks

Parks was called to fill in for John Ojo following the corner’s devastating injury in training camp, starting all 18 games he played in for the Eskimos in 2016. The 30-year-old is a reliable veteran with four seasons under his belt but has not been able to replicate the success he had as a rookie in 2013. That year, Parks picked off six passes, returning two of them for touchdowns on Mike Benevides’ defence.

Patrick Watkins

The Esks’ secondary struggled last season but Watkins had a big year for the Green and Gold, recording a career-high 73 tackles to go with two interceptions. At 6-foot-5 and now 34 years old, the three-year Eskimo will have to prove he can keep up with the league’s elite receivers. If he can, someone might be getting a steal.

Ronnie Yell

Injury took a bite out of Yell’s 2016 campaign, limiting him to just 10 games and only 19 tackles. The 25-year-old is young enough to bounce back, however, and should be an intriguing option for teams seeking help in the backfield. Yell has spent three seasons as the Lions’ starting corner, an experience that is invaluable — especially for his age.

Value Picks

T.J. Lee (left) is coming off an injury-shortened 2016 season for the Lions (The Canadian Press)

Devin Smith

Smith started 12 of his 13 games for the Argos last season, recording 36 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble over that span. The former Wisconsin Badger ran as low as a 4.39 in college and has emerged as a regular starting halfback in the CFL. While the Argos’ defence wasn’t widely celebrated, Smith helped the secondary rank first in the league by allowing 283.8 yards per game.

Johnny Adams

A two-year veteran, Adams started all nine games he played in last season between the Ticats and Bombers. The 27-year-old Michigan State alum was released by the Bombers mid-season, going on to start four games for the Tabbies at the cornerback spot opposite Cassius Vaughn. Adams has seven interceptions and a touchdown in 27 career games.

Johnny Sears

A former Blue Bomber of five seasons, Sears put in five solid starts for the Ticats before suffering a season-ending injury in 2016. The 29-year-old is solid when healthy but his injury history could scare teams away (10 games in 2014 and 15 in 2012 are career-highs for the veteran defender).

Macho Harris

Injury sidelined the Bombers’ safety after just five starts in 2016, leading to an opportunity for national safety Taylor Loffer. The rest, of course, is history, but Harris’ name shouldn’t be forgotten — the 30-year-old is a versatile defender that can play multiple positions ranging from safety to linebacker.

T.J. Lee

Following a breakout season in 2015, Lee’s career got sidetracked last year after he was sidelined following just four starts. The 26-year-old is still considered a strong corner in his prime and depending on how he recovers, should be a targeted by many teams come Feb. 14 — if he’s not locked up before then.

Ratio Breakers

Marc Olivier Brouillette (right) can fill an immediate need at safety for any team (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

Marc Olivier Brouillette

A seven-year CFL veteran, Brouillette has emerged as one of the more versatile Canadian safeties in the league. The 30-year-old has played both safety and linebacker in Defensive Coordinator Noel Thorpe’s system, recording 195 tackles over 103 career games. Last season, Brouillette started all 18 games.

Matt Black

Black, an Argo of eight years, can start in a pinch and otherwise provide valuable depth for any defensive secondary in the league. The 31-year-old started 12 games filling in for the injured Jermaine Gabriel last season, recording 44 tackles, an interception, a forced fumble and a touchdown. Considering most teams start a Canadian at safety, Black is valuable whether he’s starting or not.

Andrew Lue

While the former 10th overall pick failed to get in the lineup last season, Lue still offers upside at age 24. He was brought in via trade late in the season but the Riders have not yet secured his rights beyond Feb. 14. The Queens graduate is talented and should land somewhere on a CFL depth chart in 2017.

Matt Webster

Webster played in 11 games last season and started two of them for the Riders, racking up nine defensive tackles and four special teams tackles in his third season in the league. Not earth-shattering but the 24-year-old may still have a future as a CFL defensive back.

Adam Berger

He didn’t start but Berger played all 18 games for the Stamps in 2016, making four defensive tackles and four special teams tackles in a depth role. The Simon Fraser graduate could look for a greater opportunity elsewhere should he move on in free agency.

Cauchy Muamba

Once a starting safety for the Esks, Muamba fell into a depth role in 2016, playing in 17 of 18 games while recording 12 defensive tackles. Whether he starts or provides national depth at the safety position, the 29-year-old should hold some value heading into free agency.

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