Every so often the Canadian Football League reveals a list of 10 players on each team’s negotiation list. This is a list of players whose rights are exclusively owned by a team.
Among the current Argos whose names have appeared on these public lists in the past: Chad Kelly, Dejon Allen, Tarvarus McFadden, Deonta McMahon, and Derek Parish.
Here, is a look at the 10 players on the most recent public list, listed in alphabetical order.
Markaviest Bryant: Defensive Lineman, UCF
If you follow college football you may know him better as Big Kat Bryant. The 6’5”, 245-pound defensive end played four seasons at Auburn, being named to the SEC All-Freshman Team. He transferred to Central Florida for his fifth season and was named First Team All-ACC.
A good athlete with a solid burst off the edge, he attended training camp in 2022 with the Dallas Cowboys, was a part of the final cuts, then signed for the rest of the season with the Miami Dolphins. He played for Memphis in the USFL in 2023.
Kyron Drones: Quarterback, Virginia Tech
The dual-threat quarterback just finished his second season with the Hokies after playing his freshman year at Baylor. He completed 61% of his passes, throwing for 10 touchdowns against 6 interceptions. A talented runner, he also rushed for 6 touchdowns in a season where he battled injuries late in the year.
Much was expected from Drones this year, but there was a regression in his passing game. While this year was disappointing when compared to his ’23 season, he’ll likely be selected in the NFL Draft, or at least be signed as an undrafted free agent should he declare, but he’d be better served by returning to Va Tech for another year of seasoning.
He’ll go up against Minnesota in a bowl game January 3.
Craig James: Defensive Back, Southern Illinois
He’s done the rounds of the NFL, signing as an undrafted free agent with the Minnesota Vikings in 2018, then making stops with the Philadelphia Eagles, New York Jets and Detroit Lions. The Lions released him in June of 2024. He played 23 NFL games, most of which were with Philadelphia. The Argos could utilize his return skills if needed.
He’ll be 29 years old when training camp opens. The 5’10” defensive back split his NCAA career between Minnesota, where he was the team’s primary punt returner, and Southern Illinois.
Kevin Jennings: Quarterback, SMU
His first season as a starter has been a great success. Still a sophomore, he was named Third Team All-ACC this season, passing for over 3,000 yards so far, with 22 TDs against just 8 interceptions. He’s also rushed for 379 yards and 5 five touchdowns, all this despite not being inserted as the starter until the third game of the season.
At 6’0”, 190 pounds, he’s a bit undersized by NFL standards but will still get a look at that level when his college career is over. He may not have the most mechanically sound passing form, but gets the job done.
He’ll lead his #11 Mustangs against #6 Penn State in the first round of the NCAA playoffs on December 21.
Michael Joseph: Defensive Back, Dubuque
The oldest player on the list, Joesph will be 30 when CFL training camps opens. The defensive back starred at Dubuque, winning the Cliff Harris Award as the best Small College Defensive Player of the Year, before moving on to the NFL. He was with the Chicago Bears for four seasons, then spent the last two years with the DC Defenders in the XFL. He was named to the All-XFL Team in 2023.
He’s 6’1”, 185 pounds, a long way from the 5’2”, 92 pound high-school freshman that never started a single game at that level.
Donavan Mutin: Linebacker, Houston
A training camp casualty of the Indianapolis Colts in 2023, the 6’0”, 230-pound linebacker was then signed by the Atlanta Falcons, eventually being released in the final round of cuts this year.
Mutin was a three-year team captain at the University of Houston, where, as an inside linebacker he led the Cougars in tackles in his junior and senior seasons playing alongside current Argo Derek Parish. Mutin was named Second Team All-ACC as a junior.
Marcel Reed: Quarterback, Texas A&M
Reed is a redshirt freshman who has been starting for the Aggies of late. So far, he’s completed 61% of his passes, connecting for 12 TDs against 4 interceptions. He’s got a lightning quick release and has great foot speed.
The 6’2”, 180-pound Reed’s style has more than once been compared to that of Lamar Jackson. His Aggies face USC in a bowl game on December 27. Reed’s biggest problem at A&M is the team also has strong-armed Conner Weigman at quarterback. An injury to him opened the door for Reed, and the RS freshman has looked outstanding since being given the opportunity.
Breeland Speaks: Defensive End, Ole Miss
Drafted by Kansas City in 2018, Speaks has made NFL stops with the Raiders, Cowboys, Giants, Bills, 49ers, and Jaguars, along with the USFL/UFL’s Michigan Panthers. He led the UFL in sacks and tackles for loss and was named the league’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2024.
Speaks turns 29 on December 18. The 6’3”, 285-pounder would project as an end who could also play tackle in the CFL. He recorded 18.5 sacks in 20 games with the Panthers.
EJ Warner: Quarterback, Rice
He just completed his first season as Rice’s starting quarterback and struggled at times. At 6’0”, 195, Warner passed for over 2,700 yards and 17 touchdowns but threw 13 interceptions. A pure drop-back passer, Warner took a step back after starring at Temple for two seasons.
He comes from great blood lines as his father is Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner. EJ Warner played two tremendous seasons at Temple before transferring to Rice, moving from the Owls to the Owls. He announced earlier this month that he’ll enter the transfer portal for a second time after Rice made a head coaching change.
Miyan Williams: Running Back, Ohio State
The powerful running back was not selected in the 2024 NFL Draft after undergoing knee surgery. It was after a 24-carry game against Penn State in 2023 that Williams realized he needed to get the knee procedure done.
A 5’9”, 225-pound downhill runner who isn’t afraid to take on defenders, he rushed for over 1,500 yards with 20 touchdowns as a Buckeye. A solid blocker who never fumbled the ball in his four years in Columbus.