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

[wbbfan]

7 hours ago, SpeedFlex27 said:

A meniscus tear is easily fixable unlike a ligament tear especially an ACL. The recovery time is a fgraction of the time for a meniscus. if everything heals properly with rehab Ceresna will be good to go come training camp.

The Bombers slept thru ftree agency last season not seeming to care if anyone signed or left. I hope we never have an off season like that again. Looks like lesson learned. 

Is Nick Arbuckle a gfree agent? 

nah he’s locked up sadly 

 

6 hours ago, ShyGuy said:

NIL definitely isn't helping things here.

The baseline for a power 4 QB has to be around 500K/yr for NIL at this point? Tough sell getting those guys to come up here for 2 years making peanuts just for a chance to be able to make almost as much as they made in college.

nil money is no joke. Very very few will retire on that money, but it certainly slows down the flow of guys here. And leaves them far more comfortable sitting and waiting for chances at a pr spot. 

Cfl qb money for the young guys has to go up. 

 It also hurts that a guy like rourke put up a huge season and barely got a sniff. It’s been a long time since the days of the cfl prouducing qbs like garcia flutie etc for the nfl. Or the nfl taking long looks at guys like dickie and burris. 

[Goalie]

12 hours ago, bb1 said:

Maybe we didn't go after a backup because we are fairly confident in getting Taylor Elgersma here? 🤞

I think Perkins is probably the backup to Zach and honestly eventho he hasn’t played a cfl snap, I think he’s similar if not more talented than most current cfl backups. I’d take Perkins over ford for example. Maybe id sign Masoli as a qb coach tho or something like that just cuz but yeah im not sure there’s any back ups who have played snaps who are future starters. 

and the other guy, well he’s a Kent Austin fan so you know Kent has told him about the cfl. That dude looks like a solid blue chip young prospect  

Streveler had heart but If being honest we won a game with him throwing 10 passes and argument could be made we would have won by more if he threw 8 passes. 

3 perhaps 4 American oline  3 guaranteed really but 4 is possible? I think the goal is to keep zachs jersey clean  

Edited 3 hours ago by Goalie

[JohnnyAbonny]

39 minutes ago, Goalie said:

I think Perkins is probably the backup to Zach and honestly eventho he hasn’t played a cfl snap, I think he’s similar if not more talented than most current cfl backups. I’d take Perkins over ford for example. Maybe id sign Masoli as a qb coach tho or something like that just cuz but yeah im not sure there’s any back ups who have played snaps who are future starters. 

and the other guy, well he’s a Kent Austin fan so you know Kent has told him about the cfl. That dude looks like a solid blue chip young prospect  

Streveler had heart but If being honest we won a game with him throwing 10 passes and argument could be made we would have won by more if he threw 8 passes. 

3 perhaps 4 American oline  3 guaranteed really but 4 is possible? I think the goal is to keep zachs jersey clean  

I wouldn’t be opposed to 4 American OL. They just couldn’t really go with 8 Canadians again then right? 
 

Starting 7 would be 1 OL, Olivera, 3 WR, Lawson, Kramdi, unless I’m forgetting someone. 

[Mike]

13 hours ago, Brandon said:

But that is my point.   We can spend big money on a 1 - 2 guys in FA each year and still have enough money to sign other quality free agents.    This year we paid the highest amount for a RB and an olineman.   We also paid big money for a receiver, a dlineman,  another oline, etc....   

It's not like Walters has to wait 5 seasons to save enough money to start spending again.   At no point did we ever have a Rourke/Adams situation as they had in BC.  

 

There’s also the reality that I see a lot of people on social media (not here) missing, which is that a lot of our veterans aren’t getting raises.

I guarantee you Willie, Kyrie, Bryant, Neufeld, Eli, Castillo as a whole make less than they did last year. 

We also let go of some big ticket low impact players … Ceresna over Vaughters was less than $100k increase. Tim White over Dillon Mitchell was maybe a $50k cap increase. Jonathan Jones and Peyton Logan are gone and their cap hits were decent. Even Jake Thomas had a decent cap hit that is now off the books. 

We paid big money to Pokey, Holm, Lawson, Kramdi, Brady and some others but a lot of that went on the 2025 cap and a lot of it came from offsets elsewhere and that’s probably exactly why we were able to come out swinging on a guy like Broxton. It may not result in a return to the glory days (also, it may) but I can’t help but be impressed with what Walters has done with the cap so far.

[Mike]

5 minutes ago, JohnnyAbonny said:

I wouldn’t be opposed to 4 American OL. They just couldn’t really go with 8 Canadians again then right? 
 

Starting 7 would be 1 OL, Olivera, 3 WR, Lawson, Kramdi, unless I’m forgetting someone. 

I’m curious to see if we actually use the roster exemption spots this year, since we never have. It’s been a bit murky so I may admittedly not completely understand it.

Pretty sure we have to start 8 “Canadians” but one of them can be an American with enough service time. This is the one that baffles me, since we consistently deploy enough veterans. 

We could also use the designated Nationalized American and I’m wondering if that’s what they do with Ceresna. The Bombers have been adding a LOT of DT types to the negotiation list lately, which makes me wonder if they’re still going to try and find a big body there and utilize the inside-outside ability Ceresna has.

Not being inside the mind of Walters or O’Shea, it’s impossible to say what they’re thinking but what I would personally do at this point with the way our roster is built … I’d declare 6 Canadians (Brady, Demski, Nield, Neufeld, whoever plays center and Stan) on offense and 2 Canadians (Lawson and Kramdi) on defense to get to 8 and then I’d start a rookie DT next to Lawson and make Ceresna the designated Nationalized American on defense … rotate him in for Lawson up to 25 snaps, rotate him for Willie or the other American DT the rest of the time. 

We also could use a designated Nationalized American on offense in addition, but I’m not really quite sure how you’d work that since your 6th OL is probably Gabe Wallace which you’re happy with. 

[Goalie]

30 minutes ago, JohnnyAbonny said:

I wouldn’t be opposed to 4 American OL. They just couldn’t really go with 8 Canadians again then right? 
 

Starting 7 would be 1 OL, Olivera, 3 WR, Lawson, Kramdi, unless I’m forgetting someone. 

I mean 2 OL = 8. But yeah that looks about right. Stan could be nationalized tho no? That would be pretty big honestly. So could Willie really. 
 

I thought you had to put in some service with the same team so I’m thinking Stan can be “nationalized” as could Willie and Kyrie now. I’m not sure Ceresna can be since he hasn’t been a bomber. 

Edited 2 hours ago by Goalie

[Goalie]

Is Walters done now or should we expect a couple of more cfl FA signings and If so, what we thinking. Who we thinking. Few interesting names out there. 

Edited 2 hours ago by Goalie

[Mike]

30 minutes ago, Goalie said:

I mean 2 OL = 8. But yeah that looks about right. Stan could be nationalized tho no? That would be pretty big honestly. So could Willie really. 
 

I thought you had to put in some service with the same team so I’m thinking Stan can be “nationalized” as could Willie and Kyrie now. I’m not sure Ceresna can be since he hasn’t been a bomber. 

Stan, Willie, Kyrie or Ceresna could be for us. It’s 3 with one team or 5 with any team.

[rebusrankin]

I have to figure Walter's is done with free agency.

 

[Booch]

10 minutes ago, Mike said:

Stan, Willie, Kyrie or Ceresna could be for us. It’s 3 with one team or 5 with any team.

Holm..Nichols...technically Griffin too as he in yr 3

[Wanna-B-Fanboy]

1 hour ago, Mike said:

There’s also the reality that I see a lot of people on social media (not here) missing, which is that a lot of our veterans aren’t getting raises.

I guarantee you Willie, Kyrie, Bryant, Neufeld, Eli, Castillo as a whole make less than they did last year. 

We also let go of some big ticket low impact players … Ceresna over Vaughters was less than $100k increase. Tim White over Dillon Mitchell was maybe a $50k cap increase. Jonathan Jones and Peyton Logan are gone and their cap hits were decent. Even Jake Thomas had a decent cap hit that is now off the books. 

We paid big money to Pokey, Holm, Lawson, Kramdi, Brady and some others but a lot of that went on the 2025 cap and a lot of it came from offsets elsewhere and that’s probably exactly why we were able to come out swinging on a guy like Broxton. It may not result in a return to the glory days (also, it may) but I can’t help but be impressed with what Walters has done with the cap so far.

 

53 minutes ago, Mike said:

I’m curious to see if we actually use the roster exemption spots this year, since we never have. It’s been a bit murky so I may admittedly not completely understand it.

Pretty sure we have to start 8 “Canadians” but one of them can be an American with enough service time. This is the one that baffles me, since we consistently deploy enough veterans. 

We could also use the designated Nationalized American and I’m wondering if that’s what they do with Ceresna. The Bombers have been adding a LOT of DT types to the negotiation list lately, which makes me wonder if they’re still going to try and find a big body there and utilize the inside-outside ability Ceresna has.

Not being inside the mind of Walters or O’Shea, it’s impossible to say what they’re thinking but what I would personally do at this point with the way our roster is built … I’d declare 6 Canadians (Brady, Demski, Nield, Neufeld, whoever plays center and Stan) on offense and 2 Canadians (Lawson and Kramdi) on defense to get to 8 and then I’d start a rookie DT next to Lawson and make Ceresna the designated Nationalized American on defense … rotate him in for Lawson up to 25 snaps, rotate him for Willie or the other American DT the rest of the time. 

We also could use a designated Nationalized American on offense in addition, but I’m not really quite sure how you’d work that since your 6th OL is probably Gabe Wallace which you’re happy with. 

Solid analysis and commentary- thanks for that.

[Booch]

U can guarantee most if not all those big deals we did prior to Jan has money on the 2025 books

We had and likely still have $ to spend..and wouldn't shock me if we grab another nice piece

I wouldn't be shocked if its another one of the best available canadian recievers

[Goalie]

17 minutes ago, rebusrankin said:

I have to figure Walter's is done with free agency.

 

So guys like Gauthier and hallett and the Canadian depth will be replaced with rookies? Drafted rookies? 

[Mike]

11 minutes ago, rebusrankin said:

I have to figure Walter's is done with free agency.

 

I don’t necessarily think he’s done but I think the big impacts have been made. Still a couple interesting pieces I’d love to see us in the mix for.

Charleston Rambo is one that I do really want to see … feels like a guy on the come up and he would jive well with what we already have here. Plus, you could theoretically give him the offensive DA spot to let him sub in for Nield/Clercius or hell even Brady 25 snaps a game.

Blessman Ta’ala the global DT out of Ottawa would be another big piece. Wouldn’t imagine he’s going to return after they signed Baldonado and I know the two globals on the DL may redundant but I like him as a depth rotational piece for sure, even if you just use him instead of Kornelson.

Wouldn’t mind Ciraco to compete, also wouldn’t hate to see us acquire Sean Thomas-Erlington … think Tommy Condell knows him quite well if I’m remembering right.

 

[Goalie]

I’d assume guys who we haven’t signed like woods Gauthier Hallett Griffin etc are done as bombers. MBB legend Makonzo also appears done. The new Duane Slay. Did legit **** all but legend. 

Edited 1 hour ago by Goalie

[Mike]

1 minute ago, Goalie said:

So guys like Gauthier and hallett and the Canadian depth will be replaced with rookies? Drafted rookies? 

We already have most of these replacement pieces in house.

Shay, Kelly, Smith, Bailey, Novak, Ball

Just now, Goalie said:

I’d assume guys who we haven’t signed like woods Gauthier Hallett Griffin etc are done as bombers. MBB legend Makonzo also appears done. 

Griffin was resigned

[Goalie]

1 minute ago, Mike said:

We already have most of these replacement pieces in house.

Shay, Kelly, Smith, Bailey, Novak, Ball

Griffin was resigned

Oh really. I missed that. So those 3 cdn linebackers you mentioned will get zero reps then. 

[Bigblue204]

Just now, Goalie said:

Oh really. I missed that. So those 3 cdn linebackers you mentioned will get zero reps then. 

Ya should just cut them

[Mike]

1 minute ago, Goalie said:

Oh really. I missed that. So those 3 cdn linebackers you mentioned will get zero reps then. 

I would imagine Shay and Smith will get reps otherwise I’d be starting to ask why we drafted them. But hey, I’m not the coach.

[Goalie]

2 minutes ago, Bigblue204 said:

Ya should just cut them

The reality is once they are free agents if we don’t play them they will leave. Did Shay or smith get reps last year in games that mattered to the standings? How do you develop them if they don’t play tho. 

[Booch]

I think we may be done on the defensive side of the ball

We effectively have one spot open in the secondary...Corner and can see Allen there, or competing with one the interesting guys we have signed...plus we need to go entry level there to balance things out...alot of scratch invested in secondary already with Nichols..Holm..Kramdi and Moxy all in at over 140k at minimum, tho dont know Moxey's exact numbers

I do hope we put Kramdi at safety and be the best place for him were his limitations wont hurt us...Griffin or Woodbey should be our SAM and with Jones and Wilson basically locked in, ause thats just how we operate...The Canadians in Shay and Smith who need to play, and on entry level deals which we need, there really is no more room on defence

Lawson and Ceresna gonna eat a lot of inside reps...WJ obviously in th mix and I sure Jenkins and Jaworski gonna get every opp to be the 2 other ends, with Bailey as support. I dont see anyone really available now inside or out that would offer us a ton, so it's likely up to scouting to find that other import DT, which I okay with....Sadly that plug Korn gonna factor in the mix as well as ...well we have no other viable Canadian to spell off Lawson, Tho we could use Bailey, or one of the Canadian linebackers as we do rotate guys a ton...almost too much in my opinion...hard for guys to get in a real flow with constant shuffling around

Schmeck I'd prefer over Korn...but he wont be ready i would think to start the yr, and tho either are not ideal at least Schmeck has forged a lil niche on jumbo package/shortyardage on offence and goaline...short yardage on defence....and truth be told, he probably gets off the ball at the snap quicker than anyone we had last yr...

If we do any other signings...I think it's gonna be on offensive side

 

[GCn20]

4 minutes ago, Booch said:

I think we may be done on the defensive side of the ball

We effectively have one spot open in the secondary...Corner and can see Allen there, or competing with one the interesting guys we have signed...plus we need to go entry level there to balance things out...alot of scratch invested in secondary already with Nichols..Holm..Kramdi and Moxy all in at over 140k at minimum, tho dont know Moxey's exact numbers

I do hope we put Kramdi at safety and be the best place for him were his limitations wont hurt us...Griffin or Woodbey should be our SAM and with Jones and Wilson basically locked in, ause thats just how we operate...The Canadians in Shay and Smith who need to play, and on entry level deals which we need, there really is no more room on defence

Lawson and Ceresna gonna eat a lot of inside reps...WJ obviously in th mix and I sure Jenkins and Jaworski gonna get every opp to be the 2 other ends, with Bailey as support. I dont see anyone really available now inside or out that would offer us a ton, so it's likely up to scouting to find that other import DT, which I okay with....Sadly that plug Korn gonna factor in the mix as well as ...well we have no other viable Canadian to spell off Lawson, Tho we could use Bailey, or one of the Canadian linebackers as we do rotate guys a ton...almost too much in my opinion...hard for guys to get in a real flow with constant shuffling around

Schmeck I'd prefer over Korn...but he wont be ready i would think to start the yr, and tho either are not ideal at least Schmeck has forged a lil niche on jumbo package/shortyardage on offence and goaline...short yardage on defence....and truth be told, he probably gets off the ball at the snap quicker than anyone we had last yr...

If we do any other signings...I think it's gonna be on offensive side

 

Other than DL, we were pretty good on D. Our O needed the shake up, and I hope we are not done. Although White, Broxton, and Nield are all quality guys. Would still like to see another 50/50 receiver. Was hoping we would go after Woodmansey but after Broxton I think we just didn't want to put more into the OL. I am pretty surprised we went after Broxton. Be interesting which of him or Stan kicks out to RT.

[Bigblue204]

10 minutes ago, Booch said:

I think we may be done on the defensive side of the ball

We effectively have one spot open in the secondary...Corner and can see Allen there, or competing with one the interesting guys we have signed...plus we need to go entry level there to balance things out...alot of scratch invested in secondary already with Nichols..Holm..Kramdi and Moxy all in at over 140k at minimum, tho dont know Moxey's exact numbers

I do hope we put Kramdi at safety and be the best place for him were his limitations wont hurt us...Griffin or Woodbey should be our SAM and with Jones and Wilson basically locked in, ause thats just how we operate...The Canadians in Shay and Smith who need to play, and on entry level deals which we need, there really is no more room on defence

Lawson and Ceresna gonna eat a lot of inside reps...WJ obviously in th mix and I sure Jenkins and Jaworski gonna get every opp to be the 2 other ends, with Bailey as support. I dont see anyone really available now inside or out that would offer us a ton, so it's likely up to scouting to find that other import DT, which I okay with....Sadly that plug Korn gonna factor in the mix as well as ...well we have no other viable Canadian to spell off Lawson, Tho we could use Bailey, or one of the Canadian linebackers as we do rotate guys a ton...almost too much in my opinion...hard for guys to get in a real flow with constant shuffling around

Schmeck I'd prefer over Korn...but he wont be ready i would think to start the yr, and tho either are not ideal at least Schmeck has forged a lil niche on jumbo package/shortyardage on offence and goaline...short yardage on defence....and truth be told, he probably gets off the ball at the snap quicker than anyone we had last yr...

If we do any other signings...I think it's gonna be on offensive side

 

I could have sworn they let Korn go....?

Edited 1 hour ago by Bigblue204

[Booch]

1 minute ago, GCn20 said:

Other than DL, we were pretty good on D. Our O needed the shake up, and I hope we are not done. Although White, Broxton, and Nield are all quality guys. Would still like to see another 50/50 receiver. Was hoping we would go after Woodmansey but after Broxton I think we just didn't want to put more into the OL. I am pretty surprised we went after Broxton. Be interesting which of him or Stan kicks out to RT.

yeah we find that othe DT who is a disruptor our defence is gonna be really good....active and athletic....kinda pumped how this all panned out

Offense should be our focus if there anyone left who is impactfull.....Jury is still out on ZC and if he has anything left and the last few yrs were just a result of several factors....or is he in fast decline....so surrounding him with the best talent we can get needs to be a focus

Just now, Bigblue204 said:

I could have sworn they let Korn go....?

oh maybe.....I just figured he was still kicking around...of not....no loss

[Brandon]

I'd assume they may pick up veteran scraps at the end of free agency.   Maybe a guy like Shawn Lemon.   

Maybe TCF at QB like a Caleb Evans kind of guy.