Blue Bombers - 2025 Regular Season - Discussion Thread

[Bigblue204]

They were 2-6 last year. 4-4 isn't the worst. Lots of work to do, but they haven't played their best ball yet.

You're all living in CFL Fantasy football land if think Collaros is going anywhere at this point in the season. I swear most of you forget who is running this team even while complaining about them. I'd bet 5 years salary Collaros is a Blue Bomber on Dec 1st. 

All this talk about his contract next year, but anyone have any actual numbers on it? Any kind of guaranteed money? I know these questions don't fit the "His contract is too big narrative" but I've yet to hear what his extension was for.

[Booch]

2 minutes ago, Bigblue204 said:

They were 2-6 last year. 4-4 isn't the worst. Lots of work to do, but they haven't played their best ball yet.

You're all living in CFL Fantasy football land if think Collaros is going anywhere at this point in the season. I swear most of you forget who is running this team even while complaining about them. I'd bet 5 years salary Collaros is a Blue Bomber on Dec 1st. 

All this talk about his contract next year, but anyone have any actual numbers on it? Any kind of guaranteed money? I know these questions don't fit the "His contract is too big narrative" but I've yet to hear what his extension was for.

I'm sure it's for top dollar....Not Rourke STUPID 600K+  amount but prob top 2 or 3 in league tho and 500k ball park....which is too much based on what we have seen even last yr already

Isnt Brown a free agent this winter?....They should target him and if land him try and trade ZC or just cut him free before any signing bonus due....A healthy Strev as the backup/tandem guy with Brown would be a nice pair...Thats with a new OC mind you

[Bigblue204]

1 minute ago, Booch said:

I'm sure it's for top dollar....Not Rourke STUPID 600K+  amount but prob top 2 or 3 in league tho and 500k ball park....which is too much based on what we have seen even last yr already

Isnt Brown a free agent this winter?....They should target him and if land him try and trade ZC or just cut him free before any signing bonus due....A healthy Strev as the backup/tandem guy with Brown would be a nice pair...Thats with a new OC mind you

The biggest factor imo is the guaranteed money. I don't care how much it's for as long as there is basically zero guarantees behind it.

[rebusrankin]

6 minutes ago, Bigblue204 said:

They were 2-6 last year. 4-4 isn't the worst. Lots of work to do, but they haven't played their best ball yet.

You're all living in CFL Fantasy football land if think Collaros is going anywhere at this point in the season. I swear most of you forget who is running this team even while complaining about them. I'd bet 5 years salary Collaros is a Blue Bomber on Dec 1st. 

All this talk about his contract next year, but anyone have any actual numbers on it? Any kind of guaranteed money? I know these questions don't fit the "His contract is too big narrative" but I've yet to hear what his extension was for.

There have been no numbers released on Collaros's contract for next year. Seeing as he's finishing up a 3 year deal where he made 600k per year, its hard to see it being lower than that. Given his play last season and this season, that is too high. Given what other QBs (Adams, Harris, Brown, Mitchell) are making its way to high. If he got down to 450k, that would be in line with Adams and Harris but truthfully, a little too high imo. If its for 375k like Mitchell is making this year, I'd be more ok with it. My speculation is that his 2026 salary is for 600k though.

[wbbfan]

5 minutes ago, Bigblue204 said:

The biggest factor imo is the guaranteed money. I don't care how much it's for as long as there is basically zero guarantees behind it.

You just said he isn't going to be cut. So realistically, all his dollars are guaranteed. 

It sounded like they ran back the terms from this year of his deal. So I would expect 600k, with an off season roster bonus in the 100k range. 

[Bigblue204]

2 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

You just said he isn't going to be cut. So realistically, all his dollars are guaranteed. 

It sounded like they ran back the terms from this year of his deal. So I would expect 600k, with an off season roster bonus in the 100k range. 

I meant this year. There is absolutely no way he's leaving this year. Next year is a different story.

[GCn20]

3 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

You just said he isn't going to be cut. So realistically, all his dollars are guaranteed. 

It sounded like they ran back the terms from this year of his deal. So I would expect 600k, with an off season roster bonus in the 100k range. 

Everyone clamoring for a different QB. Who?

[wbbfan]

14 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

Everyone clamoring for a different QB. Who?

 Unfortunately, the round of musical chairs has ended at qb in the cfl, and we are left in a bad spot. I think Edmonton is the only team in the league as un sure of its qbing present/future. I don’t think any other team in the league would want to be in our position. 
 That’s why I think our best chance at a shake up is trading Chris. If you can get a Powell, mbt, etc back up and deal with hogan that’s the best shot we’ve got. 
I like Strev and I think he could give us a solid offence if built around properly. But we don’t have any of the building blocks or system. 
 
I don’t think we are just in trouble this year at qb either. I don’t see any one we could get in the offseason that is a real qb1. I think we are going to be looking at guys like arbuckle for a while. 
 

In this era of the cfl, you can’t really expect the better teams to develop your next wave of QBs like we used to. They’d develop em, and if they didn’t take starting spots bad teams would give them a chance. The pipeline is soo dry that’s an extreme rarity now. 
 It only gets worse with us being very hesitant to pull starters and give young guys a shot even in blow outs. 
 

37 minutes ago, Bigblue204 said:

I meant this year. There is absolutely no way he's leaving this year. Next year is a different story.

what do you think changes next year? We already locked him up. We should be looking at him but unless we see a mafia shake up I don’t think that happens. 

[Brandon]

50 minutes ago, Booch said:

I'm sure it's for top dollar....Not Rourke STUPID 600K+  amount but prob top 2 or 3 in league tho and 500k ball park....which is too much based on what we have seen even last yr already

Isnt Brown a free agent this winter?....They should target him and if land him try and trade ZC or just cut him free before any signing bonus due....A healthy Strev as the backup/tandem guy with Brown would be a nice pair...Thats with a new OC mind you

Ummm.... 

https://3downnation.com/2025/05/23/winnipeg-blue-bombers-sign-qb-zach-collaros-to-contract-extension-through-2026/

Quote

Collaros signed a three-year agreement in October 2022 with the Bombers which was set to expire after the 2025 season. He’s earned $600,000 annually throughout, totalling $1.8 million.

More then likely it's 600+.  I highly doubt he is taking a pay cut.  

 

[Brandon]

2 hours ago, GCn20 said:

Amazing what losing does to a fan bases common sense. "We are losing this is awful but I would significantly downgrade our starting QB to save money that we can't really spend right now because there is nothing worth it." Geez Louise.  People here expecting high level QBing on the cheap and it just doesn't happen all that often.

A reminder that they extended him for next season as well!  The reason I want him gone is so that we do have money to spend next season on a starting QB OR other impact players.     

Zach has been playing at the bottom level of the starters for 2 seasons in a row.  Why would we pay a premium for a 3rd straight year when you can start Strev or almost any other guy and get similar results at a much lower price?   For the record Tre Ford and Jake Maier have better QB ratings then Zach this and last season despite playing on crappier teams. 

[Bigblue204]

27 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

what do you think changes next year? We already locked him up. We should be looking at him but unless we see a mafia shake up I don’t think that happens. 

"locked up" can be used very loosely until we know there is guaranteed money. No guarantee leaves a lot of options open.

[Blue In BC]

2 hours ago, Booch said:

is any other starter in this league a downgrade from ZC.....I'd say no

with this current lineup...mlostly offensive side of ball as defence needs maybe 1...2 tweeks, and the coaching we got going on...we are in no way a legit threat to win the cup....heck even make the playoffs....so sadly we should be doing a good bulk of what needs to be done next yr....now...and be that much further ahead once camp opens

 

well 200...or 250k of it was payed upfront....so take a third of that value off whats left...so not like a team is eating a whole whack of extra salary all of a sudden...just prorated balance of whatever is left in regards to games played....be an easy flip

Except we don't know the details for 2026 or whether there is significant guaranteed money etc. As far as 2025 if a 1/3 was paid upfront that still leaves $400K over the last 12 games. That's still not something any team will want. It will also need a season ending injury to VAJ, Rourke or Harris to have interest.

I don't see that as an easy flip, nor do I see interest even if there is a season ending injury. Here we are suggesting Collaros is " done " but other teams will be happy to get him and his giant contract? 

Edited 3 hours ago by Blue In BC

[JuranBoldenRules]

11 minutes ago, Blue In BC said:

Except we don't know the details for 2026 or whether there is significant guaranteed money etc. As far as 2025 if a 1/3 was paid upfront that still leaves $400K over the last 12 games. That's still not something any team will want. It will also need a season ending injury to VAJ, Rourke or Harris to have interest.

I don't see that as an easy flip, nor do I see interest even if there is a season ending injury. Here we are suggesting Collaros is " done " but other teams will be happy to get him and his giant contract? 

And here we are with what as the other options?

A guy who is so busted up he can barely fall forward on a wedge play these days?

[Booch]

1 hour ago, Bigblue204 said:

The biggest factor imo is the guaranteed money. I don't care how much it's for as long as there is basically zero guarantees behind it.

its a one yr deal right?...so I think to have a guarantee portion it needs to be 3 yr deal....but I could be wrong

[rebusrankin]

So our options for 2026 are what:

A declining Collaros at potentially high QB 1 $

Streveler who is limited as a passer and potentially no longer has the mobility he once had

A youngster like Powell

Older vet such as MBT or Fajardo

I mean if it was me I'd go Powell because I like potential and upside.

[Booch]

1 hour ago, Brandon said:

Ummm.... 

https://3downnation.com/2025/05/23/winnipeg-blue-bombers-sign-qb-zach-collaros-to-contract-extension-through-2026/

More then likely it's 600+.  I highly doubt he is taking a pay cut.  

 

ouch

39 minutes ago, Bigblue204 said:

"locked up" can be used very loosely until we know there is guaranteed money. No guarantee leaves a lot of options open.

we know how this team works tho...a vet if signed before the season is basically locked up...also gauranteed to be starting in said position...I think if we can get assets for him this yr that will help us this yr...and next...we take that shot...especially if we are wallowing in 4th place

28 minutes ago, Blue In BC said:

Except we don't know the details for 2026 or whether there is significant guaranteed money etc. As far as 2025 if a 1/3 was paid upfront that still leaves $400K over the last 12 games. That's still not something any team will want. It will also need a season ending injury to VAJ, Rourke or Harris to have interest.

I don't see that as an easy flip, nor do I see interest even if there is a season ending injury. Here we are suggesting Collaros is " done " but other teams will be happy to get him and his giant contract? 

yeah...I think we are stuck in a bad spot to be honest.....very bad foresight 2 yrs ago

[Booch]

16 minutes ago, JuranBoldenRules said:

And here we are with what as the other options?

A guy who is so busted up he can barely fall forward on a wedge play these days?

he wont be like that in 2026 tho....may even be much better late this yr.....Everyone thinks he is what he is post surgery and thats not the case...especially 11 months removed....Judgment cant really be passed until a full camp next yr....actual weapons to throw to...and an OC that has half a brain.....ZC not so much tho...we have seen his slide now for 3 yrs...and he aint getting younger