Elks Make Splash on First Day of CFL Free Agency
February 14, 2023 - Canadian Football League (CFL)
Edmonton Elks News Release
EDMONTON - The Edmonton Elks made major additions to their roster on Tuesday during the opening day of CFL free agency, signing five players including a Most Outstanding Player award finalist, a divisional All-Star, a league leader and a former No. 1 draft pick.
On their way to Edmonton are receivers Eugene Lewis, Steven Dunbar Jr., and Kyran Moore as well as linebacker Kevin Francis and offensive lineman Josiah St. John.
Lewis was named the East Most Outstanding Player in 2022.
Lewis was awarded the Terry Evanshen Trophy as the CFL East Division's Most Outstanding Player in 2022, while earning his third consecutive CFL East All-Star selection. Lewis suited up in 17 games for the Montreal Alouettes, catching 91 passes for 1,303 yards and leading the East Division with 10 touchdown receptions.
A two-time CFL All-Star, Lewis has spent his entire CFL career in Montreal after signing with the Alouettes in 2017. Over 68 career regular season games, Lewis has 276 receptions for 4,347 yards, with 28 touchdown catches.
Steven Dunbar Jr. was named a CFL East Division All-Star in 2022.
Dunbar Jr. spent his first two seasons in the CFL with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The six-foot-three, 202 pound native of Metairie, LA, was named a CFL East All-Star in 2022 after ranking top 10 in the CFL for receptions (72), receiving yards (1,000) and touchdown receptions (six).
As a rookie in 2021, Dunbar Jr. recorded 44 receptions for 630 yards and four receiving touchdowns for the Ti-Cats.
Kyran Moore was Saskatchewan's receptions leader in consecutive seasons in 2019 and 2021.
Moore has spent his entire CFL career with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, catching a total of 210 passes for 2,351 yards with 10 touchdowns in 46 appearances over four seasons. The Alabama native was Saskatchewan's reception leader in consecutive campaigns, with 78 catches in 2019 and 64 in 2021. He also paced the Riders with six touchdown catches in 2019, and his 585 receiving yards in 2021 was tops on the team. ¬â¹
As a rookie in 2018, Moore brought back two punts for touchdowns, and his punt return average of 13.4 yards (389 yards on 29 returns) was best in the CFL among players with at least 29 return attempts. In just seven games last season, Moore made 36 catches for 295 yards, and had five punt returns for 47 yards.
Kevin Francis led the CFL with 22 special teams tackles in 2022.
Francis led the CFL with 22 special teams tackles last season, when he appeared in all 18 games for the B.C. Lions. In 82 career CFL regular season games over six seasons, Francis has recorded 18 defensive tackles and 61 special teams.
Before joining the Lions, Francis played for the Saskatchewan Roughriders (2016-2018 and 2021) and Ottawa RedBlacks (2019).
Josiah St. John was selected first overall in the 2016 CFL Draft.
The No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 CFL Draft, St. John has played 47 career CFL regular season games over five seasons (2016-18, 2021-22) with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, including 11 appearances in 2022.
St. John returns to the Green and Gold, with whom he had a brief stint in 2019, suiting up for Edmonton in the 2019 East Final against the Hamilton Ti-Cats.
TRANSACTIONS
For complete player bios, click the player links below.
SIGNED
Steven Dunbar Jr. | AMER | WR | 6'3 | 202 LBS | 1995-12-19 | New Orleans, LA | Houston
Kevin Francis | AMER | LB | 6'6 | 239 LBS | 1993-06-05 | Toronto, ON | North Carolina A&T
Eugene Lewis | AMER | WR | 6'1 | 208 LBS | 1993-04-20 | Norristown, PA | Oklahoma
Kyran Moore | AMER | WR | 5'10 | 165 LBS | 1996-09-19 | Bessemer, AL | Austin Peay
Josiah St. John | NAT | OL | 6'5 | 305 LBS | 1992-05-18 | Toronto, ON | Oklahoma
Canadian Football League Stories from February 14, 2023
- Elks Make Splash on First Day of CFL Free Agency - Edmonton Elks
- Canadian Receiver Juwan Brescacin Joins the Green and White - Saskatchewan Roughriders
- American Receiver Williams Signs with Tiger-Cats - Hamilton Tiger-Cats
- Riders Shore up the Defensive Line with Stefen Banks - Saskatchewan Roughriders
- Elks Sign Linebacker Kevin Francis - Edmonton Elks
- Riders Add Grey Cup Champion OL Philip Blake - Saskatchewan Roughriders
- RedBlacks Sign American Receiver Shaq Evans - Ottawa RedBlacks
- Former Buffalo Bill and New York Giant Antonio Williams Joins Lions Backfield Contingent - B.C. Lions
- Defensive Back Elliott Signs with Tiger-Cats - Hamilton Tiger-Cats
- 'Touchdown' Jake Signs with the Roughriders - Saskatchewan Roughriders
- Argos Sign Canadian OL Darius Ciraco - Toronto Argonauts
- Edmonton Signs WR Steven Dunbar Jr. - Edmonton Elks
- Alouettes Solidify Canadian Content - Montreal Alouettes
- RedBlacks Sign American Linebacker Gary Johnson Jr. - Ottawa RedBlacks
- Lions Sign American OL Chris Schleuger - B.C. Lions
- OL Josiah St. John Signs with the Double E - Edmonton Elks
- Roughriders Welcome Trevor Harris to Riderville - Saskatchewan Roughriders
- RedBlacks Sign American Defensive Lineman Michael Wakefield - Ottawa RedBlacks
- Lions Add 2019 First-Round Pick Justin McInnis to Receiving Core - B.C. Lions
- Micah Johnson Is Back in Riderville - Saskatchewan Roughriders
- RedBlacks Sign All-Star Linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox - Ottawa RedBlacks
- Boatmen Bring DL Thomas Costigan & FB Mario Villamizar Aboard - Toronto Argonauts
- Elks Ink Receiver Eugene Lewis - Edmonton Elks
- Bane of the Defence; Riders Add Speedy Receiver Shawn Bane Jr. - Saskatchewan Roughriders
- RedBlacks Sign American Offensive Lineman Terran Vaughn - Ottawa RedBlacks
- Lions Add Free Agent Veteran Quarterback Dominique Davis - B.C. Lions
- Alouettes Add Fajardo and Evans, Alexander to Prolong His Stay - Montreal Alouettes
- WR Kyran Moore Joins the Green and Gold - Edmonton Elks
- Riders Sign Offensive Line Anchor Peter Godber - Saskatchewan Roughriders
- Stamps Sign All-Star Defensive End Julian Howsare - Calgary Stampeders
- Argos Ink American Folarin Orimolade - Toronto Argonauts
- Couture Comes Home: Lions Sign Free Agent Offensive Lineman - B.C. Lions
- Boatmen Sign American DB Adarius Pickett - Toronto Argonauts
- Blue Bombers Sign All-Star Receiver Kenny Lawler to Two-Year Contract - Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- RedBlacks Sign American Defensive Back Cariel Brooks - Ottawa RedBlacks
- Blue Bombers Re-Sign Global Linebacker Maruo - Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- Riders Add American Receiver Kalija Lipscomb - Saskatchewan Roughriders
- Canadian Football League Takes Ownership of Montreal Alouettes - CFL
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