Which BC Lions Players Are 2024 Pending Free Agents?

The BC Lions hope to take the next step toward getting back to the Grey Cup while retaining their own free agents.

Author:
Matthew Postins
Publish date:
Nov 28, 2023 11:00 AM EST

The BC Lions are hoping to take the next step toward winning the West Division and taking another shot at the Grey Cup.

BC finished second in the West Division with a 12-6 record. After beating Calgary in the Western semifinal 40-31, the Lions lost to Winnipeg 24-13 in the Western Final. The Montreal Alouettes beat the Blue Bombers 28-24 in the Grey Cup on Nov. 19.

It’s been more than a decade since BC won a Grey Cup, claiming its last title in 2011. It’s also the last time BC went to a Grey Cup.

BC Lions quarterback Dominique Davis (8) carries the ball against the Edmonton Elks in the second half at BC Place. BC won 22-0. — Lions quarterback Dominique Davis is set to be a free agent.
Bob Frid-USA TODAY Sports

The CFL released the free agency tracker to keep tabs on all pending free agents for each of the nine CFL teams. BC had 22 players who will be on the free-agent list.

Here is the full list of Lions players heading into free agency, which opens Feb. 13, broken down by position and whether they are American (A), National (N), or Global (G). We also break down four players to watch entering free agency for the Lions.

BC Lions Pending Free Agents

QB – Dominique Davis (A), Dane Evans (A)
RB – Kienan LaFrance (N)
WR – Jevon Cottoy (N), Keon Hatcher (A), Alexander Hollins (A), Daniel Petermann (N), Lucky Whitehead (A), Terry Williams (A)
OL – David Knevel (N), Phillip Norman (A)
DL – Mathieu Betts (N), Tibo Debaillie (G), Sione Teuhema (A), Nick Usher (A)
LB – Ben Hladik (N), Maxime Rouyer (G), Josh Woods (A)
DB – Jalon Edwards-Cooper (A), Mike Jones (A), Marcus Sayles (A)
P – Stefan Flintoft (A)

BC Lions Pending Free Agents

Four important free agents for 2024:

WR Keon Hatcher

If quarterback Vernon Adams is going to lead the CFL in passing yards again, he’s going to need receivers like Hatcher, who was a CFL All-Star and CFL West Division All-Star in 2023 after he caught 78 passes for 1,226 yards and six touchdowns. His receptions and targets led the CFL. This was a career season for him in the CFL, so no better time to cash in.

DE Mathieu Betts

The market should be stiff for Betts, who set a record for most sacks by a Canadian-born defender with 18 last season. He was a CFL All-Star, a CFL West Division All-Star and the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player. BC’s biggest issue will be keeping him away from his hometown Montreal Alouettes, who just won the Grey Cup.

WR Alexander Hollins

Keeping another one of Adams’ targets isn’t a bad thing for the Lions. Hollins earned his first CFL West Division All-Star selection after he caught 78 passes for 1,173 yards and nine touchdowns. Given how well Hatcher and Hollins played this season, it’s not out of line to consider whether the Lions will be able to keep both.

LB Ben Hladik

Hladik didn’t earn All-Star honors after he led the Lions with 102 tackles. But he’s a key part of their defense and he’s worth keeping in 2024. The good news is he’s been with BC for three seasons and the Vernon, B.C., naïve played his college football with the UBC Thunderbirds. Hladik was two-time All-Canadian in college.