Tracker

he was always gonna make the team. Will be interesting to see how much playing time he gets.

yeah, Powell didn't look like the second coming of Jeff Garcia or anything ... but in 2023 he went from QB3 to starting half of the games in Hamilton.
He went 4-5 on an 8-10 team and had 10 TDs and 9 picks and massively beat expectations for a QB3 who becomes the emergency starter. I agree with SpeedFlex that he was the best young FA QB in the CFL this offseason and he could've maybe possible been a successor to Zach for us. But now he is in Edmonton and I hope for the sake of the league that we haven't seen his ceiling yet.

Blow up all the stadiums, fold the league

I like Elad well enough, worry he might be a high floor low ceiling guy. Higher than where Id want to take him, but he probably will go high. Could have a great fit here if he eased us out of using a DI for the dime db.
I LOVE me some Rohan Jones. But he is gonna get a good long look down south. He's a big TE with great hands, he's an athletic outlier, and equally an analytics darling/outlier, and he's even flashed some very good blocking game. If a team is gonna start him and reshape their formations around him, he could be a star. Play him as a flex TE/slot/H-back. He's returned kicks, run the ball, he's deadly downfield, but you could run a screen game up here with him as well. Too good a chance he sticks in the NFL for far to long to risk that high a pick with imo.
Demontagnac is the type of wr you're probably gonna be stuck with in this draft if youre looking for one. And we are. Again, I'd rather take that risk later on.
I'd love to have Vaccaro come home, but I'm not holding my breath. I'd love to work a trade for the rights to Manu for him actually. As manu is coming closer and closer to running out of leash down south. If he doesn't find a way/place to get regular reps this year, and stay healthy, good chance next year hes up here.

This could go in either thread but we'll put er here.... Hodge's *ahem * always wildly accurate Mock Draft.....

It'll be interesting to see how the turnout goes for the riders. 500 bucks for the year seems like solid value for season ticket holders. But that market is not as spend crazy as it was when they broke their streak.
The stadium location for them is awful. (aside from the fact its in Saskatchewan) Having a tailgate spot with a park and ride might not be bad, except for the driver.
Makes me glad for where the stadium is now. It was a risky move but once they figured out traffic a bit its been a massive W.

Dayum, can't even have a still anymore.

Braylon Addison had over 800 yards receiving. Same with Rhymes up at around 900 yards himself. Which meant both players were positive contributors to their offensive teams. However for some reason, CFL teams just didn't want to pony up for older veterans. Even if they can still play. They still were decent players. I think their numbers show that they may still be playing if they hadn't signed 1 year deals. I believe we'd have been pretty excited had Rhymes signed here for 2026. At least, I would have been. He'd have made a big target for Zach. he'd have helped us for sure. Instead, he was forced to retire.

If we start the season with a qb2 that the head coach and oc have no faith/confidence to have him run the offence if ZC can’t, big fail.

I'd bring him in only after TC. If they end up having zero confidence in any of the guys they bring to camp, then sure...go and get him. But otherwise, I think it would be a waste

Evans is a particularly sad case- talented, athletic but too often unable to cope.

Evans is a particularly sad case- talented, athletic but too often unable to cope.

Ya my initial thought on Masoli is the exact same as wbbfan... Love him "around" but not sure if ever want to see him on the field. He's been cooked and done for years now... But I love who he was back in the day and feel like maybe he has something to teach younger QBs. I don't remember Tyrie at all... But honestly at this point I think they're letting Wilson and the UFL guy battle it out for 2.

Adams and Evans are the only two that make sense really. Decent enough with some potential to unlock still.

Masoli wouldn't be my choice but if someone had to come in off the bench and run a CFL offense I think I he could still make plays. But given we still have Wilson I don't think it's that critical.
I agree with Tyree Adams being the better fit at this time. If only just to bring him as a camp arm and see if he's recovered.

Okay, thanks for going into it with a bit more detail. Not fitting in could mean a lot of negative connotations. I'll say this after watching our DL the past 3 seasons & the way it has been stocked & coached, it was a fricking disaster. I'd take an aging Mauldin as even if he was slipping in his performance, he'd have been better than what we had.

Doesn't make a big difference who is at which T. I think Broxton is likely to stay in the spot, but marty will figure all that out if he hasn't already.
Im a big believer in wallace, I hope he continues his trajectory. With a competent Centre, I think the guards will thrive who ever we plug in.
The D is going to struggle with the K/KR KIs, likely a DB and if we go with the token Lber. I hope we start griffen and go with a canadian/vaval if he steps up as the back up dbs. Then use a DI on the DL
Im pretty confident in Eli. I do have some concerns with his struggles in pass pro at G, but some guys just dont change position well, and he played with an awful C. I also like vibert alot. My primary concern with our OL, is not losing young guys who have shown soo much and have tremendous ceiling. Rando, wallace, and Vanterpool should be long term pieces.

Don't worry about that, no intelligence of any kind to be found. 😉
The OL glut is as much a concern as it is an asset. We will have to manage that position expertly, or get extremely lucky. I really don't want to lose Rando, Vanterpool, or Wallace. But Bryant is integral to continuity in our OL.
This will be the biggest position to watch of camp for me. And a huge success indicator for us.
The easiest solution might be to go 4 imps for 1 year. If we go with Broxton, Randolph, Bryant, Vanterpool, and Neufeld, we will likely dominate opposition DLs on talent alone. Basically, as long as Neufeld isnt at T, any alignment could succeed.

Qb, Zach. Back up, TBD. Guy to watch, Perkins. He could go anywhere from qb2 to cut early in camp. Step up or step out, guys, Chase and Wilson.
Need level is High for a vet backup, and a young guy who progresses.
Rb, Brady. Back up Peterson/MCI. MCI is pretty locked in for his versatility, but this is the time we need to see him step forward as a ball carrier. Sleeper, JJ Taylor. Legit NFL guy in a very deep backs room, with the wrong passport.
The need level is very low. Wouldn't be against drafting an interesting back in the late rounds to keep guys being pushed. Don't expect more than that.
Wr, imps. White and Wilson as starters. Guys to watch, Banks (another legit NFL guy with great measurables)
Need level, medium. We are likely flipping the ratio, but we at least need guys who push both NI and Imps for their spots.
Wr Nis. Demski, Nield, and Clercius as starters. Clericius at that group needs to solidify his spot more than he should have to as well. Guys who need to step up and will likely be pushed by a draft pick(s), Corcoran, and Cobb.
Need level, Medium-High. We have a lot of meh; we need more quality and athleticism.
T, Starters, Broxton, Bryant, Randolph. More guys than spots can be a good thing. In this group, Bryant and Randolph should be fighting for the 2nd spot. One might slide in side—chances we DI an OL after that are pretty low. Back-ups, Stewart, and Poncius are league guys with upside. New guys to watch, Dooley, and the returning Elsbury, who has a ton of potential.
Need level: Very low.
G, Starters, Neufeld, Wallace, Vanterpool, and Randolph. Way more bodies than spots here. Wallace should be a lock to at least be the 6th OL, as he has snapped and worked some C in camp here. Vanterpool has been much better at G than Rando, but Rando has more upside, and long-term is an RT here. We've got some young guys, but for Imps, the chance of jumping up to the top 2-3 on that list is basically impossible.
Need level: Low. You always need to be developing Canadian OL, but that's really its own thing as well. PR spot is fine, we still likely draft an OL high at G for that spot.
C, Starter, Eli. Back up, Vibert. Our thinnest position on the OL. But there is a chance we actually flip the ratio at C, not G. Vanterpool could be a candidate for that, as could rookies like Bucky Williams, Zovon, and Mazzucca.
Need level, medium-high. Need someone to step up and take that spot. We have lots of guys who could do it; we just need one to actually follow through in camp.

DE, starters WJ. Fringe, Jenkins, and Jaworski. Guys to watch: Bailey, Bogle, and Dixon. Fletcher and Jaworski also have some ability to play 3t, and do more in 30 fronts with their size and builds. Especially Fletcher.
Need, very strong. We have some guy, but we need more. And we need all the ends to step up this year.
DT, Starters, Lawson, and Ceresna. Back-ups Schmekel and Kornelson. Schemekel brings a lot of versatility and motor, a career overachiever who probably doesn't have another step up in terms of quality in him. Kornelson is a warm body at best. The rest of the depth so far is really tied up in guys like Fletcher, who are tweeners.
Need level, Medium. We need guys to step up and provide depth, and we need to bring in some true inside DL to push in camp.
Lbers, starters, Jones, JSK, Kyrie. Needs to step up to stick around, Kyrie, Ayers, and Jones should be close to that list too. Young guys to watch: Smith, Shay, and Novak. Those 3 are basically locks to make the roster, but a 2nd year step forward would have them more than ready to steal jobs. Sleeper list, Bouyer-Randle (legit NFL guy) Aaron smith (versatile big play guy), Micah Cretsinger (play maker 5 defensive tds, 2FR, 7 FF, 10PKDs, 10 picks, 7.5 sacks, 32.5 TFL, 271 tackles in 44 games) Johnny Hodges (he played 16 games at NAVY... you know hes making this damn roster.)
Need level: extremely low. But this draft has a bunch of teams' guys who roster as lbers, and you can bet we will draft at least 1.
DBs, starters, Nichols, Holm, Kramdi, and Moxey. Vets who started and will be battling to keep/win a primary role, Griffin, Allen, and Woodbey internally, plus outside the team league guys in Lamont, McGhee, and Javier. We also have Mccuthcheon who was on NFL PRs for a couple of years, and Javaris Davis, who was signed to play last year but didn't report, and was extended late last year. He played a couple of years in the NFL and some time in the XFL. He looks to have been out of football for a couple of years and is 29 years old. Which you just don't see up here or with us in DBs.
K, Sergio is excellent. An extra leg in camp is always a good idea.
P, Sheahan was much more reliable last year. We should still look to bring in competition. I'd be happy to bring back James Evans from last year.
KR, Vaval is coming in with a ton of expectation. We could use a contingency plan for him if he struggles in year 2 after such an insane rookie year.
Overall, we still have needs at Imp WR, DE/DT, C, and backup QB. Draft-wise, we need Canadians who can step into starting roles in the future. We have solid back-end of the roster depth, and lots of teams guys.

I think the possibility is there for Zach to have a rennaissance season with Tommy Condell. We all thought Trevor Harris was finished but he was elite last season. The question is at age 40/41 can he keep doing it? Zach is 37. Turning 38 this season, can he do the same? Yes, it'll be interesting.

Several players from the 2025 team were not re-signed and hit free agency, including:
Chris Streveler (QB)
Dalton Schoen (WR)
Dillon Mitchell (WR)
Jerreth Sterns (WR)
Kody Case (WR)
Eric Lofton (OL)
James Vaughters (DE)
Jamal Woods (DT)
Shayne Gauthier (LB)
Terrell Bonds (DB)


Does Jake Thomas have a seeing-eye dog?

THE LATEST FROM CHAT

Here’s a clear analysis of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers’ personnel changes so far for the 2026 season (mainly the 2025-26 offseason and early 2026 roster moves). I’ll break it into: key additions, key departures, re-signings, and overall impact on the team.
1. Major Additions (Free Agency / Signings)
The Bombers were more aggressive than usual in free agency, targeting a few high-quality players rather than signing many depth pieces.
Impact additions
Jarell Broxton (OL) – considered one of the top CFL free agents available.
Jake Ceresna (DL) – a proven pass-rushing defensive tackle added to boost the interior rush.
Tim White (WR) – explosive receiver who can stretch the field.
Jonathan Moxey (DB) – experienced defensive back.
Tommy Nield (WR) – Canadian depth receiver.
Jovan Santos-Knox (LB) – veteran linebacker signing.
Development / NFL-background additions
Michael Fletcher (DE) – former NFL camp player with pass-rush potential.
Aaron Smith (LB) – young linebacker prospect.
Robert Javier (DB) – defensive depth with NFL and CFL experience.
What this means
Strong emphasis on defensive front + offensive line improvement
Added speed and depth at receiver
2. Key Re-Signings (Maintaining the Core)
Winnipeg’s strategy still revolves around keeping its championship core together.
Important extensions include:
Willie Jefferson (DE)
Stanley Bryant (LT)
Brady Oliveira (RB)
Nic Demski (WR)
Patrick Neufeld (OL)
Evan Holm (DB)
Deatrick Nichols (DB)
Many of these players were pending free agents but were re-signed before or during free agency to keep continuity.
Impact:
The Bombers still have the same leadership spine that powered their Grey Cup runs.
3. Notable Departures / Free Agents
Several players from the 2025 team were not re-signed and hit free agency, including:
Chris Streveler (QB)
Dalton Schoen (WR)
Dillon Mitchell (WR)
Jerreth Sterns (WR)
Kody Case (WR)
Eric Lofton (OL)
James Vaughters (DE)
Jamal Woods (DT)
Shayne Gauthier (LB)
Terrell Bonds (DB)
Many of these players had contracts expire after the 2025 season.
Biggest impact:
The receiver group saw heavy turnover
Some depth on the defensive line and secondary left
4. Position-by-Position Impact
Offense
QB
Zach Collaros remains the starter.
Depth behind him is still developing.
RB
Brady Oliveira extended → keeps the run game elite.
WR
Significant turnover.
New players like Tim White and Tommy Nield could change the offensive style.
Offensive Line
Broxton signing strengthens interior protection.
Veterans like Bryant and Neufeld maintain stability.
Defense
Defensive Line
Addition of Jake Ceresna is huge for interior pressure.
Willie Jefferson still anchors the edge.
Linebacker
Added depth with Santos-Knox and Aaron Smith.
Secondary
Mostly retained core players but added depth signings like Javier.
5. Overall Offseason Strategy
The Bombers’ approach can be summarized as:
1️⃣ Reload, not rebuild
They kept the core of the Grey Cup era.
2️⃣ Improve trenches
Major focus on OL and DL upgrades.
3️⃣ Reset the receiver room
Let multiple receivers walk and brought in new talent.
6. Early Offseason Grade (Analyst Perspective)
Strengths
Stronger offensive line
More pass rush inside
Core leadership intact
Concerns
Receiver chemistry still unknown
Aging defensive core
QB depth behind Collaros
Overall early grade:
A- / B+ offseason — many analysts say Winnipeg was one of the most effective teams in CFL free agency.
✅ Bottom line:
The Bombers didn’t overhaul the roster—they retooled around the same championship core, strengthened the trenches, and refreshed the receiving corps to push for another Grey Cup run.

New Players Who Could Become Stars
These are the most likely breakout players from the new additions or younger talent.
1️⃣ Tim White (WR)
Why he could explode
Elite speed and route running
Already proven in the CFL with big seasons
Winnipeg lacked explosive deep threats last year
Potential impact
Could become the team’s #1 receiver
1,200+ yard season is realistic.
2️⃣ Jake Ceresna (DT)
One of the best interior defensive linemen in the CFL.
Why he matters
Interior pass rush collapses pockets
Makes life easier for Willie Jefferson off the edge
Potential impact
6–10 sacks from the DT position
Could become a Defensive Player of the Year candidate
3️⃣ Jarell Broxton (OL)
A massive offensive lineman added to strengthen protection.
Why he’s important
Improves pass protection for Collaros
Creates better run lanes for Oliveira
Potential impact
Could become one of the CFL’s top guards quickly
4️⃣ Jaylen Smith (LB)
Young Canadian linebacker drafted in 2025.
Led his college team in tackles
Athletic and versatile defender
Potential impact
Could develop into a future starting linebacker and Canadian ratio piece
5️⃣ Ontaria Wilson (WR)
Young receiver already showing promise.
Why he’s interesting
Good size and speed
Could benefit from defenses focusing on Demski and White
Potential impact
Breakout candidate with 800–1000 yards
🔎 Overall Outlook for 2026
Strengths
Elite run game (Oliveira)
Strong defensive front (Jefferson + Ceresna)
Veteran offensive line
Question marks
Aging core
Receiver chemistry with new players
Depth behind Collaros
Projected 2026 Winnipeg Blue Bombers Starting Lineup
(Projection based on roster and free-agency additions — actual starters will depend on training camp battles.)
Offense
QB — Zach Collaros
Still the franchise quarterback and offensive leader heading into 2026.
RB — Brady Oliveira
The offense revolves around his running and receiving ability.
WR — Tim White (NEW)
Major free-agent addition and likely deep-threat receiver.
WR — Ontaria Wilson
Young receiver who flashed big-play ability last season.
SB — Nic Demski
Top Canadian receiver and one of the most versatile offensive players.
SB — Tommy Nield (NEW)
Canadian receiver added in free agency who could play a ratio role.
LT — Stanley Bryant
Veteran anchor of the offensive line.
LG — Jarell Broxton (NEW)
Winnipeg’s biggest free-agent signing and expected starter immediately.
C — Chris Kolankowski
RG — Patrick Neufeld
RT — Micah Vanterpool
Defense
DE — Willie Jefferson
Still one of the CFL’s most dominant defensive players.
DT — Jake Ceresna (NEW)
All-star defensive tackle who should boost interior pass rush.
DT — Jake Thomas
DE — TyJuan Garbutt
WLB — Jovan Santos-Knox (NEW)
Veteran linebacker brought in during free agency.
MLB — Kyrie Wilson
SLB — Redha Kramdi
Secondary
CB — Deatrick Nichols
HB — Jamal Parker
HB — Jonathan Moxey (NEW)
CB — Ridge Texada
S — Brandon Alexander
Special Teams
K — Sergio Castillo
P — Jamieson Sheahan
Returner — Tim White
⭐ New Blue Bombers Who Could Become Stars
1️⃣ Tim White (WR)
One of the biggest offensive additions.
Why he could break out:
Proven CFL playmaker with elite speed
Can stretch the field vertically
Could become the Bombers’ primary big-play receiver
Possible impact:
1,000+ receiving yards
Elite return specialist
2️⃣ Jake Ceresna (DT)
One of the best defensive tackles in the CFL.
Why he matters:
Interior pressure makes life easier for Willie Jefferson
Disrupts both run and pass plays
Possible impact:
6–10 sacks
Potential All-CFL candidate
3️⃣ Jarell Broxton (OL)
Winnipeg’s most important offensive line signing.
Why he could become elite:
Already an All-CFL level lineman before joining Winnipeg
Strengthens both pass protection and the run game
Impact:
Could become one of the best guards in the league
4️⃣ Key’Shawn Smith (WR)
Young receiver with NFL experience who joined the Bombers in 2026.
Why he’s interesting:
Former SMU star with strong college production
Speedy receiver with return ability
Potential:
Training camp breakout candidate
📊 Overall 2026 Outlook
Strengths
Elite running back (Oliveira)
Strong veteran offensive line
Improved defensive front with Ceresna
Biggest question
Receiver chemistry after roster turnover
Expectation
Still a Grey Cup contender if the new receivers produce.

This offseason feels way too long..🏈

We only made the playoffs last year because Edmonton chose the wrong QB to start the season.

In my day, we used to work for a nickel, which had a picture of a bee on it. Give me five bees for a quarter, we'd say....