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 November 12, 2025Nov 12 by johnzo

5 minutes ago, 17to85 said:

But collaros only started the last regular season game and playoffs.

What really eliminated the inconsistencies from that team were the tweaks they made to the secondary. Shored up what could at times be a bit leaky pass defense into a rock solid group and let a dominant front 7 feast.

Taylor...Maston and how utilized BA turned it all around and morphed the defense into the juggernaut...thtat's where the season turned and was pre ZC

ZC came in and got the rust knocked off in the last game and the WSF...and then managed the Grey Cup perfectly

5 hours ago, Booch said:

Taylor...Maston and how utilized BA turned it all around and morphed the defense into the juggernaut...thtat's where the season turned and was pre ZC

ZC came in and got the rust knocked off in the last game and the WSF...and then managed the Grey Cup perfectly

We saw a lot of tweaks and gelling around the rest of that team. The OL gelled and over came a bunch of injuries/guys being pressed into duty. The DL did too as we worked in stove with drake more and did some 2 imp dt looks with him and of course the secondary was heavily overhauled.

7 hours ago, Booch said:

Taylor...Maston and how utilized BA turned it all around and morphed the defense into the juggernaut...thtat's where the season turned and was pre ZC

ZC came in and got the rust knocked off in the last game and the WSF...and then managed the Grey Cup perfectly

They had lost 4 of 5 before the ZC trade. There was a game vs. Hamilton that was just an absolute mess.

11 hours ago, Mark H. said:

1000%. That 2019 team was 11 - 7, had their up and downs and got their butts handed to them a few times. When they really put it all together, ZC was the QB. And no, he didn't just 'manage' every game.

8-2 with Nichols starting though. And never got our butts kicked in the two losses.

Edited 16 hours ago16 hr by Jesse

8 hours ago, Mark H. said:

They had lost 4 of 5 before the ZC trade. There was a game vs. Hamilton that was just an absolute mess.

Yeah.. all starts by rookie Strev on a broken foot and probably the main reason we went shopping for ZC. No one here is knocking ZCs contribution to our Grey Cup, just pointing out that Nichols was having a very strong season that year and played the best football of his career pre injury. We may have won the cup with him as well.

7 hours ago, GCn20 said:

Yeah.. all starts by rookie Strev on a broken foot and probably the main reason we went shopping for ZC. No one here is knocking ZCs contribution to our Grey Cup, just pointing out that Nichols was having a very strong season that year and played the best football of his career pre injury. We may have won the cup with him as well.

Streveler suffered that foot injury in week 19

All of this is fair enough. I just don't find it necessary to hang the game manager label on ZC. Both QBs have their strengths and weaknesses. ZC is better at pushing the ball downfield, and this made a difference.

2 minutes ago, Mark H. said:

Streveler suffered that foot injury in week 19

All of this is fair enough. I just don't find it necessary to hang the game manager label on ZC. Both QBs have their strengths and weaknesses. ZC is better at pushing the ball downfield, and this made a difference.

I’d agree there. I’m not sure they would have got out of the WF without ZC. The TD drive in the first half from deep in their own end specifically. Getting out in front early ended up being the difference in that game.

1 hour ago, Mark H. said:

Streveler suffered that foot injury in week 19

All of this is fair enough. I just don't find it necessary to hang the game manager label on ZC. Both QBs have their strengths and weaknesses. ZC is better at pushing the ball downfield, and this made a difference.

I think it is a misconception that Nichols couldn't push the ball downfield. In 2018 and 2019, up until his injury, he led the league in offensive explosion plays (receptions 30+ yards).

1 hour ago, JohnnyAbonny said:

I’d agree there. I’m not sure they would have got out of the WF without ZC. The TD drive in the first half from deep in their own end specifically. Getting out in front early ended up being the difference in that game.

Truthfully the lead they had they went back to streveler too much in the 2nd half. Collaros was killing the riders first half and they took the foot off the gas. Streveler in the 2nd half killed the stamps in the wsf and they tried the same in the wf and it nearly cost them IMO.

Grey cup that year the qbs really were not super consequential. Think the D and Harris were winning that one on their own all day.

How did 2019 so quickly become "the good old days" instead of a thing that just recently happened...