Stamps an improved team as CFL free agency begins
The Calgary Stampeders welcomed a few new faces to the fold Tuesday.
They also waved goodbye to a couple of familiar ones.
That's because the CFL free agency window opened, allowing the team to officially unveil exactly what they've been working on in the lead-up to the off-season movement market.
“We made our quarterback room better,” said Stampeders Gm/head coach Dave Dickenson minutes after free agency kicked in Tuesday. “We know our offensive tackles are better now. We needed better help on Canadian special teams, and we needed better depth at Canadian starters on our defence.
“And we wanted to make our defensive back group better.”
All totalled, the Stampeders brought in a handful of fresh talents, including breaking news Tuesday of a prized pick-up in ballhawk Demerio Houston, a defensive back who led the league with seven interceptions last year.
Quarterback Matthew Shiltz is another acquisition — reported last week — that moves the needle around here, with his signing bringing up the buzz around returning starter Jake Maier being pushed by a veteran at the game's most important position.
Offensive lineman Trevon Tate, hopefully here to upgrade the tackle position, is another new hand.
And two linebackers, both former University of Calgary Dinos, in Adam Konar and Micah Teitz join the Horseman to provide depth and possibly slot in as starters.
“We had a plan, and we tried to address certain areas of our team and where we thought we can make it better,” Dickenson said. “We were organized, and we were on it, and I think our guys are excited to be here. We've done some things that will hopefully make our team better.”
The biggest question for fans is how Shiltz's arrival impacts the QB position.
The GM went searching for a veteran arm to offer a safety net should Maier struggle — and got it — although Dickenson is confident the incumbent will improve in his third full year at the controls.
“I talked to (Shiltz's former teammate and Stampeders legend) Bo (Levi Mitchell) on it as far as when it happened,” said Dickenson of the Shiltz signing. “Heard some good things from Bo. And we did our research on Matthew; I like what he gives. Let him compete and see where it goes from there.
“Jake's feeling good. I just feel like he's at peace and he's doing all the right things, and now it's our job to put better pieces around him and do a better job coaching him and getting him in positions to succeed. So I'm very confident that Jake's gonna have a heck of a year.”
Houston's pact is for two years, a nice coup for the Stamps after the American DB was named a CFL all-star in 2024 while picking off balls left and right for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The 5-foot-10, 169-pound American also recovered three fumbles in his third season with the Bombers.
“He's confident,” said Dickenson of the 27-year-old Houston. “You know what we didn't have is interceptions. We've got to make more turnovers, and here's the guy that leads the league in interceptions and still missed three games and had three fumble recoveries and plays with a lot of confidence and did well against us. I mean … when a guy really shows up against you, then it does certainly turn the tide a little bit when you're looking at other players.
“You remember he played well against us, and that's a guy we would want on our team.”
Tate played and started 10 games for the Toronto Argonauts in 2023 and was part of an O-line that allowed a league-low 19 sacks.