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

[M.O.A.B.]

Winnipeg Blue Bombers re-sign American DB Michael Griffin for 2026 CFL season - 3DownNation

 

[Booch]

13 minutes ago, M.O.A.B. said:

Winnipeg Blue Bombers re-sign American DB Michael Griffin for 2026 CFL season - 3DownNation

 

Nice..this is a key signing...one of the have to have back ones in my opinion as he just coming into his own...he physical..one our better tacklers...can play any of the db spots and guys dont realize hes 220+ pounds..and can cover...hed make a solid WIL too if given the opportunity...and was our best SAM last yr

[wbbfan]

3 hours ago, bustamente said:

The guy on the line who needs to take big strides in his game is Gabe Wallace, maybe a new centre helps with his progression.

wallace played the best of our guards outside of vanterpool. It was his first full season and first time being a semi regular starter. The fire is pretty far from his feet. 

 Eli, is the one who needs to step up most. After that, it’s bryant. We have a good few imps to push him, and we are going to see some very good imp tackles hit free agency. 

Wallace is more than fine if he continues his progress at the same rate. 

2 hours ago, Blue In BC said:

The catch about upfront money is if an injury occurs ( like Schoen ). He did miss 5 games in 2025 and 10 over the last 3 seasons.    You don't have to provide a significant signing bonus or have an off season bonus. It's all risk analysis. 

In theory he won't be a target in either Hamilton or BC so his options are becoming limited. We should speak with his agent and find out.

imo, upfront money is the way to get him and at a good over all price. 

 

https://3downnation.com/2026/01/18/b-c-lions-gm-ryan-rigmaiden-sounds-alarm-about-nils-effect-on-future-of-cfl-qbs/

The only thing i’d add to rigmaidens comments is, it’s not coming. it’s already been here. And it’s nil+ nfls expansion of pr and pr compensation. 

We already don’t see the guys who have any real success at good schools. We’ve lost first and second pick over of the former pipeline schools like bigsky, basically once a qb is 4/5star in hs, we’ve lost out on an opportunity with them unless they fully crash out of the nfl or blow all that money. Even then, the usfl is more attractive to those guys despite the less money. 

 

the days of 80-90k qbs with some upside is over. I think a second salary increase should partly be used to split the cap with qbs. The floor needs to be 150-200k for us to attract the talent the league desperately needs. 
 Teams should have a floor 1million on ar qbs. It’s an investment in the league and game it self. 500k for the starter, 250-300k for qb3 and 200-250k for qb3. If your top tier qbs are earning 750k-1million each, instead of 500-700k you have a much better ability to attract young qb with upside talent and success. 

2 hours ago, Booch said:

Nice..this is a key signing...one of the have to have back ones in my opinion as he just coming into his own...he physical..one our better tacklers...can play any of the db spots and guys dont realize hes 220+ pounds..and can cover...hed make a solid WIL too if given the opportunity...and was our best SAM last yr

Yeah. Allen to corner, kramdi to s and griffin to sam would be awesome. 

pretty much just sergio to re up now 

[Stickem]

The Griffin signing is an excellent move....Paddy also re-upped for a year won't hurt.....IF we can make a couple of solid adds in fa, things are coming together nicely.....

[rebusrankin]

1 minute ago, Stickem said:

The Griffin signing is an excellent move....Paddy also re-upped for a year won't hurt.....IF we can make a couple of solid adds in fa, things are coming together nicely.....

[Booch]

31 minutes ago, wbbfan said:

wallace played the best of our guards outside of vanterpool. It was his first full season and first time being a semi regular starter. The fire is pretty far from his feet. 

 Eli, is the one who needs to step up most. After that, it’s bryant. We have a good few imps to push him, and we are going to see some very good imp tackles hit free agency. 

Wallace is more than fine if he continues his progress at the same rate. 

imo, upfront money is the way to get him and at a good over all price. 

 

https://3downnation.com/2026/01/18/b-c-lions-gm-ryan-rigmaiden-sounds-alarm-about-nils-effect-on-future-of-cfl-qbs/

The only thing i’d add to rigmaidens comments is, it’s not coming. it’s already been here. And it’s nil+ nfls expansion of pr and pr compensation. 

We already don’t see the guys who have any real success at good schools. We’ve lost first and second pick over of the former pipeline schools like bigsky, basically once a qb is 4/5star in hs, we’ve lost out on an opportunity with them unless they fully crash out of the nfl or blow all that money. Even then, the usfl is more attractive to those guys despite the less money. 

 

the days of 80-90k qbs with some upside is over. I think a second salary increase should partly be used to split the cap with qbs. The floor needs to be 150-200k for us to attract the talent the league desperately needs. 
 Teams should have a floor 1million on ar qbs. It’s an investment in the league and game it self. 500k for the starter, 250-300k for qb3 and 200-250k for qb3. If your top tier qbs are earning 750k-1million each, instead of 500-700k you have a much better ability to attract young qb with upside talent and success. 

Yeah. Allen to corner, kramdi to s and griffin to sam would be awesome. 

pretty much just sergio to re up now 

Allen on a corner..Griffin at SAM..Woodbey at Will..Kramdi patrolling the middle...Nichols and Holm in their spots..that's a pretty versatile starting core and would allow a lot of different looks Younger could install

Now if we get a couple disruptor DT's to go with Lawson...2 ends with motors who can allow WJ to play a limited rotational just get after the QB role with Bailey's unique skill set sprinkled in we could see circa 2019-2021 style defence again

[wbbfan]

10 minutes ago, Booch said:

Allen on a corner..Griffin at SAM..Woodbey at Will..Kramdi patrolling the middle...Nichols and Holm in their spots..that's a pretty versatile starting core and would allow a lot of different looks Younger could install

Now if we get a couple disruptor DT's to go with Lawson...2 ends with motors who can allow WJ to play a limited rotational just get after the QB role with Bailey's unique skill set sprinkled in we could see circa 2019-2021 style defence again

Yep. Plus, lots of athletic Canadians to rotate all over. 

[Pete]

17 minutes ago, Booch said:

Allen on a corner..Griffin at SAM..Woodbey at Will..Kramdi patrolling the middle...Nichols and Holm in their spots..that's a pretty versatile starting core and would allow a lot of different looks Younger could install

Now if we get a couple disruptor DT's to go with Lawson...2 ends with motors who can allow WJ to play a limited rotational just get after the QB role with Bailey's unique skill set sprinkled in we could see circa 2019-2021 style defence again

Do we know if Allen can play corner? I don't remember him taking any reps last year at anything other than safety

[Booch]

1 hour ago, wbbfan said:

Yep. Plus, lots of athletic Canadians to rotate all over. 

Yeah shay and Smith need to be integrated and hopefully makonzo is signed and stays healthy

54 minutes ago, Pete said:

Do we know if Allen can play corner? I don't remember him taking any reps last year at anything other than safety

He can play corner..pretty much any db brought up here can easily play corner or safety as its pretty much a easy transition for most part coming from the u.s...halfback not so much...

[wbbfan]

1 hour ago, Pete said:

Do we know if Allen can play corner? I don't remember him taking any reps last year at anything other than safety

He did. In camp he played about as much corner as S, maybe a bit more. Then he played both in pre season, and was forced into action at corner for one game before he started at S as well.