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BC Lions spent way over the salary cap and CFL is punishing them

Colton Pankiw
Colton Pankiw
|
Mar 28 2025, 5:05 pm
BC Lions spent way over the salary cap and CFL is punishing them
@CFL/X

The BC Lions are one of several CFL teams who are being punished for exceeding the 2024 Salary Expenditure Cap.

The CFL put out a press release today stating that the Lions, Toronto Argonauts, Saskatchewan Roughriders, and Ottawa Redblacks all spent over the cap.

The Lions were more than $347,000 over the $5.25-million cap, which was by far the most of any CFL club.

Two expensive and high-profile in-season free agent signings likely pushed them over the salary cap, as Nathan Rourke and Mathieu Betts returned to BC in August. Rourke, in particular, became the CFL’s highest-paid player last summer.

As a result, the Lions have not only been fined but will be forced to give up their first and second-round selections at the 2025 draft. Those picks are slated to come in third and ninth overall.

“In addition to being fined, the BC Lions will forfeit the highest of their first- and second-round selections (Nos. 3 and 9) in the 2025 CFL Draft due to the amount by which they exceeded the cap,” the CFL said in its press release. “BC retains its lower second-round selection (No. 11).

“Per the CFL Constitution, the team with the highest waiver priority – in this instance, the Calgary Stampeders – have been awarded BC’s forfeited picks as the final selections in the first two rounds – Nos. 8 and 17.”

The Argos ($87,103), Roughriders ($40,121), and Redblacks ($22,914) also exceeded the cap, but by far lower amounts. They won’t lose any draft picks but have been fined by the CFL.

The Lions had a disappointing 2024 season, finishing third in the West Division with a 9-9 record. They were able to make the playoffs but fell to the Roughriders in the West Semi-Final by a score of 28-19.

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