Three key signings that could change the cfl in 2026

Free agency can reshape a franchise in obvious ways.

A new quarterback resets expectations. A headline pass rusher forces offences to rethink protection schemes. Those are the moves everyone highlights. But often, the most significant changes come from signings that fine-tune rather than overhaul.

Sometimes it’s about placing the right piece into an already solid framework. A receiver who stretches the field for a quarterback poised to ascend. A seasoned playmaker who restores rhythm to a contender’s offence. A tone-setting linebacker who joins a defence on the verge of breaking through. If 2026 looks markedly different from 2025, it could be because of additions like these — the subtle moves that unlock something bigger.

The Ottawa Redblacks have their quarterback in Dru Brown. What they’ve lacked is a true boundary threat, someone who compels defences to cover every inch of the field. Ayden Eberhardt offers that explosiveness. Combine his ability to stretch coverage vertically with Brown’s arm talent, and Ottawa’s offence suddenly gains a dimension that alters defensive looks and eases pressure on the run game.

He doesn’t need gaudy reception totals to make an impact. If he consistently wins outside and capitalizes on single coverage, he could be the catalyst that elevates Ottawa from competitive to genuinely dangerous in the East Division.

Technically, Tim White entered the market after being released before free agency officially opened, but his addition still carries major weight. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are at their best when they control games through both the air and the ground. White has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in four straight seasons and brings dependable production to an offence that already features Nic Demski.

Adding a proven complement opposite Demski could revive the balanced attack that fueled Winnipeg’s run of five consecutive Grey Cup appearances. If defences can’t shade coverage toward one side, the rushing attack gains space. When the run game thrives, play-action becomes even more dangerous. White doesn’t have to dominate weekly; his presence alone could restore the equilibrium that once made Winnipeg so difficult to contain.

As for Darnell Sankey, his impact tends to speak for itself. Like White, he was released prior to free agency, making his availability more about circumstance than decline. When he arrived in 2023, he immediately elevated the standard of the Montreal Alouettes defence with his relentless motor, range and leadership.

Now, if he anchors the middle for the BC Lions, the ripple effects could be significant. BC already possesses one of the league’s most explosive offences. If their defence builds on a strong second half of 2025 and benefits from Sankey’s command in the centre, the overall ceiling rises quickly. He doesn’t need to overhaul the unit — only steady it, direct it and free the surrounding playmakers to attack.

In a league where complementary football often determines champions, Sankey could be the type of addition that shifts BC from contender to complete.