BO LEVI TRADE ANALYSIS WITH JUSTIN DUNK

By: Stephen Lylyk, RP Show Intern

“The writing’s on the wall when you pay another guy,” said Bo Levi Mitchell following the Calgary  Stampeders playoff loss to the BC Lions. “It’s been [an] amazing [journey] and I don’t regret a minute of it, but I do look forward to the next part.” 

On Monday, the next chapter became official, as Calgary agreed on a trade sending the playing rights of Bo-Levi Mitchell to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.  

During his Monday appearance on the Rod Pedersen Show at Ballers Rec Room in Regina during Grey Cup 109 Week, 3DownNation CFL Insider Justin Dunk discussed what this deal means for Hamilton. 

“Hamilton now has exclusive negotiation rights with Mitchell, until February’s free agency,” explained Dunk. “This gives the Tiger-Cats a chance to talk to Bo and ideally come to contract terms.”  

The Tiger-Cats had a disappointing 2022 campaign. Following an 8-10 regular season, their attempt to reach a third straight Grey Cup fell short in the East Semi-final, losing to the Montreal Alouettes. 

“It’s something we’re not accustomed to,” said Tiger-Cats Head Coach Orlando Steinauer following the playoff exit. “We don’t really want to get used to this.”

As Dunk explained, Hamilton looks to position themselves for a rebound year in 2023 as they host the Grey Cup.  

“The Tiger-Cats have had interest in Bo since the season ended,” said Dunk. “There’s about two-and-a-half to three months till Free agency to get a contract with Bo. I’d imagine there’s been some contract terms that have been loosely discussed between parties.”  

As Bo leaves Calgary, Hamilton hopes he’s the missing piece to an already impressive supporting cast.  

“There’s a bunch of young playmakers there,” exclaimed Dunk. “A solid offensive line, a stout defense, and Orlando Steinauer who’s proven he can take his team to the grey cup. All they were missing was quarterback play.”  

A move to Hamilton also gives Bo the chance to add to his already all-time-great individual legacy.  

“If you’re Bo-Levi Mitchell,” Dunk continued, “you’re going to Hamilton, which his a hotbed for football AND you win a Grey cup, ending the longest drought in the CFL currently (Hamilton last won the Grey Cup in 1999) you’d be an instant legend.” 

The Tiger-Cats have a history of acquiring quarterbacks from the Calgary Stampeders.  

It was on December 3, 2011 when Hamilton swung a trade to acquire legendary Stampeder Quarterback Henry Burris. 

“Henry is a proven winner,” said then General Manager Bob O’Billovich in the official statement announcing the move.  

Burris placed his name in Hamilton sport legend during the 2013 East Final against the Toronto Argonauts. He would go 17-21 with 227 passing yards and 2 TD’s in the 2nd half alone rallying his team to a 36-24 victory and a place in the Grey Cup. (First appearance since the 1999 victory) 

As 3DownNation Contributor Drew Edwards put it in a 2017 article “As the Skydome emptied out that day, thoughts of Tiger-Cat fans stayed and celebrated. After years of futility and frustration it felt like a weight had been lifted.”   

As Hamilton gets set to begin a new era with Bo-Levi Mitchell under Centre, they hope that new stories of success await them.

(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm ET on Game+ TV and WQEE Radio. Call your cable provider to subscribe. You can also watch on YouTube live and RodPedersen.com/ListenLive)