Edmonton Elks sign 6 players on opening day of CFL free-agency

The Edmonton Elks, arsenic expected, were engaged connected the opening time of CFL free-agency, signing six players connected Tuesday.

Canadian antiaircraft backmost Royce Metchie agreed to a two-year woody with the Elks. Five different players signed one-year deals: Canadian receiver Kaion Julien-Grant, American antiaircraft backs Manny Rugamba and Kobe Williams, Canadian violative lineman Gregor MacKellar, and Canadian receiver Tyson Middlemost.

Metchie was a 3rd-round prime of the Calgary Stampeders successful 2018, winning a Grey Cup successful his rookie season. Metchie spent the erstwhile 3 seasons with the Toronto Argonauts winning 2 Grey Cup titles. Metchie is known for being 1 of the amended safeties successful the CFL. Last season, helium recorded 87 antiaircraft tackles.

Julien-Grant spent the erstwhile 5 seasons with the Montreal Alouettes, who drafted him successful the 2nd circular of the 2019 CFL Draft.

Julien-Grant has played 61 games, making 53 starts and has recorded 1,656 yards and 4 touchdowns. He was a portion of the Alouettes’ Grey Cup-winning squad successful 2023.

Rugamba was a 2023 Western Division All-Star for the B.C. Lions. He lined up astatine some antiaircraft half-back and SAM linebacker. In 44 games with the Lions, Rugamba recorded 179 full tackles, 4 sacks, and 2 interceptions.

Williams spent the past 4 seasons with the Stampeders and was 1 of their astir accordant players successful their secondary. He recorded 140 full tackles, 3 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles, and 1 sack successful 48 games.

MacKellar was a portion of 2 Grey Cup championships with the Argos. He played 43 games making 23 starts astatine near and close defender successful the past 3 seasons. He was a archetypal circular prime of the Argos successful the 2022 CFL Draft.

Middlemost was drafted successful the 4th circular by the Stampeders successful the 2020 CFL Draft. He’s been chiefly utilized connected peculiar teams collecting 29 peculiar teams tackles successful 46 games played.