There is officially only 2 weeks remaining until free agency.  As we all know, there is still plenty of time to re-sign potential free agents but many who have waited this long will increasingly be tempted to test free agency.  So without further Apu, I present my authoritative list of the top 5 Canadian Free Agents (from a Blue Bomber perspective).  Here we go!

 

TOP 5 CANADIAN FREE AGENTS

 

1.  BEN HEENAN - This one is too easy.  Everyone knows he is going to be the number one target in free agency, and he may even get some NFL looks.  But with the right offer, maybe the Canadian Big Ben ends up in Winnipeg and moves our OL further towards respectability.  Heenan's value comes from his outstanding play but also his versatility.  Many believe that he would be best-suited as a guard, but his value as a proven starting tackle can't be ignored.  Even if the Bombers only made this one signing, the free agency period would have to be deemed a success.  A ratio changer, and likely even better than any of the American tackle options currently on the roster.  To borrow a term from soccer, this signing is a slam dunk home run.

 

2.  TYLER HOLMES - It should be no surprise that another offensive lineman heads up this list.  Holmes may not be as much of a big-name as Heenan, but he has the potential to make just as great an impact (and probably at a lower cap hit).  After being drafted 7th overall in 2011 (3 spots behind the immortal Jade Etienne), Holmes spent the 2012 season with the Minnesota Vikings, suiting up at Guard in 4 pre-season games.  He played another 2 pre-season games for the Vikes before being cut during camp in 2013.  Shortly afterwards, Holmes signed with the Argos where he spent the last two seasons starting at left guard.  Although Holmes would appear to have settled in as a CFL guard, he was an OT in college and may still have the potential to play tackle.  He is only 26 years old.  The Redblacks are rumoured to have interest in his services, and I imagine many other teams will as well.  Holmes is the son of former CFL RB Richard Holmes, who played 3 seasons in Ottawa and one in Winnipeg.

 

3.  SPENCER WATT - My first non-OL pick in free agency goes to fifth year Argonaut Spencer Watt.  This pick is all about depth and versatility.  While Watt is certainly not a household star, he has been a consistent performer for the Argos at the wide-side receiver spot.  The Bombers only have three Canadian receivers under contract right now, and with the unreliable health of Cory Watson, depth is still needed here.  Adding Watt will give the Bombers a reliable player that coach O'Shea is already familiar with, and one who has five years under his belt while being the same age as Cory Watson was when he was first drafted.  Adding Watt would give the Bombers flexibility in the passing game, perhaps allowing Rory Kohlert to move inside and get more passes thrown his way, or to even have 3 Canadian receivers starting at times.

 

4.  GREG WOJT - We quickly shift our focus back to the offensive line.  If the Bombers whiff on their first two OL targets, Greg Wojt could at least be a decent consolation prize.  Wojt has started many games in the CFL for both Edmonton and Hamilton, mostly at guard but occasionally filling in at tackle.  Wojt could be valuable depth and present stiff competition to both Chris Greaves and Patrick Neufeld for their starting spots, which should not be guaranteed at this point.  Wojt was named a Western Division all star in 2011 but hasn't been able to attain that level of play since then.  However he is still just 29 and could be entering the prime of his career.  A date with Bob Wylie could be just what Wojt needs to rejuvenate his career.  Hell, we'd all love a date with Bob Wylie... did you know he's a magician?

 

5.  DON ORAMASIONWU - Could 2015 see the return of DONNY O to the Blue Bombers lineup?  The Bombers were already thin along the defensive line when DT Ryan Lucas announced his retirement, and they desperately need some help here.  Jake Thomas is a wonderful player but he could use some Canadian help in the middle.  The Bombers also have Louie Richardson and Ameet Pall on the defensive line, but both could be considered "tweeners" and might not fit into Richie Hall's schemes as well as they did for Gary Etcheverry.  Don missed most of last season but if healthy could be a great asset to the Bombers' DL, taking some rotational reps and possibly even starting if necessary.  I would still like to see the Bombers draft a strong DT but Donny O would be good insurance in case that is not possible.  And it's always nice to have a local guy on the roster.

 

So there's the list.  And if you're not down with that, I got two words for you....... WHY NOT???

Our OG's are equally as bad as our OTs. I don't know how people don't see that

I don't see any pending free agent NI OGs who would be significant upgrades over Greaves/Neufeld/Goossen.

Wojt or Eppele could potentially be major upgrades but there are injury concerns. Of course there are injury concerns with Neufeld as well.

Everything considered I group those 3 guys together. Neufeld is a very good OG when healthy.

Has anybody heard anything about Eppele this offseason? Is he even planning on playing again?

Has anybody heard anything about Eppele this offseason? Is he even planning on playing again?

Marcel Desjardins quote from October 2014:

"We've got four or five guys (without contracts). One of the players is (injured offensive lineman) Joe Eppele. I don't think he'll play again. He was in Hamilton the other day. He's 30 pounds lighter than he was. I think he's moving on from football. For us, it would be too risky to re-sign him anyway. There are a couple of other players we'd like to re-sign but we'll see how that plays out."

 

 

 

Our OG's are equally as bad as our OTs. I don't know how people don't see that

I don't see any pending free agent NI OGs who would be significant upgrades over Greaves/Neufeld/Goossen.

Wojt or Eppele could potentially be major upgrades but there are injury concerns. Of course there are injury concerns with Neufeld as well.

Everything considered I group those 3 guys together. Neufeld is a very good OG when healthy.

 

You'r very much over rating Neufeld if you think he's in the same class as a healthy Wojt or Eppele. 

Our OG's are equally as bad as our OTs. I don't know how people don't see that

I don't see any pending free agent NI OGs who would be significant upgrades over Greaves/Neufeld/Goossen.

Wojt or Eppele could potentially be major upgrades but there are injury concerns. Of course there are injury concerns with Neufeld as well.

Everything considered I group those 3 guys together. Neufeld is a very good OG when healthy.

You'r very much over rating Neufeld if you think he's in the same class as a healthy Wojt or Eppele.

And I think you're underrating Neufeld.

Wojt is better than Neufeld by a considerable margin, imo.

Wojt is better than Neufeld by a considerable margin, imo.

We can all agree to disagree then .

Last year Walters did 2 trades then sign right before free agency (Willy & Randle). I wonder if Walters pulls any trade & sign moves before FA this year.

Our OG's are equally as bad as our OTs. I don't know how people don't see that

perhaps next year we employ the 10 receiver formation and ask the other teams to give Willy 3 steamboats.

Trades can still be made. Who? Dunno but between now free agency and the draft. I'll bet we see some trades

According to Drew Edwards, Greg Ellingson is expected to move on and not re-sign in Hamilton. He'd sure look good as the Bombers 3rd WR behind Moore and Denmark.

I sure have egg on my face for my "Heenan or Holmes or bust" posts earlier in this thread.  Had no idea Heenan was generating NFL interest, and happy for him he's a Colt.  Would have been happier with him a Bomber, but them be the breaks.

 

Okay, with the 2 marquee CDN OL's off the board... have at it with Ellingson, Wojt, Bryant, and Rodgers.  Please nab a couple of them.  This isn't the bottom of the barrel by far... my posts were more geared towards us not accepting "2nd place" or worse, which is as Bomber fans we've been accustomed to seeing over the years.

Biggest issue with Ellingson is "is he healthy?"....if he is, that's a guy who can help you. If he's not, not sure he's really worth the attention unless he comes in at a real lowball price.

we can do much better than Ellingson...

What about Wallace Miles?

What about Wallace Miles?

 

Lot of dropsies for my liking.

Earnest Jackson is a guy i think they might have interest in. Stanley Bryant out of Calgary would be another i'd imagine. Probably see some depth players like Sam Hurl and maybe if barbershop in sask rumors are true, Jordan Sisco being brought in. 

 

Gonna have some lowered expectations. I expect Ellingson to go to Ottawa. 

Earnest Jackson is a guy i think they might have interest in. Stanley Bryant out of Calgary would be another i'd imagine. Probably see some depth players like Sam Hurl and maybe if barbershop in sask rumors are true, Jordan Sisco being brought in. 

 

Gonna have some lowered expectations. I expect Ellingson to go to Ottawa. 

I hope not. Sisco has the same rep in Regina as Etienne had here, but with way more owies.

 

Earnest Jackson is a guy i think they might have interest in. Stanley Bryant out of Calgary would be another i'd imagine. Probably see some depth players like Sam Hurl and maybe if barbershop in sask rumors are true, Jordan Sisco being brought in. 

 

Gonna have some lowered expectations. I expect Ellingson to go to Ottawa. 

I hope not. Sisco has the same rep in Regina as Etienne had here, but with way more owies.

 

Some guys just need a change of scenery, he's still young enough that he might show his potential finally. If not, oh well, gave him a shot. I don't think we are in a position to be snubbing our noses at potential upgrades to our canadian depth. 

Jordan Sisco wouldn't even upgrade the RedBlacks Canadian depth.

Jordan Sisco gives me the "no feeling".

If I was Walters my first and foremost priority is to take the serious run at Bryant and Sir Vinnie and whomever we land is a win win. Get that done right off the hop as soon as he can. Let them battle it out with Tyler and Daniels and the best two are a starter and the other on the 46. 

 

Kick Wojt's tires, see if he healthy and if he can come here for around 200 000 then I would maybe pull the trigger on that...I believe the O-line would become a strong point with the dominant American LT with Picard centering the best of Goosin/Greaves/Neufeld/Morley/Everett and our top OL pick from draft and Wojt if we land him as he is probably the best Canadian O-lineman who is more than serviceable left in free agency. That's a far cry from January/Greaves/Morley/and the mish mash of guys in and out last year in these spots. 

 

I would also run take a run at Jackson and if market allows us to get him in an incentive laden deal with a base in the 120-130 range then a corps of Moore/Denmark/Jackson/Kohlert and insert new import phenom is a strong cast for Willy to chuck to, and save for the one new guy he has chemistry with all of them. Heck if nobody leaps out of TC then A Kelly is a more than adequate 4th receiver option when he doesn't have to be the go to guy.

 

As for Canadian depth and rotational guys I would seriously try to grab Hurl and that be it. I would trust in our scouting and use the draft to fill the Canadian foot soldier depth and then scour waiver wire once training camps end as there will more than likely be a few good Canadians dumped for various reasons. Ayear of seasoning for guys like Jones, Sherman, Briggs etc is only going to make them better for our depth and when you look at it Newman returning this year is almost like another solid Canadian free agent signing as he never played a down last year and will be very versatile, and very good in that versatility. Something I think a lot of people are over looking, as he is automatically going to be replacing a game day National from last year only making us stronger.

 

If it fits into our SMS as well toss a nice offer to Reed out of Hamilton, He has the makings of a good one, and if he doesn't beat out a new comer can always be released, or 46 manned, or ratio allowing depth or a DI.

 

If we can manage that, along with the already signed Picard, and a good draft from a full year of the new regime in place I would be more than happy

If I was Walters my first and foremost priority is to take the serious run at Bryant and Sir Vinnie and whomever we land is a win win. Get that done right off the hop as soon as he can. Let them battle it out with Tyler and Daniels and the best two are a starter and the other on the 46. 

 

Kick Wojt's tires, see if he healthy and if he can come here for around 200 000 then I would maybe pull the trigger on that...I believe the O-line would become a strong point with the dominant American LT with Picard centering the best of Goosin/Greaves/Neufeld/Morley/Everett and our top OL pick from draft and Wojt if we land him as he is probably the best Canadian O-lineman who is more than serviceable left in free agency. That's a far cry from January/Greaves/Morley/and the mish mash of guys in and out last year in these spots. 

 

I would also run take a run at Jackson and if market allows us to get him in an incentive laden deal with a base in the 120-130 range then a corps of Moore/Denmark/Jackson/Kohlert and insert new import phenom is a strong cast for Willy to chuck to, and save for the one new guy he has chemistry with all of them. Heck if nobody leaps out of TC then A Kelly is a more than adequate 4th receiver option when he doesn't have to be the go to guy.

 

As for Canadian depth and rotational guys I would seriously try to grab Hurl and that be it. I would trust in our scouting and use the draft to fill the Canadian foot soldier depth and then scour waiver wire once training camps end as there will more than likely be a few good Canadians dumped for various reasons. Ayear of seasoning for guys like Jones, Sherman, Briggs etc is only going to make them better for our depth and when you look at it Newman returning this year is almost like another solid Canadian free agent signing as he never played a down last year and will be very versatile, and very good in that versatility. Something I think a lot of people are over looking, as he is automatically going to be replacing a game day National from last year only making us stronger.

 

If it fits into our SMS as well toss a nice offer to Reed out of Hamilton, He has the makings of a good one, and if he doesn't beat out a new comer can always be released, or 46 manned, or ratio allowing depth or a DI.

 

If we can manage that, along with the already signed Picard, and a good draft from a full year of the new regime in place I would be more than happy

 

Unless something major happens over the next few months we'll be starting 2 NI's at receiver - I just don't think we'll end up with the horses to start 3 on D.

 

Between Thomas, Newman, Bucknor and the others on the roster, running them thru as 2 starters in a situational rotation and having JFG as the 7th starter just seems like the better all-around 24 package we could put on the field.

 

Not that a similar rotation with 3 starters on D can't be done in nearly the same way, I just don't think we have all the pieces to that puzzle yet.

 

Just one hobo's opinion, of course.

That said, as the season goes on the crop of young guys we have will get trial-by-fire opportunities, and if they handle those well, making 3 on D a full time thing may happen.

An offensive line of Bryant / Greaves / Picard / Wojt / Daniels next year would be a big improvement.