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

[blue85gold]

26 minutes ago, M.Silverback said:

I'm a broken record about this but RB's are about 7th to 9th in terms of average salary paid by position in the NFL due to availability of replacement level talent and overall impact. Why are we going against a trend run by much smarter and wealthier football organizations? Don't tell me it's because he's Canadian. Yes Canadians get a premium in terms of salary, but a smart team should still be paying that premium at the impact positions based on the bigger, smarter NFL - Dline; WR's; all star OL; QB's if you have a unicorn Canadian star (hopefully we might). This was a decision to appease the fans who value the local community impact over good cap management. 

It's because he's Canadian

[HardCoreBlue]

15 hours ago, Nolby said:

I love the signing but not at that insane money. Man, we better be pairing him with a damn good OC because hes got an enormous contract to live up to.

I'd add to that list a stellar platinum level offensive line along with a violent effective dline to give us an identity as a team heading into 2026.

[Booch]

3 hours ago, rebusrankin said:

Brady and Demski are our only Canadians who are outstanding.

Lawson I think will be in that status...already is and was one of the better interior guys in league in creating pressure and penetrating the pocket...now just imagine if ww would have actually let him have the lions share of the reps, and played him beside legit giys for those reps...as opposed to JT...and JT getting the big reps he got

 

2 hours ago, GCn20 said:

Hanging onto aging vets kills our game day roster, bad contracts kill our overall roster. SMS mismanagement will kill a team faster than anything. Gauthier, Hallett, did zero damage to our roster. Do they need to be replaced? Yea probably but they were STs toiling at near league mins. The only time they impacted us negatively was when we were forced to start them. Jefferson at 200k is another huge overpay. Good teams can't overpay like this. We have a million dollars standing in two spots behind centre, that is not good SMS management. 

Yup....poor allocation of funds for sure....RB and DB...should never et up your SM...If we re-up all of Nichols..Kramdi and Holm...Plus BO and ZC...Thats gonna be like about 1.3 to 1.4 million on 5 guys....thats not good....2 of those DB spots can be had at a combined 200k and we be no worse for wear...we already have guys on even cheaper entry level deals already in house to cover that...Re-Up the vet Nichols....and go shopping, or scouting

If anyone thinks 1.4 million to 5 guys isnt gonna cripple you elsewhere even with a SMS bump is kidding themselves...BO I can justify if he is on some marketing and gonna be the focus of what we do, and is given some help to do it.....But paying 2 DB's whats gonna prob cost us about 300k where we dont need to wont help in getting BO and ZC for that matter some help

Gauthier is likely making a fair bit over 100k and for what he brings now...Shay..Smith...have that covered and I am sure we will find a draft pick or 2 who will contribute nicely on ST's

But canning guys like Hallett..Gauthier...even tho not making huge money...but likely decent money as Canadian vets..Much like JA was making as a ST/backup before he left for Hamilton all helps when you can replace with entry lvel dals

Same with Thomas..Kolo...who made 150k...Thomas not sure but I bet close to that...Vibert takes Kolo spot on entry...Bailey takes Thomas spot on global salary....that extra money would o long way just there in securing a legit FA olineman...or DT who will be a big impact...Bringing back vets like Hallett...Kolo...Thomas..Gauthier..who are not the futer...have zero upside and are all on decline serves no purpose other than block development and eat up more SMS than we need to pay out....hurting us elsewhere

1 hour ago, wbbfan said:

Such a raise off a down year is pretty wild. His production has been going straight down the last 2 years as well. And again, Hogan plus the last year of Buck was brutal. Our ol the year before last was brutal too. Our passing game was atrocious. I don't blame Brady for the drop-off. Paying him an increase after 2 drop-off years is something that almost never happens. A good part of that is the appearance that teams will use the cap increase to fatten the biggest contracts. Part of that is desperation on our end. 

 At the end of the day, we've overpaid a RB, one of the last positions you overpay, when he's coming off an injury and 2 down years, when he is 28 and will be 29 before the end of next year, and yeah, given a rb qb money. 

 

Part of me is happy that Brady will be here for the future. Another part of me is happy for him; he's a great person as well as a player, and all the local kid stuff. A lot of dirtbags have made bank in this league, and are currently. Brady is a great ambassador of our game, league, city/province. It would really suck to see him in another jersey. Harris was bad enough, but he was never the guy Brady is. 

Another part of me is saying, OK, Walters better find a way to dig our ass out of the hole this deal puts us in. I've been the biggest defender of Walters lately. He needs to have one of the best league free agency periods of his career this year.  He needs to churn out another ROTY-calibre kid this year, and he needs the guys poised for progress to take the next step forward. 

BO was hurt going into 2024 yr...and missed time...then strained a knee later in he yr and played less than 100 percent....Got banged up first game last yr and played less than 100 percent again for a lot of the yr....so sure that...and piss poor offensive game planning played a lot into his down yr...but also his style isnt  conducive either to long term career either, so to me this is a risky investment especially being 29 already during the 2026 sesson...with 2 yrs beyond that at 300k....yikes

Hopefully Osh has the sense in his head to deviate away from his iron clad ratio idea and allow for a fast/shifty RB who can make people miss, and runs a 4.4...4.5 40 to play in backfield at same time as BO to take focus away from him and limit his abuse....

1 hour ago, blue85gold said:

If the team is paying Brady this much then they need to lean into an offense focused through him and take advantage of having a Cdn RB by playing another American on offense. Either go three American Olineman or play 4 American receivers. No need to trot out a crappy Cdn centre/guard or Cdn receiver that is no threat to do anything. 

yup....and alogns with my post and Osh's rigid use of ratio...he aint helping us in any way when guys get hurt and he just stays the course with a sub par Canadian....plus the act he feels this need to play more than he has to..which as well doesnt make sense

40 minutes ago, Mike said:

The reality with Brady’s deal is that you really need to know what the cap hit is in order to talk about whether the deal is good or not. In the new CFL, with the marketing money, I don’t think we’re really going to know that early on after a signing so you have to play a bit of a wait and see.

That being said, there are two things that (imo) should be getting talked about more with regards to this deal.

1. This contract makes very little sense at the reported cost (even if you build in 100k of marketing money) if we still insist on playing more than the required amount of Canadians. We’re essentially paying him regardless of passport at that point, which makes this deal awful

2. Lots of people haven’t had their mindset catch up to the reality of the new CFL and the cap figures. The cap hasn’t just gone up, but teams are shifting more to youthful American OL which means less money is being tied up in unmentioned Canadian OL and more is being invested in big name splash Canadians.

Everyone talks about Brady and his big deal, but nobody blinked twice 10 years ago when guys like Tyson Pencer and Chris Kowalczuk were making six figures as middling (that’s generous) Canadian OL.

Canadian football is developing, which means more guys can play at premium positions, which means the “you gotta have 4-5 Canadian OL” mentality has kind of gone by the wayside. The money getting distributed has changed a bit as a result.

(one last thing, anyone who thinks Gauthier or Hallett make near league minimum are WAY off)

agreed....I mentioned they were making north of 100k...Thomas who knows...but fact they not reported it anywhere that I have found says he is grossly overpayed.....

Canadians get payed for sure...but you also have to look at where you can overpay and where you can get same bang for your buck on a lesser paid American...RB not being one...And if you choose to back him up with a Canadian...good luck finding one who gives the same production...and if you do...He's being payed premium as well...so you basically kick yourself in the nuts twice

47 minutes ago, Super Duper Negatron said:

I feel like the drop off from Brady to another decent back is probably small enough that we could have used that $150k somewhere else.

you can get tha same production...and likely a better homerun hitter with an American for less than half that cost....and if you are good in scouting at entry level

And for what BO can do and really make hay...inside the 10...we almost everytime go away from him and someone else scavanges the TD....If you have a back making 300k and are 1st and 10 inside the 10...or 5 yard line then he should be able to hit paydirt repeatedly with 3 shots at it....and he rarely gets 3 shots at it...may times he doesnt even get 1....so all that money...and you dont use him...make that make sense

35 minutes ago, HardCoreBlue said:

I'd add to that list a stellar platinum level offensive line along with a violent effective dline to give us an identity as a team heading into 2026.

thats exactly what we need...A violent....active and athletic dline that just gets after it...play after play....7 to 8 solid guys just goin to town...hmmmm sounds like 2019...2021....we won then eh?

Look what Philly did to K,C last yr.....T.O to us in 

 

[rebusrankin]

So with the extra $50,000 for Brady, what if they off set it by going American at C? A rookie american makes $80,000 versus Kolo's cost (pretty sure he was at least $130,000). Balances the $ and you're likely better too.

[wbbfan]

I thought kramdi would test fa and maybe end up back home. 

 Very busy december for walters so far 

[Goalie]

6 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

I thought kramdi would test fa and maybe end up back home. 

 Very busy december for walters so far 

Really. Solid signing there also. We need to improve our Canadian depth not let starters walk away. Kramdi is an above average cdn starter who is apparently smart and versatile. Another solid signing. 
 

just don’t follow these with Thomas kolo and the sorts. You can improve on them. I don’t think you can on Brady Lawson Kramdi Demski uhh who else we got…. Yeah. Drawing the blanks for legit Canadian starters. Clercius? Neufeld maybe. Maybe convert him to center tho ?? 
 

ya. Needs improvement 

Edited 4 hours ago by Goalie

[Goalie]

https://www.bluebombers.com/2025/12/16/blue-bombers-sign-redha-kramdi-to-two-year-contract-extension/

[Slimy Sculpin]

2 hours ago, Mike said:

The reality with Brady’s deal is that you really need to know what the cap hit is in order to talk about whether the deal is good or not. In the new CFL, with the marketing money, I don’t think we’re really going to know that early on after a signing so you have to play a bit of a wait and see.

That being said, there are two things that (imo) should be getting talked about more with regards to this deal.

1. This contract makes very little sense at the reported cost (even if you build in 100k of marketing money) if we still insist on playing more than the required amount of Canadians. We’re essentially paying him regardless of passport at that point, which makes this deal awful

2. Lots of people haven’t had their mindset catch up to the reality of the new CFL and the cap figures. The cap hasn’t just gone up, but teams are shifting more to youthful American OL which means less money is being tied up in unmentioned Canadian OL and more is being invested in big name splash Canadians.

Everyone talks about Brady and his big deal, but nobody blinked twice 10 years ago when guys like Tyson Pencer and Chris Kowalczuk were making six figures as middling (that’s generous) Canadian OL.

Canadian football is developing, which means more guys can play at premium positions, which means the “you gotta have 4-5 Canadian OL” mentality has kind of gone by the wayside. The money getting distributed has changed a bit as a result.

(one last thing, anyone who thinks Gauthier or Hallett make near league minimum are WAY off)

Amen to point no. 1. I just don't get O'Shea with his "philosophy" of starting more Canadians than required. (just one of several issues I have with his "philosophy".)

[GCn20]

1 hour ago, Goalie said:

https://www.bluebombers.com/2025/12/16/blue-bombers-sign-redha-kramdi-to-two-year-contract-extension/

Glad to see that the NATs are being secured.

[Super Duper Negatron]

[Slimy Sculpin]

1 hour ago, Goalie said:

Really. Solid signing there also. We need to improve our Canadian depth not let starters walk away. Kramdi is an above average cdn starter who is apparently smart and versatile. Another solid signing. 
 

just don’t follow these with Thomas kolo and the sorts. You can improve on them. I don’t think you can on Brady Lawson Kramdi Demski uhh who else we got…. Yeah. Drawing the blanks for legit Canadian starters. Clercius? Neufeld maybe. Maybe convert him to center tho ?? 
 

ya. Needs improvement 

Now, if someone would teach him that his arms can be useful for tackling.......

[GCn20]

1 hour ago, wbbfan said:

I thought kramdi would test fa and maybe end up back home. 

 Very busy december for walters so far 

As it should be, maybe even to a far greater extent. We spent well below the SMS last year by my math so spending it now is the least he could do.

1 hour ago, Goalie said:

Really. Solid signing there also. We need to improve our Canadian depth not let starters walk away. Kramdi is an above average cdn starter who is apparently smart and versatile. Another solid signing. 
 

just don’t follow these with Thomas kolo and the sorts. You can improve on them. I don’t think you can on Brady Lawson Kramdi Demski uhh who else we got…. Yeah. Drawing the blanks for legit Canadian starters. Clercius? Neufeld maybe. Maybe convert him to center tho ?? 
 

ya. Needs improvement 

Heard via the grape vine that Thomas is likely to retire. Take it with a grain of salt, but a friend of mine connected to the Bomber's training staff seems pretty convinced he's hanging them up. Hope for the best on that one.

[wbbfan]

2 minutes ago, GCn20 said:

As it should be, maybe even to a far greater extent. We spent well below the SMS last year by my math so spending it now is the least he could do.

I'm very curious as to how much we stayed under the cap. It would make a lot of sense that we have been using a lot of this year's cap on these extensions. 

I'd love to know how much each team spends on starting, and candians as a whole in the sms. 

[GCn20]

2 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

I'm very curious as to how much we stayed under the cap. It would make a lot of sense that we have been using a lot of this year's cap on these extensions. 

I'd love to know how much each team spends on starting, and candians as a whole in the sms. 

Yea...it's about time they start giving us this information. Hard to play armchair GM without it ...lol. I am just looking at the amount of 6 game stints we had with high price guys and Walters did bupkus to spend any of it during the season.

Edited 3 hours ago by GCn20

[rebusrankin]

I'd love to see the CFL publish salary information like every other sports league.

[Booch]

1 hour ago, rebusrankin said:

So with the extra $50,000 for Brady, what if they off set it by going American at C? A rookie american makes $80,000 versus Kolo's cost (pretty sure he was at least $130,000). Balances the $ and you're likely better too.

KOLO pulled in 150k last yr

[Booch]

Would rather have seen one of Nichols or Holm re-upped first....and at best only 2 of the 3....so do we sign all 3 and screw our SMS where we dont need to?....as 3 guys in and over 140k in the defensive backfield is a huge over spend....and does this mean Kramdi is defacto starter according to Osh as per history even if he is not needed ratio wise or the best player?...as we currently have 3 guys on roster already who could do the job better and cheaper....paying premium for a guy who isnt top in his class is not good sms management....and playing him cause of what he is making even tho not best option...is poor rostering...who cares how smart he apparently is....doesn't make you good necessarily

[blue85gold]

5 minutes ago, Booch said:

KOLO pulled in 150k last yr

Mike's post above hit the nail on the head. 

Drop the deadweight Cdn's making that much and I have no issue paying top $ for Brady.

[bigg jay]

5 minutes ago, rebusrankin said:

I'd love to see the CFL publish salary information like every other sports league.

They are working on it - both the league & CFLPA says they are open to discussions but we'll see what happens.

CFL, Players' Association open to discussing public salary disclosure - 3DownNation

[HardCoreBlue]

28 minutes ago, Super Duper Negatron said:

Santa drop that pen immediately and slowly walk away with your hands where I can see them.

[Pete]

thus far Walters has signed 3 cdns all in their prime and given Wilson an extension again in his prime. And all 2-3 yr deals.

Kudos for great job.

[17to85]

1 hour ago, GCn20 said:

Heard via the grape vine that Thomas is likely to retire. Take it with a grain of salt, but a friend of mine connected to the Bomber's training staff seems pretty convinced he's hanging them up. Hope for the best on that one.

[GCn20]

29 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

Lol

1 hour ago, Booch said:

Would rather have seen one of Nichols or Holm re-upped first....and at best only 2 of the 3....so do we sign all 3 and screw our SMS where we dont need to?....as 3 guys in and over 140k in the defensive backfield is a huge over spend....and does this mean Kramdi is defacto starter according to Osh as per history even if he is not needed ratio wise or the best player?...as we currently have 3 guys on roster already who could do the job better and cheaper....paying premium for a guy who isnt top in his class is not good sms management....and playing him cause of what he is making even tho not best option...is poor rostering...who cares how smart he apparently is....doesn't make you good necessarily

Kramdi is a player that you and most of the forum disagree on I think. I would rather see him at S though.

[wbbfan]

38 minutes ago, Pete said:

thus far Walters has signed 3 cdns all in their prime and given Wilson an extension again in his prime. And all 2-3 yr deals.

Kudos for great job.

Also, a couple of really good upside free agent gets. 

[GCn20]

3 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Also, a couple of really good upside free agent gets. 

Would be nice but improbable given some of the contract numbers we have already. Unless we shed some salary elsewhere of course. BO was a gross overpay, ZC was already one, and if Kramdi gets what he got last year we are going to be in tough to not only sign talent but to retain what we already have. Unless, the SMS is up of course.

Edited 1 hour ago by GCn20