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“Tony’s very versatile,” Elimimian says. “He’s got a DB (defensive back) background, so he’s mobile. And he competes hard. He plays with a lot of emotion.”

While Evans’ achievements last year in Montreal — he played behind two premier defensive ends, John Bowman and Gabe Knapton — were not spectacularly visible, the Lions talk about the wonders that could be wrought by a veteran whose play is of particular note in the video room, if not the stats sheet.

“I’ve always been surprised by how strong and explosive he is,” Elimimian says. “Hopefully, we can get what we see on film.”

The free-agent signings of Evans and Bucknor, a six-year veteran defensive back with previous stops in Hamilton, Winnipeg and Calgary, were under the radar and easily eclipsed by Williams, who came on board the following day.

Never drafted, never invited to a CFL combine, rejected at tryouts and a surprise cut by the Blue Bombers in 2015, despite 101 defensive tackles and three interceptions over two seasons, Bucknor’s unlikely pro career is to believe that anything is possible if you believe in yourself. He has twice participated in a Grey Cup game — with Hamilton in 2013, with Calgary last year — without a chance to sip from the silver chalice.

At 31, the championship window is narrowing for the former Windsor Lancer, who is pencilled in to compete with Keynan Parker for a starting job at wide-side cornerback, if the Lions decide to start two Canadians in the defensive secondary.

“When B.C. called, it was silly to turn the opportunity down,” Bucknor said. “They’ve kept a lot of important pieces and they’ve added some top pieces. They’ve had continuity for success over the years. They’ve got a good team, a really good team, a championship-calibre team.”

Before that is achieved, the Lions’ commonplace signings must make extraordinary efforts to prove themselves more potent than first perceived.

mbeamish@postmedia.com

Twitter.com/sixbeamers