Blue Bombers -- 2025/26 Offseason -- Discussion Thread

[johnzo]

Per 3downnation, these are our free agents ... basically everyone but Zach, Vaval, Peterson, Clercius, Randolph, Wallace, Pokey Wilson, MCI, Allen, T. Jones, and Leroux the longsnapper.  

Quarterback

Chris Streveler (A)

Running back

Brady Oliveira (N)

Receiver

Kody Case (A)
Nic Demski (N)
Dillon Mitchell (A)
Dalton Schoen (A)
Jerreth Sterns (A)
Keric Wheatfall (A)

OL

Stanley Bryant (A)
Tui Eli (N)
Chris Kolankowski (N)
Eric Lofton (A)
Patrick Neufeld (N)

Defensive line

Willie Jefferson (A)
Cameron Lawson (N)
Tanner Schmekel (N)
Jake Thomas (N)
James Vaughters (A)
Jamal Woods (A)

Linebacker

Tanner Cadwallader (N)
Shayne Gauthier (N)
Kyrie Wilson (A)

Defensive back

Terrell Bonds (A)
Michael Griffin II (A)
Nick Hallett (N)
Evan Holm (A)
Demerio Houston (A)
Redha Kramdi (N)
Enock Makonzo (N)
Deatrick Nichols (A)
Jamal Parker (A)

Specialist

Sergio Castillo (A)
Jamieson Sheahan (G)

Edited 16 hours ago by johnzo

[Brandon]

5 hours ago, johnzo said:

Per 3downnation, these are our free agents ... basically everyone but Zach, Vaval, Peterson, Clercius, Randolph, Wallace, Pokey Wilson, MCI, Allen, T. Jones, and Leroux the longsnapper.  

Quarterback

Chris Streveler (A)

Running back

Brady Oliveira (N)

Receiver

Kody Case (A)
Nic Demski (N)
Dillon Mitchell (A)
Dalton Schoen (A)
Jerreth Sterns (A)
Keric Wheatfall (A)

OL

Stanley Bryant (A)
Tui Eli (N)
Chris Kolankowski (N)
Eric Lofton (A)
Patrick Neufeld (N)

Defensive line

Willie Jefferson (A)
Cameron Lawson (N)
Tanner Schmekel (N)
Jake Thomas (N)
James Vaughters (A)
Jamal Woods (A)

Linebacker

Tanner Cadwallader (N)
Shayne Gauthier (N)
Kyrie Wilson (A)

Defensive back

Terrell Bonds (A)
Michael Griffin II (A)
Nick Hallett (N)
Evan Holm (A)
Demerio Houston (A)
Redha Kramdi (N)
Enock Makonzo (N)
Deatrick Nichols (A)
Jamal Parker (A)

Specialist

Sergio Castillo (A)
Jamieson Sheahan (G)

I bolded the guys that I would like to see come back.   A good year for a big turnover of players (preferably younger guys). 

Brady,  Holm,  Demski,  Nichols are all guys that they really need not cheap out on.  

Cutting old guards like Bryant, Jefferson, and Neufeld should give them some good play money to spend come free agency.  

[SpeedFlex27]

12 hours ago, Brandon said:

I bolded the guys that I would like to see come back.   A good year for a big turnover of players (preferably younger guys). 

Brady,  Holm,  Demski,  Nichols are all guys that they really need not cheap out on.  

Cutting old guards like Bryant, Jefferson, and Neufeld should give them some good play money to spend come free agency.  

Lofton wasn't the problem on our OL & really neither was Bryant. Who says Neufeld can't play Center as Booch suggested so get rid of Kolo. have Eli & Neufeld compete for the starting Center position with the loser being the 6th OL. I think Bryant should retire. Vanterpool played well at Guard. I'd switch him over to Neufeld's spot. We should go after the best LT we can in free agency. That being said, we need to replenish so signing one impact free agent on the line would do us well. 

Our receiving corps needs to vastly improve. other than Wilson & Demski we should revamp. Wheatfall is very inconsistent. He disappears for games on end. If he can continually play at a high level he may become a great receiver. he's worth bringing back. Schoen shouldn't be brought back. Let him go. if he has a great year somewhere else then good for him but as far as our team goes, it's just too risky. 

Oliveira, no question bring back. 

QB? Zach should be back. I'd bring Wilson back but Streveler not a chance. Everything hinges on Elgersma signing. 

Fire Hogan. 

Castillo is a no brainer.

Our problem on the DL wasn't the Ends but the T ckles. We need to cut Thomas. We also need to upgrade with size, skill & physicality on our Interior DL. Another 300 lb plus DT who can control A & B gap ion a 3 or 4 man front. Linebackers. I've seen worse but really could always improve. Our secondary is our strength. Houston to me fit right in there. I'd keep him until someone better comes along. 

Edited 5 hours ago by SpeedFlex27

[Bigblue204]

7 hours ago, Brandon said:

I bolded the guys that I would like to see come back.   A good year for a big turnover of players (preferably younger guys). 

Brady,  Holm,  Demski,  Nichols are all guys that they really need not cheap out on.  

Cutting old guards like Bryant, Jefferson, and Neufeld should give them some good play money to spend come free agency.  

Sterns should be a priority imo. Along with Woods/Vaughters and Jefferson, those guys can still get after it. They just need the right rotation and scheme. Not sure what you see in Bonds. I'd take Houston before him along with Makonzo and Kramdi. Parker can hit the road imo. He's been talked up big on this board but was often a liability out there outside of not being able to stay healthy. They can 100% find a punter better than Sheahan. Especially with the new rules coming, they need to prioritize a guy who kick the ball sky high (on side punts will hopefully be big). 

I'd also bring back every Olineman. No team will be succesful with that amount of turnover on the Oline. It's 100% a recipe for disaster. Bring them back, let them fight it out in camp and ideally you find a body or two there to replace the old timers.

 

[blue85gold]

Not a long list of must sign guys in my opinion:

Running back

Brady Oliveira (N)

Receiver

Nic Demski (N)
 

OL

Stanley Bryant (A) - maybe if he's feeling good and doesn't want tons of $
Tui Eli (N) - not for starter money
 

Defensive line

Cameron Lawson (N) - not  huge money because he can't seem to stay that healthy
 

Defensive back

Michael Griffin II (A)
Evan Holm (A)
Deatrick Nichols (A)
 

Specialist

Sergio Castillo (A) - unless we can get a Cdn or global to stop using a DI spot
 

[wbbfan]

3 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

Lofton wasn't the problem on our OL & really neither was Bryant. Who says Neufeld can't play Center as Booch suggested so get rid of Kolo. have Eli & Neufeld compete for the starting Center position with the loser being the 6th OL. I think Bryant should retire. Vanterpool played well at Guard. I'd switch him over to Neufeld's spot. We should go after the best LT we can in free agency. That being said, we need to replenish so signing one impact free agent on the line would do us well. 

Our receiving corps needs to vastly improve. other than Wilson & Demski we should revamp. Wheatfall is very inconsistent. He disappears for games on end. If he can continually play at a high level he may become a great receiver. he's worth bringing back. Schoen shouldn't be brought back. Let him go. if he has a great year somewhere else then good for him but as far as our team goes, it's just too risky. 

Oliveira, no question bring back. 

QB? Zach should be back. I'd bring Wilson back but Streveler not a chance. Everything hinges on Elgersma signing. 

Fire Hogan. 

Castillo is a no brainer.

Our problem on the DL wasn't the Ends but the T ckles. We need to cut Thomas. We also need to upgrade with size, skill & physicality on our Interior DL. Another 300 lb plus DT who can control A & B gap ion a 3 or 4 man front. Linebackers. I've seen worse but really could always improve. Our secondary is our strength. Houston to me fit right in there. I'd keep him until someone better comes along. 

Just a note, lofton hasn’t figured in this last year. Randolph was the rt starter. Between rando and vanterpool I’m pretty happy with our imp ol talent. Gotta dig up new guys every year, and I think we need to be starting 3 imps minimum 

[SpeedFlex27]

7 hours ago, wbbfan said:

Just a note, lofton hasn’t figured in this last year. Randolph was the rt starter. Between rando and vanterpool I’m pretty happy with our imp ol talent. Gotta dig up new guys every year, and I think we need to be starting 3 imps minimum 

Randolph, yes. Thanks for pointing that out. 

[rebusrankin]

Call me crazy but I would not bring Jefferson back. I don't think he's worth 200k.

[GCn20]

24 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Just a note, lofton hasn’t figured in this last year. Randolph was the rt starter. Between rando and vanterpool I’m pretty happy with our imp ol talent. Gotta dig up new guys every year, and I think we need to be starting 3 imps minimum 

ATM. I'm not seeing how we can compete otherwise. Unless we go big in FA at NAT OL, we don't have the horses in house to be a good OL without 3 IMPs. I would target a good NAT OL if I were Walters replacement.

1 minute ago, rebusrankin said:

Call me crazy but I would not bring Jefferson back. I don't think he's worth 200k.

I'm with you on that. If he takes a shave fine, but not at 200k. Those days are behind him.

1 hour ago, Bigblue204 said:

Sterns should be a priority imo. Along with Woods/Vaughters and Jefferson, those guys can still get after it. They just need the right rotation and scheme. Not sure what you see in Bonds. I'd take Houston before him along with Makonzo and Kramdi. Parker can hit the road imo. He's been talked up big on this board but was often a liability out there outside of not being able to stay healthy. They can 100% find a punter better than Sheahan. Especially with the new rules coming, they need to prioritize a guy who kick the ball sky high (on side punts will hopefully be big). 

I'd also bring back every Olineman. No team will be succesful with that amount of turnover on the Oline. It's 100% a recipe for disaster. Bring them back, let them fight it out in camp and ideally you find a body or two there to replace the old timers.

 

I would not bring back every OL, but you are right a couple newcomers could make all the difference.

Edited 1 hour ago by GCn20