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Moving on from Kola is another good move by Walters.

Kolankowski released, Schmeckel re-signed

Big Stan back https://3downnation.com/2026/01/26/winnipeg-blue-bombers-re-sign-future-hall-of-fame-blocker-stanley-bryant/

Just move on already

I always find it hard to browse the CFL's official free agent list so I re-organize it by position for readability. Still lots of time until free agency opens so this list is getting smaller daily.

Brady is the most complete running back in the CFL full stop. Rushing, receiving, blocking, no one does it all as well as he does. Now that doesn't automatically make the contract he got worth it, but there's worse guys to over pay than a home grown legit MOP candidate who can do it all at the position.

Nice..this is a key signing...one of the have to have back ones in my opinion as he just coming into his own...he physical..one our better tacklers...can play any of the db spots and guys dont realize hes 220+ pounds..and can cover...hed make a solid WIL too if given the opportunity...and was our best SAM last yr

Did the same logic apply when Sam Hurl was starting at MLB back in the day? Oshea using his roster in a suboptimal way is not a new phenomenon.... but I feel like we go around and around and around about this all the time.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2026/01/06/blue-bombers-sign-all-cfl-halfback-evan-holm-to-two-year-contract-extension

Schmek, improved before his injury, as a back-up rotational piece with Lawson, combined with his play on Jumbo packages, he is a perfect fit IMO. I could be wrong but I don't think he will be ready for the start of the season anyway...... Kola moving on and Thomos transitioning into coaching, in conjunction with signing, mostly Canadian starters thus far has been IMO a great offseason start...

I admit to hating on the Rourke hype as much as anyone. When he tore into the new commish and the dumb rule changes… I liked Rourke the player quite a bit more.

wallace played the best of our guards outside of vanterpool. It was his first full season and first time being a semi regular starter. The fire is pretty far from his feet. Eli, is the one who needs to step up most. After that, it’s bryant. We have a good few imps to push him, and we are going to see some very good imp tackles hit free agency. Wallace is more than fine if he continues his progress at the same rate. imo, upfront money is the way to get him and at a good over all price. https://3downnation.com/2026/01/18/b-c-lions-gm-ryan-rigmaiden-sounds-alarm-about-nils-effect-on-future-of-cfl-qbs/ The only thing i’d add to rigmaidens comments is, it’s not coming. it’s already been here. And it’s nil+ nfls expansion of pr and pr compensation. We already don’t see the guys who have any real success at good schools. We’ve lost first and second pick over of the former pipeline schools like bigsky, basically once a qb is 4/5star in hs, we’ve lost out on an opportunity with them unless they fully crash out of the nfl or blow all that money. Even then, the usfl is more attractive to those guys despite the less money. the days of 80-90k qbs with some upside is over. I think a second salary increase should partly be used to split the cap with qbs. The floor needs to be 150-200k for us to attract the talent the league desperately needs. Teams should have a floor 1million on ar qbs. It’s an investment in the league and game it self. 500k for the starter, 250-300k for qb3 and 200-250k for qb3. If your top tier qbs are earning 750k-1million each, instead of 500-700k you have a much better ability to attract young qb with upside talent and success. Yeah. Allen to corner, kramdi to s and griffin to sam would be awesome. pretty much just sergio to re up now

Winnipeg Blue Bombers re-sign American DB Michael Griffin for 2026 CFL season - 3DownNation

Love it. Relentless lunch pail dude who does the dirty work on teams and does it well. Noticed him making a lot of solid teams tackles last year, but people tell me his teams game is much deeper than just chasing kicks...

Average league salary is pushing $130,000 with current cap number and the rookies still make under $90,000....significantly less for American rookies. These numbers aren't outlandish. Teams are ready to pay $250,000+ for decent Canadian OL and starters now. The "highest paid" whatever headlines today are kind of laughable considering 45% of the league are free agents. That's going to change by February.

I think its time to move on from Jefferson. He's going to be 35, he's had declining production the past two seasons, he takes plays off and he costs too much money. Too be honest, he seems to get a pass from many here, while other players don't.

Holm is outstanding... A worthy All Star recipient. Stoked to have him back.

This seems like a not good move when you've got Shay and Smith needing reps....

IMO Johnson and Mack are the top 2 and then there's quite a drop off. Arguably a huge drop off from Johnson to Mack too. Johnson is a guy just hitting his prime, legit #1 target. Most of the rest are guys who are in decline. Some guys coming off injuries who might bounce back, like Bane. Could be useful depth but basically have a better version already in Wilson. Robustelli and Nield you could probably get at a decent number. Some upside there especially with the type of offense Collaros runs. Need the big bodies that can both find the chains and win a vertical route. If we had Demski, Nield, Clercius for Canadians, plus other depth/draft pick. Wilson, Mack, Robustelli, rookies/reclamation project for Americans....I'd be good with that. Think you can build a solid offense with that. I'd be in the hunt for Johnson, Mack, Robustelli, Nield, think about Brissett if he's willing to leave the GTA (doubt it), Rambo, consider bringing back Stearns as he developed some chemistry with Collaros. Wheatfall walks. Schoen I'd keep the line open but he's not going to be able to play until the fall if that.

At this point, I think we've brought back the right vets and released/not signed the right players... looking at our list of FAs, there aren't any more "must signs" on the list... Makonzo is an intriguing player that I would like to actually see play... but other than him, no one on that list needs to be back

yeah...was a mere formality I think of holdovers from last yr....we need not sign any of the rest now who are FA's.....Tho I would like to see Woods back and allowed to compete as he was by no means inadequate...but a victim of what went on here...let him battle with new signings we recruited an any FA we grab

Pretty polarized opinions on WJ. It'll be interesting to see how he does.

Pat Neufeld signs one-year contract extension with Winnipeg Blue Bombers - 3DownNation

Honestly having Streveler here on IR and basically interning as a coach would be a pretty smart move. Kind of thing an organization with cash to leverage should be doing.

And the most important move has already been made: at centre

When has Mandani ever been right about the CFL?

Neg list is far superior to an American draft IMO. It rewards your scouting as opposed to a draft which is voodoo when guys may never have an interest in coming north. Draft is an event they can market I am sure is the logic but it doesn't help the game.

I love the Kramdi hate lol Dude is a very savvy player, he’s got some ball-in-the-air issues that I have seen him improve on but overall I’m happy to have him Also, he’s nowhere near the 2nd highest paid DB in the league lol

The dumb move was to sign him to a two year extension before the season had even begun. You could see the decline coming and it got worse this season. Even if sticking with him, they could have easily got him for a lot less if they waited until the end of the season to offer an extension, especially since they refuse to renegotiate contacts. Bombers have a history of tying themselves to extensions for QBs on their way down. They would have also had the time to see if Wilson or a prospect from another team may have been an option at the end of the season and could have begun a transition if that opportunity presented itself.

600k for Zach is too much. He’s had a good career and earned his fair share. I mean you only take what is offered but I would have liked to see us have more flexible for salary at the quarterback position. We’re still paying him like he’s 2022 Zach and not 2026. Not the end of the world but I would have liked to see a deal similar to what Harris is making.

Hope it's more than a depth signing. As in Center.

Bogle is an interesting one. Highly recruited, unanimous 4-star recruit out of HS. Played a couple of years at Florida, then moved to Michigan State. Never became a regular starter or lived up to his potential out of HS. Very good athleticism and build, stronger than his weight would suggest, he's extremely lean, twitchy, good get off, has an excellent spin move, and a good motor. Boyd is similar. Polished, good frame that could hold more weight, excellent top-end speed, 3-star kid with polish who struggled to find a spot till his last year. Battle is pretty much the opposite. Instantly stepped in and started at the corner for NC state. tremendous size, mediocre measurables, but his speed plays better on the field than it tests. Quick twitchy, explosive type. Physical, very aggressive press corner type. Struggled more in zone, but his aggression is also going to be tough in man cover. Could be penalty-prone in any pro league. I think his wheels play much better in the CFL, and his fit could be good with JYs system if he can adjust. Played a ton of snaps, like 2400. If he can reign in his aggression and fit in with the system, he could be a very high-floor guy. Mayes has an interesting build for a wr, almost closer to a rbs build. Doesn't have great measurables, but a good track and basketball guy in Hs. Looks to have good hands. His qb, Ridder, was on our NL for a good while. They've seen a lot of him. He's got good polish, shifty runner. Whenever I see guys at WR in that 6' and under, 200 and under range, I wonder if they have been over looked alot for not jumping off the stat sheet, or if they are an overachiever. Mayes hands and polish make me think he's the overlooked type. I wonder if they view him as a slot back. If he can master the waggle, he could go far up here, very quickly.

I have no problem with Elgersma chasing and NFL dream but sooner or later he’ll be in the CFL if he wants a pro career at QB. I may be biased but I think the sooner he comes to that conclusion the better off he’ll be.

Vaval being back is another positive. Walters off season so far has been very good.

https://www.bluebombers.com/2026/01/19/winnipeg-football-club-announces-installation-of-new-high-resolution-video-boards-at-princess-auto-stadium/

No. We already have a lot of money tied up in the secondary.

as a fan, would love to see this -- hated how it ended with Sheed.

Spending a lot of time looking at changing rules with the belief that this will help grow our league is such lazy thinking with little effort needed just debating and intellectualizing about it ad nauseum in house while they could be doing way more important things. Rules in our league is not the reason we can't compete with the NFL. It's $ and location so should not the CFL Commish and his team be applying a full court press on how they can attract sponsors, increase attendance by marketing that they are comitted to drawing the highest quality talent for fans to watch and cheer for?

For me it's not about $$ it's about finding that absolute force in the middle. Sayles reminds me of Vega. He's above average but not someone who is going to be dominate game in and game out. I wouldn't be disappointed if the Bombers signed Sayles, but I wouldn't want to place all my hope in him turning around the DL....if that makes sense.

I like the Cadwallader signing.

Is now a bad time to mention that with my new deal, I am now among the highest paid posters on MBB?

If we don't allow players the chance to go south as soon as they're able, they just won't come here in the first place. So we're still ******.

I don't necessarily disagree with the allocation of money argument, I just laughed that immediately after it's the re-signing post. Like the Bombers are just watching and going "**** this guy in particular "

Great move! We’ve brought back all the right guys this off season.

I'd watch a show with Matty , Walby, and 2 other drunks gabbing about the CFL. Sign me up!!!

I don't know why they don't just let Castillo do it all

I remember the last time we cheaped out on a place kicker and how that ended up... Castillo is far from being an easy cost cutting player.