Calgary Stampeders General Manager Dave Dickenson is staring down a significant task list this winter. As the Canadian Football League's 2025 season concluded, a total of 28 players from the Red and White roster were slated to become free agents on February 10. This sets the stage for a pivotal off-season for Dickenson, who also serves as the team's head coach.
First Move: Securing the Offensive Line
Dickenson has already made his initial move to stabilize the roster for the 2026 campaign. On Thursday, December 4, 2025, the Stampeders announced the re-signing of veteran offensive lineman Bryce Bell.
"Bryce is a guy we drafted, and — when healthy — he's been a big part of our success," Dickenson stated. "Bryce makes us better, and we're looking forward to having him come back strong in 2026."
Bell, a versatile second-round pick from the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks in the 2021 CFL Draft, brings valuable experience across the line. Over his five seasons with Calgary, he has made starts at tackle, guard, and centre. He began the 2025 season as the starting centre before a shoulder injury in Week 2 ended his year prematurely.
The High-Stakes Free Agent List
With Bell's contract settled, the focus shifts to the remaining 27 players whose contracts are set to expire. The list includes several cornerstone performers who were instrumental in the team's dramatic seven-win improvement from the previous season.
Headlining the group is running back Dedrick Mills, the CFL's top rusher in 2025 with 1,409 rushing yards. Also critical is defensive tackle Jaylon Hutchings, a disruptive force who recorded eight sacks. Their potential departures would leave substantial holes in the roster.
The full list of pending free agents includes:
- WR Clark Barnes
- LB Adam Bighill
- QB Logan Bonner
- WR Erik Brooks
- OL Joshua Coker
- DB Bailey Devine-Scott
- WR Malik Henry
- LB Justin Herdman-Reed
- DL Clarence Hicks
- DL Jaylon Hutchings
- OL Tomas Jack-Kurdyla
- LB Gary Johnson Jr.
- WR Tevin Jones
- DL Daniel Joseph
- RB William Langlais
- LB Marquel Lee
- DL Lorenzo Mauldin IV
- RB Dedrick Mills
- DB Derrick Moncrief
- DB Godfrey Onyeka
- WR Dominique Rhymes
- DB Tyler Richardson
- LB Jacob Roberts
- OL Kyle Saxelid
- LB Micah Teitz
- DL Charles Wiley
- LB Kyle Wilson
Building on a Resurgent Season
The Stampeders' 2025 season marked a significant turnaround, finishing with 11 wins. The off-season strategy will be crucial to building on that momentum and converting it into a deeper playoff run, following a narrow West semifinal loss in Vancouver.
Dickenson emphasized that re-signing Bell is about fostering competition. "With his versatility, we expect to have great competition at offensive line during training camp," he said. This philosophy of internal competition is likely to guide his approach to the entire free agency period, as he works to retain the core of a resurgent team while managing the salary cap.
The next two months leading up to the February 10 free agency window will be a defining period for the franchise's immediate future.
