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The B.C. Lions made the biggest splash when free agency began on Tuesday by signing Mike Reilly.

They then promptly did another few cannonballs into the deep player pool as the day progressed.

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After selling Reilly on their vision, luring him away from Edmonton with a $720,000 annual salary, the Leos promptly moved on to the next phase of their plan: protecting their new investment by landing the most coveted free-agent lineman in Winnipeg Blue Bomber guard Sukh Chungh, signing the Port Coquitlam native to a three-year contract with a reported $250,00 yearly hit.

The 6-foot-4, 300-pounder, drafted No. 2 overall in 2015 by the Bombers, returns home after four standout seasons in Winnipeg and will be a key component in protecting the CFL’s highest-paid player.

“Our priority today and moving forward is making sure we’re able to protect Mike,” said Lions general manager Ed Hervey. “You don’t bring a player of Mike’s calibre in and not look at protecting him. My philosophy hasn’t changed … we have to keep our quarterback upright. We have to make sure we can give him time to go out there and do his thing, and surround him with the type of weapons who can go out there and make plays.”