Blue Bombers sign three to futures contracts

[ModAdmin]

Blue Bombers sign three to futures contracts

WINNIPEG, MB., October 22, 2024 – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the team has signed American quarterback Darren Grainger, American defensive end Brandon Wright and American defensive back Jordan Toles to futures deals as of the 2025 season.

Grainger (6-4, 225, Georgia State; born: July 21, 2000, in Conway, SC.) will return for the 2025 season after spending part of the 2024 season with the team.  Grainger spent a five-year collegiate career with Furman (2018-2019) and Georgia State (2021-2023). With Furman, Grainger appeared in 17 games, starting 12, throwing for 1,403 yards on 161 attempts for five touchdowns, while rushing for 353 yards and five touchdowns.

Wright (6-2, 250, Michigan State; born: Aug. 13, 2000, in Euclid, OH.) returns in 2025 after joining the club during this year's PR expansion window before being released. Wright spent a five-year collegiate career (2019-2023) with Michigan State. During the 2019 and 2020 seasons as a running back, Wright appeared in 12 games, rushing 24 times for 61 yards. For the 2021 season, Wright was converted to a defensive end to strengthen the pass rush. From 2021 to 2023, Wright would appear in 28 games, starting in seven of them, achieving 44 tackles, six tackle-for-losses, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one knockdown.

Toles (6-1, 216, Morgan State; born: May 13, 2001, in Baltimore, MD.) signs a futures contract with the Blue Bombers after spending a four-year collegiate career with LSU (2020-2021), and Morgan State (2022-2023). Toles signed as an undrafted free agent with the Baltimore Ravens in May 2024, but was released in July 2024.  With LSU, Toles recorded 16 tackles (8 solo, 8 assists) in 16 games.

After a transfer to Morgan State in 2022, Toles would achieve 114 tackles (67 solo, 47 assists), three tackle-for-losses, four interceptions (one touchdown), seven passes defended, a half sack, three forced fumbles (2 recoveries), and two blocked kicks in 20 games. The defensive back would also return six kicks for 107 yards and one touchdown.  In 2023, Toles was named First Team All-MEAC and played in the Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl after the season.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Blue Bombers sign three to futures contracts

WINNIPEG, MB., October 22, 2024 – The Winnipeg Blue Bombers today announce the team has signed American quarterback Darren Grainger, American defensive end Brandon Wright and American defensive back Jordan Toles to futures deals as of the 2025 season.

Grainger (6-4, 225, Georgia State; born: July 21, 2000, in Conway, SC.) will return for the 2025 season after spending part of the 2024 season with the team.  Grainger spent a five-year collegiate career with Furman (2018-2019) and Georgia State (2021-2023). With Furman, Grainger appeared in 17 games, starting 12, throwing for 1,403 yards on 161 attempts for five touchdowns, while rushing for 353 yards and five touchdowns.

Wright (6-2, 250, Michigan State; born: Aug. 13, 2000, in Euclid, OH.) returns in 2025 after joining the club during this year's PR expansion window before being released. Wright spent a five-year collegiate career (2019-2023) with Michigan State. During the 2019 and 2020 seasons as a running back, Wright appeared in 12 games, rushing 24 times for 61 yards. For the 2021 season, Wright was converted to a defensive end to strengthen the pass rush. From 2021 to 2023, Wright would appear in 28 games, starting in seven of them, achieving 44 tackles, six tackle-for-losses, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and one knockdown.

Toles (6-1, 216, Morgan State; born: May 13, 2001, in Baltimore, MD.) signs a futures contract with the Blue Bombers after spending a four-year collegiate career with LSU (2020-2021), and Morgan State (2022-2023). Toles signed as an undrafted free agent with the Baltimore Ravens in May 2024, but was released in July 2024.  With LSU, Toles recorded 16 tackles (8 solo, 8 assists) in 16 games.

After a transfer to Morgan State in 2022, Toles would achieve 114 tackles (67 solo, 47 assists), three tackle-for-losses, four interceptions (one touchdown), seven passes defended, a half sack, three forced fumbles (2 recoveries), and two blocked kicks in 20 games. The defensive back would also return six kicks for 107 yards and one touchdown.  In 2023, Toles was named First Team All-MEAC and played in the Allstate HBCU Legacy Bowl after the season.

Bringing Grainger back for a 3rd time is interesting, maybe they're not seeing exactly what they want to see in Terry Wilson?  This off-season looks to be active for inter-league QB movement, hopefully Walters keeps his eyes on semi-experienced QB's that may come loose, easier than finding a new one and starting from scratch.

[kkc60]

Bringing Grainger back for a 3rd time is interesting, maybe they're not seeing exactly what they want to see in Terry Wilson?  This off-season looks to be active for inter-league QB movement, hopefully Walters keeps his eyes on semi-experienced QB's that may come loose, easier than finding a new one and starting from scratch.

I think it's more Grainger hasn't had many chances and the team wants to give him more

[TecnoGenius]

Could be they've soured on Strevie?  If Wilson is a solid #3, could change who our dev/#2 is (or vice versa).

Though my guess (and desire) is we give Strevie another shot at his 2019 role.

Too bad we didn't get any garbage season to see more of Wilson at the helm.  Now we have to pray we don't see him at the helm at all until next PS!

[Jesse]

I'm still shocked we didn't see more with Strevie in the first half of the year. A bit of a tragic irony that he got hurt in the game where it finally looked like they were going to start utilizing his potential skill set.

Probably going to be a lot of QB movement around the league this off season; we'll see how the musical chairs sort out.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I'm still shocked we didn't see more with Strevie in the first half of the year. A bit of a tragic irony that he got hurt in the game where it finally looked like they were going to start utilizing his potential skill set.

Probably going to be a lot of QB movement around the league this off season; we'll see how the musical chairs sort out.

Streveler was only on a one year contract, I honestly don't see any reason to bring him back for another go as he's shown he's the same QB he was in 2018-19 before his NFl adventure. He fits as a temporary fill guy but does not qualify as the starting QB of the future, so I don't see the point in taking another look at him when time is quickly running out to find a replacement for Zach.   

[theaardvark]

Bringing Grainger back is not an indictment of the current players, but saying that they have seen enough that he has potential, and maybe needs to work on a few specific items that will take an off season to change, and they will look at him again in the spring.  These deas cost nothing, and if something better comes along before, they can be nulified.  But signing him means we have options for spring.

[Jesse]

Streveler was only on a one year contract, I honestly don't see any reason to bring him back for another go as he's shown he's the same QB he was in 2018-19 before his NFl adventure. He fits as a temporary fill guy but does not qualify as the starting QB of the future, so I don't see the point in taking another look at him when time is quickly running out to find a replacement for Zach.   

The point would be the same as bringing him in this year. If the team seems him as a guy to help us win in 2025, it doesn't matter who Zach's replacement after that is.

But they didn't use him like I expected this year, so perhaps they don't see him that way after all.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

The point would be the same as bringing him in this year. If the team seems him as a guy to help us win in 2025, it doesn't matter who Zach's replacement after that is.

But they didn't use him like I expected this year, so perhaps they don't see him that way after all.

Same here, very disappointed in what they did with him but he started an entire game and he didn't look like anything more than a 3rd down specialist struggling with the opportunity to show more. 

[Jesse]

Same here, very disappointed in what they did with him but he started an entire game and he didn't look like anything more than a 3rd down specialist struggling with the opportunity to show more. 

I never wanted him starting any games for us. That looked exactly the way I thought it would.

I DID expect them to keep him on the field in a hurry up offence after third down sneaks and to try some offensive shenanigans with 2 QBs. But his role was less than that of Prukop.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I never wanted him starting any games for us. That looked exactly the way I thought it would.

I DID expect them to keep him on the field in a hurry up offence after third down sneaks and to try some offensive shenanigans with 2 QBs. But his role was less than that of Prukop.

Honestly I would be happy if they re-acquired Prukop in the off-season and reverted to the QB plan they employed last season, with serious development time invested in #2.

[DM83]

Stress career is over.  He will be lucky to walk without a limp.  Procup seems like a likely first down better.

Lots if back ups available.

[TecnoGenius]

Honestly I would be happy if they re-acquired Prukop in the off-season and reverted to the QB plan they employed last season, with serious development time invested in #2.

I too would have been fine sticking with Prukop strictly as SY.  But I think it was all about SMS.  If Wilson can be nearly as good as Prukop (which he has been so far!) then he's the keeper and Prukop is expendable because Prukop will always earn more than ELC.  Even if it's only $30k more than ELC, that's 30k less to spend on some other talent.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I too would have been fine sticking with Prukop strictly as SY.  But I think it was all about SMS.  If Wilson can be nearly as good as Prukop (which he has been so far!) then he's the keeper and Prukop is expendable because Prukop will always earn more than ELC.  Even if it's only $30k more than ELC, that's 30k less to spend on some other talent.

Prukop could be the #3 short yardage guy for all of eternity, if Wilson can't prove he's a sufficient #2 with the potential to be #1 next season, move on and bring in someone who can.

[ModAdmin]

Next year the Bombers will be looking for the heir-apparent to Zach Collaros.  Not suggesting that Zach will be gone after 2025 but that the Bombers have to be prepared for the future beyond Zach.  The back up competition, IMHO, will be important and fierce next year because there is no guarantee Zach will want to play beyond next year.