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

[Pete]

17 minutes ago, bigg jay said:

I don't see anyone complaining about Nichols.

Have we heard what the terms are?

Edited 5 hours ago by Pete

[wbbfan]

15 hours ago, Mike said:

We added this guy like two days ago, they obviously “wanted” him and didn’t want anyone else to get him. Wonder if this was a Sunderland find that they wanted to make sure didn’t find his way to Hamilton or something like that. 
 

Dude had video game numbers against a terrible level of competition. 1600 yards and 22 TD in 10 games in 24-25. Went for 15 catches, 390 yards and 5 touchdowns in one game that I can only assume was against the cafeteria staff.

Absolute naia monster. 

Doesn’t have firm pro day numbers. Lots of claims for a low 4.4 40. I don’t see that in the high lights though. He’s quick more than fast, with a top gear in the 40-50 yard range. Don’t see great speed or consistent separation. He has good quicks, but he doesn’t blow the doors off any one. Which is a concern for an under 6’ wr at that level of play. 

He again looks a lot like mcknight. Albeit a rich mans version. He is clearly quicker, and even more polished as a route runner, with elite hands. His ability to track the ball, adjust to it, his body control/balance and catching craft is really tremendous. He has excellent get off moves, though he won’t see the jam here like he did down there. 

He could really benefit from playing in the slot. If he gets the waggle down like schoen it would be a huge aid for his ability to get open. 

I have low expectations for guys like this, if he was 6’4 even with a 4.7 40 he’d probably be kicking around nfl camps and pr. The 5’10 listing also looks very generous. 

Prospects like this are great to bring into camp, in camp you just can’t fall in love with imp wrs who can’t create separation. If he puts together his quicks, the waggle, and route running skill into ability to create space he has a great chance to make it up here. 

19 minutes ago, bigg jay said:

I don't see anyone complaining about Nichols.

great db, i’m pleasantly surprised he’s back. I hope it’s solid value. For my money he’s our best db. 
 I hope we aren’t giving all these guys elite money. 

This is an incredible amount of signings before the holidays. It’d be great if we are using cap space this year to create room next year. 

[bigg jay]

8 minutes ago, Pete said:

Have we heard what the terms are?

No - which is why nobody is complaining! 😂

He didn't have his best season last year in my opinion (still good though) & he's never been one of the highest paid DB's so I can't see him getting a ridiculous contract now. 

[sweep the leg]

28 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

Don’t see great speed or consistent separation. He has good quicks, but he doesn’t blow the doors off any one. Which is a concern for an under 6’ wr at that level of play. 

 

That’s what I saw. Lots of contested catches.

The cb in the first couple of clips looked worse than some of the cbs I see in the CJFL.

Edited 5 hours ago by sweep the leg

[rebusrankin]

I am reserving my complaints for when MBB.com posters compensation information is released. 

[Brandon]

1 hour ago, Pete said:

Ok Ive got to ask the question, is any vet that we have worth what were paying him cause according to posts we'd be hard pressed to field a team of anything but entry level players

On MBB for some reason people think the Bombers have zero money to spend while every other team can sign a team full of vets and star players.     Every season we go through us signing a veteran player and a few people thinking we have zero money to spend elsewhere.    

AFAIK the only bad contract we have now is Zach which is a big one,  but most of the dead weight has been shed or will be off the books this year.     

Edited 5 hours ago by Brandon

[HardCoreBlue]

16 minutes ago, rebusrankin said:

I am reserving my complaints for when MBB.com posters compensation information is released. 

[JuranBoldenRules]

1 hour ago, rebusrankin said:

Nice to see Nichols back.

I do wonder at this point where the club plans to save some money.

I'm not sure why they'd have to.  They didn't spend the increase announced coming up to the season and there's another increase for 2026.

I know everyone is horny about Collaros price tag but it's not outrageous.  Oliviera got offered the exact same contract the last time he was a free agent by BC when the cap was almost 20% lower.  He's won how many league awards since he signed the last one?

Remember when the problem 20 weeks ago was that the Bombers didn't spend enough?

15 hours ago, Bigblue204 said:

Devin Adams signs in SSK. Thats real shitty

I'll miss his one TFL every 8 games and the 4 times a game where he gets turned horizontal in his gap where I get to see the other teams RB bust of a 20+ yard run.

[Booch]

1 hour ago, Pete said:

Ok Ive got to ask the question, is any vet that we have worth what were paying him cause according to posts we'd be hard pressed to field a team of anything but entry level players

 

1 hour ago, sweep the leg said:

We still have several well paid pending free agents. They can’t all be coming back. Willie, Vaughters, and Stan are well over $500k combined. I don’t think any of them are essential anymore.

Thomas, Wilson, and Tony Jones can all be replaced by younger and cheaper guys. 

Add the marketing money and the rising cap and we should be fine to add a few good fas.

Yeah...Purge Kolo...Thomas..Gauthier...Hallett...Vaughters(he was decent but not a diff maker and older) Wilson...T.Jones should by no means be the default starter and if he is outplayed in camp...Shay and Smith take next step....we already have Woodbey, possible FA score we can easily cut him and save money there...so some vet salaries we will be gone from for sure next yr

My belief is Stan will be back but will wait for team to sign some younger key guys and come in at a fair price and wont hold us ransom...and I am more than fine with that...WJ....I think we retain at a tam friendly but fair deal, and believe he still will be a difference maker if used correctly (heavy rotation)  and surrounded by actual guys who can play and take focus off him

 

[Noeller]

20 minutes ago, JuranBoldenRules said:

I'm not sure why they'd have to.  They didn't spend the increase announced coming up to the season and there's another increase for 2026.

I know everyone is horny about Collaros price tag but it's not outrageous.  Oliviera got offered the exact same contract the last time he was a free agent by BC when the cap was almost 20% lower.  He's won how many league awards since he signed the last one?

Remember when the problem 20 weeks ago was that the Bombers didn't spend enough?

I'll miss his one TFL every 8 games and the 4 times a game where he gets turned horizontal in his gap where I get to see the other teams RB bust of a 20+ yard run.

🙏🙏

[Brandon]

I saw this on Facebook,   I guess we can keep Neufeld and Kolankowski on the team.   Good guys!

[Noeller]

When I saw Koala on one of the latest Handled Internally pods, I wondered if that was "telling"....

[Goalie]

37 minutes ago, Brandon said:

I saw this on Facebook,   I guess we can keep Neufeld and Kolankowski on the team.   Good guys!

Meh. Just means they all live here  year round. 

[bigg jay]

1 hour ago, Noeller said:

When I saw Koala on one of the latest Handled Internally pods, I wondered if that was "telling"....

Guess they haven't had "the talk" yet.

57 minutes ago, Goalie said:

Meh. Just means they all live here  year round. 

Not necessarily - you can do community work and not live somewhere full-time.  Kolankowski was nominated for the Jake Gaudaur award last year partly because of the work he does in Ontario (running football camps in Oshawa).

[rebusrankin]

[blue85gold]

Got to say loving the guys the are coming back so far

[HardCoreBlue]

15 minutes ago, rebusrankin said:

Now somehow protect him in bubble wrap while he plays so he can play the full season and post please and thank you.

[rebusrankin]

So Brady, Demski, Kramdi and Lawson, 4 likely starting Canadians, a young, up and coming WR in Wilson and Nichols. Walters is doing a great job thus far.

[HardCoreBlue]

5 minutes ago, rebusrankin said:

So Brady, Demski, Kramdi and Lawson, 4 likely starting Canadians, a young, up and coming WR in Wilson and Nichols. Walters is doing a great job thus far.

Until of course the moment Thomas arrives on the scene.

[wbbfan]

4 hours ago, bigg jay said:

No - which is why nobody is complaining! 😂

He didn't have his best season last year in my opinion (still good though) & he's never been one of the highest paid DB's so I can't see him getting a ridiculous contract now. 

that and i mean all the guys are guys you’d want back at none crazy deals. 

 

24 minutes ago, HardCoreBlue said:

Until of course the moment Thomas arrives on the scene.

If we move on from 2 long in the tooth old boys club types I’ll be satisfied. If we bring back a kola or jake and actually relegate them to the bench it’ll be a miracle.  

[wbbfan]

Cap wise, I agree that this is the best position we’ve gone into the off season in in a long time. And you have the ability to fix your cap year to year. If you have the will to do it. 

 We have a few awful deals, but the cap growth and off season turn over makes it workable. 

Wj, is one of the worst contracts in the league. Dl is one of our biggest positions of need. Idk if we will actually spend at dl though. 

Zachs lack of consistency and quality concerns me more than his pay. Yes 600k is a yikes. But it’s not like we have a comparable guy available for 400-500k. The only way up for us at qb, is going young. And that is a very risky and lengthy process. 

These guys we will see what they got. I have to imagine with the timing and cap space left that we have them front loaded deals that won’t hit the cap hard next year. Especially with the importance brady put on guaranteed money. 

With the current market demski probably goes from too expensive but very effective to a good deal. Even with a raise. 

We’ve had opportunities and money to spend. We just haven’t done much to invest in league free agent. That’s the big moment I think we are all waiting for. To really see if we’ve changed. Moving on from some one old is inevitable one way or another. 

[3rdand1.5]

This is one of the best starts to an offseason we have had, every signing has been a smart one, we as mentioned above have essentially signed 4 starting CDN's......my crystal ball says Nuefeld is next

[Booch]

2 minutes ago, 3rdand1.5 said:

This is one of the best starts to an offseason we have had, every signing has been a smart one, we as mentioned above have essentially signed 4 starting CDN's......my crystal ball says Nuefeld is next

me thinks seeing as it is likely more of our more pricey guys to re-up...bulk of being Canadians from the last yrs roster that a lot of it could be 2025 monies left over to off-set the 2026 Cap...which is smart moves by Walyer's and I think there will be a few vet's we feel essential re-upped early Jan once we have a more known amount to work with after they get the bigger priced one's done

[rebusrankin]

Well Walters is back on my Christmas card list.

[SpeedFlex27]

38 minutes ago, Booch said:

me thinks seeing as it is likely more of our more pricey guys to re-up...bulk of being Canadians from the last yrs roster that a lot of it could be 2025 monies left over to off-set the 2026 Cap...which is smart moves by Walyer's and I think there will be a few vet's we feel essential re-upped early Jan once we have a more known amount to work with after they get the bigger priced one's done

There is money left over for the cap season that has to be used up by December 31st that can be used towards next season. I'm thinking that what Walters is doing since he never spent to the cap this past season. We just don't know what the cap situation is from last season (2025).