Blue Bombers re-sign two-time All-CFL receiver Dalton Schoen

[theaardvark]

Sure. I get it. Just you know though, 1000 yards in 2024 would put Schoen:

3rd in receiving in Hamilton (behind White and Dunbar Jr.)
3rd in receiving in Ottawa (behind Hardy and Rhymes)
3rd in receiving in Winnipeg (behind Wilson and Demski)
2nd in receiving in BC (behind McInnis)
2nd in receiving in Calgary (behind Begalton)
2nd in receiving in Edmonton (behind Lewis)
2nd in receiving in Regina (behind Emilus)
2nd in receiving in Toronto (behind Polk)

Receiving yards don't tell the whole story so I should also point that out but this contract is not a steal and wouldn't have even been one last year when all the receivers probably made quite a bit more collectively.  It's more or less fair value with a big dose of risk in regards to an ACL and a player who has been pretty banged up even when he was playing weekly.

When I say "1000 yds+", I'm not talking 1001...  he had 1400 and 1200 the first 2 years, which would put him top 2 or 3 in the league.

We have no idea what his performanc bonuses are, and people were speculating they max out at $25k, or that they were not substantial.

My point is that even if they were as high as I conjectured, and added $75k to his deal, he's still worth it.  *IF* he earns them.  Otherwise, he's a good signing risk at $175k.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

I can get on board with that: $200,000 top end is more reasonable if that's what it is. If he clocks in at $250,000 though he better be essentially the best receiver (or solidly top 3) in the league and that's where I have my doubts with the ACL and injury history. We shall see. 

[blue_or_die]

Put me in the boat with those who think this incentive-laden deal is great for both sides.

Can't wait to see him back in blue and gold and win a cup in front of our fans.

And I hope he makes $250K because he exceeded every contract milestone and we go over the cap.

And I hope Kenny comes back under a similar deal and they become a deadly two-headed monster that drives defenses crazy.

[Stats Junkie]

Dalton Schoen talks about his new deal

"Obviously a little bit of a different year for me, coming off injury," began Schoen in a Zoom call with local media on Monday. "We kind of felt like we were in a different spot, negotiating-wise."

Schoen conceded that team's job is "to get as much value on the field for as cheap as they can, so they've got to use every trick in the book. It's kind of a situation that's understood by both sides. But you still have to try to find that middle ground where everybody's kind of at least somewhat happy with it."

https://www.bluebombers.com/2025/02/03/schoen-im-hopeful-and-confident-i-can-be-every-bit-the-player-i-was/

[TecnoGenius]

The early money has a tax advantage for American players. That has the net impact of reducing the total salary. There have been extensive discussions about the pros and cons of this idea.

I wonder if the tax advantages also apply to back-end bonuses?  You would think there would be a break for all "bonuses", not just front-end ones?

[Blue In BC]

I wonder if the tax advantages also apply to back-end bonuses?  You would think there would be a break for all "bonuses", not just front-end ones?

Not that I'm aware of that being true. OTOH, it's outside of the play during the season. The work a player does during the season might get him an MOP for example which technically happens after the season.

Interesting question though.

[TecnoGenius]

1000 yd+ All Star Schoen who plays 18 games is worth every penny of $250k, and he's worth $175k to have the opportunity for him to get 1000 yds in 18 games...

If he is the league-leading REC in 2025, in Y and TD, and helps us win the cup, then I don't care what we pay him in incentive bonuses.

The good thing about Schoen is that scenario is possible!  Maybe even probable.

I bet the incentives for Schoen are like $15k, but I'm of the mind CFL contracts should be mega-incentive based.  Like $1k every TD, $X every block that results in a TD, $Y every tough 2nd down clutch catch, etc.  If they make an extra $100k by the end of the year scoring like crazy, great!  Who here wouldn't pay for that?

[Jesse]

When I say "1000 yds+", I'm not talking 1001...  he had 1400 and 1200 the first 2 years, which would put him top 2 or 3 in the league.

We have no idea what his performanc bonuses are, and people were speculating they max out at $25k, or that they were not substantial.

My point is that even if they were as high as I conjectured, and added $75k to his deal, he's still worth it.  *IF* he earns them.  Otherwise, he's a good signing risk at $175k.

I think you're not adjusting to the new salary structure for receivers. $250k is the new ceiling. That's the highest paid in the league right now.

And 75k on a 175k salary seems like a lot. 25-50k seems on the high end already. I think the contract potentially getting up to 200k with bonuses makes more sense.

5 guys make CFL all star. 10 make divisional all star. A max of 3 will get 250+. 1000 yards and an all star nod does not make that contract worth it. Like Sir Blue and Gold says, he's have to be in the top 3 to make that contract worth it. 

[TecnoGenius]

Receiving yards don't tell the whole story so I should also point that out but this contract is not a steal and wouldn't have even been one last year when all the receivers probably made quite a bit more collectively.

Looking at just the base salary ($175), the contract is a steal for the simple fact that Schoen is a top tier-1 REC in terms of stats for the years he was healthy.  After the REC pay scale "reset" from 1 to 4 years ago $200 is around the minimum for tier-1 RECs, with some edging close to the $300 mark.  (Yes, that's falling back a bit now.)

[theaardvark]

To my understanding, bonuses paid outside the season (before or after) are taxed only in the home tax district, whereas game cheques are taxed in the Canadian jurisdiction in which they are earned.  So the same tax savings for signing bonuses apply to other bonuses, as long as they are paid after the season.  If the player earns a game playing bonus, and gets paid that with each game cheque, no tax savings for the player...