Chris Jones’ Toronto ties are paying off for the Edmonton Eskimos.
The team announced its biggest signing of CFL free agency to date on Wednesday morning, in nabbing free agent cornerback Pat Watkins. The six-foot-five, 205-pounder from Tallahassee, Florida, had 110 tackles, two quarterback sacks, knocked down 19 passes and had 10 interceptions in two years with the Toronto Argonauts. At 31, he’ll bring an experienced and physical presence to a young Eskimos’ secondary that wasn’t tested often once teams realized they could run the ball so well against Edmonton’s defence.
Watkins’ two years in Toronto line up with the time that Jones spent as the Argos’ defensive co-ordinator. Jones left that role in November to take the Eskimos’ head coaching job and has looked to his former team to help him get settled in Edmonton.
A day after losing non-import receiver Cary Koch to Hamilton and import receiver Matt Carter to Ottawa, the Eskimos re-stocked at that position, signing non-import Akeem Foster. The 26-year-old spent four years with the B.C. Lions (61 catches for 949 yards and nine touchdowns) before being dealt to Winnipeg in 2013. In four games with the Bombers, he had five catches for 35 yards.
The Eskimos opened their CFL free agency period on Tuesday by signing a pair of Canadian offensive linemen, in Andrew Jones and Justin Sorensen.
