After a disappointing first-round playoff exit, Toronto Argonauts GM Michael “Pinball” Clemons is back to work earlier than expected. Coming off a 9-9 season, the Argos have some big decisions to make, with 22 players set to become free agents heading into 2027.
Below is the full list of pending free agents, as reported by 3DownNation.
Looking at this list, there are two players I would let walk this offseason. It’s not that they’re bad players, but Toronto needs to make changes if it wants to get back to competing for Grey Cups. The CFL always sees plenty of movement in the offseason, and I expect this year to be no different. Sometimes, to bring in good players, you have to let good players go.
When looking at this list, I can see at least three players that I would not bring back next season. The CFL always has a lot of movement in the offseason and I expect it to be no different this offseason.
1. Makai Polk (WR) — 52 receptions, 688 receiving yards, 7 touchdowns
Makai Polk is a talented receiver, there’s no question about that. He’s had some great moments with Toronto, nearly made the NFL, and his speed and footwork remind me a lot of Tim White. He’s the type of player most teams would love to have. But as much as I like Polk, I think it’s time for the Argos to move on.
Between the injuries, the costly drop in the East Semi-Final and Toronto’s depth at receiver, I have a hard time justifying bringing him back. Assuming Toronto re-signs Damonte Coxie and David Ungerer III alongside Kevin Mital, that’s already a strong receiving corps. Then you have Jake Herslow, who was lights out two seasons ago, and Andre Miller, who impressed me in his limited opportunities. Both are players I believe deserve bigger roles next season.
The bigger issue is where Toronto needs to spend its money. The running game was a major weakness this season, and the offensive line still has far too many question marks. The Argos need to build a more balanced offence instead of relying so heavily on their passing game. Sometimes, that means letting a talented player walk to address bigger needs elsewhere.
2. Nick Arbuckle (QB) — 2025 Stats: 4,370 passing yards, 26 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, 72.4% completion rate
This one is tough for me because I’ve been a big fan of Nick Arbuckle for years. He’s one of my favourite Argos, and I’ll always have respect for what he accomplished in 2024, especially winning Grey Cup MVP. But with Chad Kelly’s contract extension, I think it’s time for Toronto to move on. I still believe Arbuckle is a good quarterback. He’s a solid game manager who can win football games, and I think he’s good enough to compete for a starting job somewhere in the CFL.
My biggest issue is that I don’t think Toronto needs to spend that kind of money on a backup quarterback. Look at the East Semi-Final against Winnipeg. With just over two minutes left and Toronto facing third-and-short, Mike Miller decided to punt the football. To me, that showed the coaching staff didn’t have much confidence in their short-yardage package when the game was on the line. I’d rather see Toronto bring in a quarterback who can do both jobs. Someone like Dustin Crum, who can come in for short-yardage situations but also be a capable backup if Kelly gets hurt.
Then there’s the money. With Kelly making around $1.1 million per year, how much more can Toronto really afford to spend at quarterback? I could easily see a team like Ottawa offering Arbuckle somewhere between $300,000 and $375,000 to compete for a starting job. That’s just my opinion, but I think he’s earned that opportunity. If Toronto matches that kind of money, you’re looking at close to $1.5 million tied up in two quarterbacks. For a team that finished eighth in rushing yards per game and has some serious questions along the offensive line, I just don’t think that makes sense.
I’d love to see Arbuckle get another shot at starting somewhere. He’s earned it, and I think he could still help a CFL team win games. But for Toronto, I think it’s time to move on. Save the money, find a more versatile backup who can help in short-yardage situations, and put that money toward fixing the running game and offensive line.
Final Thoughts
When I look at both of these players, they’re great players who have had some great moments in Toronto. But at the end of the day, a 9-9 season and a first-round playoff exit mean changes need to be made. To bring in good players and improve your football team, sometimes you have to let good players go. It’s as simple as that. The Argos have some big decisions to make this offseason, especially when it comes to fixing the running game and offensive line. And if I were sitting in Pinball’s chair, Makai Polk and Nick Arbuckle are two players I’d let walk this offseason.
It’s not an easy decision, but if Toronto wants to get back to competing for Grey Cups, something has to change.
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