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Winners and losers for day one of 2016 CFL free agency

Winners and losers for day one of 2016 CFL free agency

There are still plenty of unsigned free agents out there, so we'll hold off on final grades for now, but here's a look at team performances on the first day of CFL free agency Tuesday.

Winners: Winnipeg Blue Bombers: The Bombers certainly made the biggest splashes Tuesday, particularly by nabbing B.C. running back Andrew Harris, but they also managed to grab other key players, including Saskatchewan receiver Ryan Smith, Ottawa defensive tackle Keith Shologan and Hamilton punter/kicker Justin Medlock. They even managed to get in a Twitter feud with the Roughriders. We'll see how all this spending works out for the Bombers in the long term, but the players they grabbed look like important upgrades at this point.

Losers: Edmonton Eskimos: The Eskimos had one of the toughest days out there, losing key players like receivers Kenny Stafford and Shamawd Chambers and offensive lineman Andrew Jones while not particularly adding anyone of note. They have other big free agents out there, too, including linebacker J.C. Sherritt, defensive back Aaron Grymes, and running back Kendial Lawrence. If they can bring some of those guys back and maybe pick up a couple of other players here and there, free agency could get more positive for them, but their start wasn't encouraging.

Up in the air:

Hamilton Tiger-Cats: The Ticats landed one of the most important players out there by resigning defensive tackle Ted Laurent, but they still have a lot of free agents, and didn't make many other splashes apart from signing linebacker Alex Hoffman-Ellis. Medlock could be a big loss for them.

Montreal Alouettes: The Alouettes landed Stafford and defensive back Jovon Johnson, but missed out on Laurent and lost star left tackle Josh Bourke to Toronto.

Calgary Stampeders: Calgary did well to lock up Canadian running back Jerome Messam before free agency, but didn't do much else on day one, and appears set to lose star linebacker/defensive back Keon Raymond.

B.C. Lions: The Lions had a couple of big losses with Harris and Hoffman-Ellis, but may be close to bringing some guys in.

Saskatchewan Roughriders: The additions of Jones, receivers John Chiles, Jeremy Kelley and Chambers, and defensive back Graig Newman could be nice, as could the new deal for DE Dylan Ainsworth, but they lost a lot of talent as well.

Toronto Argonauts: Grabbing Montreal LT Josh Bourke should help protect Ricky Ray, but losing quarterback Trevor Harris to Ottawa means they don't have much of a backup plan if Ray gets hurt.

Ottawa Redblacks: Bringing in Harris as a backup to Henry Burris and potential starter down the road could work, but comes with some ego-management questions, and they lost some key defenders in Johnson and Shologan (and could lose another one in DE Justin Capicciotti).

Stay tuned to 55-Yard Line for more free agency coverage and final free agency grades over the next few days!