The Hamilton Tiger-Cats will have the inside track on signing perhaps the most sought-after free agent over the offseason.

On Monday the club acquired the rights to Bo Levi Mitchell from the Calgary Stampeders in exchange for a pair of draft picks.

The two-time CFL Most Outstanding Player lost his starting job earlier this season to Jake Maier, though he was brought into their West Semi-Final defeat in the latter stages against the BC Lions.

Earlier this year Maier signed a contract extension to remain in Calgary until 2024, while Mitchell’s deal with the Stamps is set to expire in February 2023.

Hamilton is expected to sign the two-time Grey Cup champion, leaving the status of their current starter Dane Evans up in the air.

Evans led the Ti-Cats to two Grey Cup appearances in 2019 and 2021, completing over 66% of his passes for 3,883 yards.

The other side to that coin is the fact that Evans led the CFL in interceptions (16), fumbles (eight), and fumbles lost (seven), winning just six of his 14 regular season starts this year.

In January Hamilton signed Evans to a two-year contract extension, but with the club now getting the first crack at Mitchell, they will have some big decisions to make on what to do with the Oklahoma native.

The 28-year-old quarterback is scheduled to make $455,000 with the Tiger-Cats next season.

Mitchell had a completion percentage of 61.3 in 2022, throwing for 2,010 yards with nine touchdowns and six interceptions for a QB rating of 87.2.