Samwise CFL Newsletter
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
DaVaris Daniels Retires After Nine CFL Seasons and Three Grey Cup Championships
Veteran CFL wide receiver DaVaris Daniels announced his retirement from professional football Tuesday via social media, ending a nine-season career with three Grey Cup championships. The 33-year-old native of Vernon Hills, Illinois began his CFL journey with the Calgary Stampeders in 2016, winning the top rookie award that season. He later played for the Edmonton Elks in 2019 before joining the Toronto Argonauts from 2021 to 2025, adding two more championships to his résumé in 2022 and 2024. Prior to the CFL, Daniels had brief stints with the Minnesota Vikings and New England Patriots in 2015. He retires as one of the league's most accomplished receivers of his era.
Sources: 3DownNation, TSN, Global News
Ottawa Redblacks Sign QB Zach Calzada and Five Others Ahead of Training Camp
The Ottawa Redblacks signed American quarterback Zach Calzada and five other players on Tuesday, boosting their roster heading into training camp, which opens May 10. Calzada, 25, is a six-foot-four, 230-pound signal-caller who spent the 2025 season at the University of Kentucky, going 1-1 as a starter. The Georgia native established himself at the University of the Incarnate Word, compiling a 17-5 record as a starter over two seasons and earning back-to-back first-team All-Southland Conference honours. Ottawa also signed offensive linemen Marcus Jenkins and Jamal Mull, linebacker KK Reno, defensive back Roterius Torrence, and Ohio State product Jayden Fielding at kicker.
Sources: 3DownNation, TSN
Montreal Alouettes Sign Seven 2026 Draft Picks, Cut Four as Training Camp Nears
The Montreal Alouettes signed seven players from their 2026 CFL Canadian Draft class on Tuesday while also releasing four others ahead of training camp. The group includes wide receivers Nathan Udoh (third round, 28th overall) and Zachary Houde (eighth round), defensive backs Shakespeare Louis (second round, 17th overall) and Cyrus McGarrell (seventh round), kicker Michael Horvat (sixth round), linebacker Harrison Daley (fifth round, 46th overall), and running back Liam Talbot (fourth round, 37th overall). First-round pick Rohan Jones, a tight end selected ninth overall, signed instead with the NFL's Los Angeles Rams. Montreal opens training camp in Quebec City on Sunday, May 10.
Sources: CFL.ca, 3DownNation
Nathan Rourke Targets Single-Digit Interceptions in 2026 as Lions Open Camp
B.C. Lions Canadian quarterback Nathan Rourke, the CFL's reigning Most Outstanding Player, has set a clear statistical goal for the 2026 season: keep his interception total in the single digits. Rourke threw 16 interceptions across 16 regular-season starts in 2025, his first year under head coach Buck Pierce. The Victoria native broke the all-time CFL record for passing yards by a Canadian passer last season and signed a three-year contract extension through 2028 in January. Lions offensive coordinator Kevin Rigmaiden has indicated the team expects Rourke to be more comfortable in year two operating Pierce's offence, which should translate into fewer costly turnovers.
Sources: 3DownNation
Brady Oliveira Leads CFL Running Back Pay as League Cap Rises to $6.28 Million
A new 3DownNation salary survey reveals the CFL's highest-paid running backs and fullbacks for the 2026 season, led by Winnipeg Blue Bombers star Brady Oliveira. The Ottawa native re-signed with Winnipeg in December on a deal that includes a $120,000 signing bonus, $140,000 in base salary, and $30,000 in marketing, making him the league's top earner at the position. The CFL's overall salary cap rose to $6.28 million for 2026, an increase of roughly $220,000 from 2025. The survey highlights how the league distributes positional spending across its nine clubs, with significant variation in how teams value running backs relative to salary cap allocation.
Sources: 3DownNation, TSN
CFL and Member Clubs Invested $4.6 Million in Canadian Amateur Football in 2025
The CFL and its nine member clubs collectively invested $4.6 million in amateur football development across Canada in 2025, the league announced Tuesday. The funding supported 728 school visits, more than 3,000 hours of community engagement, and outreach programs aimed at youth, women, and Indigenous communities from coast to coast. The CFL's grassroots development mission is designed to grow the game domestically and build long-term interest in the Canadian Football League as the sport competes for audience against the NFL and other major leagues. The investment represents the league's continued commitment to developing homegrown Canadian talent through the national and provincial amateur football system.
Sources: 3DownNation, CFL.ca
Calgary Stampeders Add QB Jacolby Criswell to Deepen Quarterback Room
The Calgary Stampeders signed American quarterback Jacolby Criswell on Tuesday, adding depth behind starter Vernon Adams Jr. as training camp approaches. The 24-year-old, six-foot-one passer began his collegiate career at North Carolina before transferring to Arkansas in 2023, returning to UNC in 2024, and finishing with East Tennessee State in 2025. In his final college season, Criswell completed 61.6 per cent of his passes for 1,130 yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions across eight games. Calgary's quarterback room now includes Adams, Josh Love, Ben Wooldridge, and Criswell. The Stampeders open training camp on May 10, with the regular season beginning June 4 against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Sources: 3DownNation, CFL.ca
2025 Final Standings
Eastern Division
1. Hamilton Tiger-Cats — 46 pts (11-7-0)
2. Montreal Alouettes — 42 pts (10-8-0)
3. Toronto Argonauts — 22 pts (5-13-0)
4. Ottawa Redblacks — 18 pts (4-14-0)
2026 Season begins June 4
Western Division
1. Saskatchewan Roughriders — 48 pts (12-6-0) 🏆
2. B.C. Lions — 46 pts (11-7-0)
3. Calgary Stampeders — 46 pts (11-7-0)
4. Winnipeg Blue Bombers — 42 pts (10-8-0)
5. Edmonton Elks — 32 pts (7-11-0)
🏆 2025 Grey Cup Champions
Curated by JD · samwise.agency
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.