ontaria wilson released

[Blueforlife]

you make room if you don't have it  - not even a discussion or concern

Good point, shuffle the deck as needed.  So excited for his return.  Let's hope it happens.

I was simply asking a question if we have space so yes we can discuss it, curious how much cap room we have for him and others if needed.  Maybe someone on the forum knows or keeps track of that.

Gut tells me we will have a wee bit of room.

[bwiser]

I would think we saved some cap room when Schoen was on the 6 game IR.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I would think we saved some cap room when Schoen was on the 6 game IR.

Pretty sure Walters would have budgeted for his return, hopefully he's called his agent already.

[Pete]

he comes back at the entrance level contract, but for once could we sign a promising young player to an extension early?

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

he comes back at the entrance level contract, but for once could we sign a promising young player to an extension early?

Possible, but if his agent thinks he can get big money in his 3rd year, he may advise against signing an extension. Same danger for the Bombers, sign an extension for bigger money and he may perform below expected standards.

Here's a little clip of a similar scenario featuring Dillon Mitchell, the Elks offered him an extension at the end of his first season.

On July 29, 2022, Mitchell signed with the Edmonton Elks of the Canadian Football League (CFL).[16] Mitchell had a strong rookie season in the CFL, finishing with 35 receptions for 637 yards and four touchdowns.[17] On October 25, 2022, the Elks announced they had agreed on a two-year contract extension with Mitchell through the 2025 season.[18] However, after recording 58 receptions for 727 yards and four touchdowns in 2024, he was released on January 10, 2025.[19]

[TecnoGenius]

Possible, but if his agent thinks he can get big money in his 3rd year, he may advise against signing an extension. Same danger for the Bombers, sign an extension for bigger money and he may perform below expected standards.

It's a risk you gotta take.  Pokey never lacked effort and fire.  The risk/reward scenarios say roll the dice.

[TecnoGenius]

Yes but it's not uncommon to extend a player returning from the NFL on his NFL option window. I don't know where I'd draw the line for an increase but it could be incentive laden.

Well, I don't care about next year.  I care about starting to win now and that home cup.  But an extension / redrawn contract for bigger money right now would have the secondary effect of enticing him to come up now.

If he's looking at continuation of ELC he may keep trying the NFL.  If he's offered D.Mitchell money (or more... probably more) then he may put the NFL on pause.  Tell him we'll be happy to help him with the next NFL window in '26 after he helps us win a cup and gets lots of great film!

[TecnoGenius]

you make room if you don't have it  - not even a discussion or concern

Yup, BC showed the way.  Cup year.  Give him $200k MMM on top of his ELC! 

[Pete]

another way to look at it, say hes making 85k on current contract  so 43k for the remainder of the year  and to resign him next year will cost 160k for a total of 203k
What if we rework his contract to 70k for remainer ty  and 150 next. totalling 220k that way we spread out the hit and have him signed as well as giving him an incentive to return now.
if we release Mitchell the hit for this year wouldnt be a lot

[TecnoGenius]

What if we rework his contract to 125 ty and 125 next. that way we spread out the hit and have him signed as well as giving him an incentive to return now.

That's exactly what we'd do.  However, we're generally cheap and hold people to their ELC.  I mean, why not?  I just fear he may not want to come up for a pittance now.  Might depend on his character too.  Some guys will happily take what they agreed to.  Some guys will feel entitled to more.

But if he says "more or I stay south", you give him more, AND lock him down for a long time.  Pokey PLUS Wheatie might just equal Kenny...

[Blueforlife]

I would give him what he wants and sign the extension ASAP
But it won't that easy
Receivers get decent money now and him and his agent know that
Tending to go to the highest bidder and I don't blame em
Really good discussion everyone, exactly the banter I was looking for thanks
I'm cautiously optimistic
And agree we would have had him in the budget or at least in contingency
Pokey and Wheat could be a deadly combo that doesn't break the bank

[TecnoGenius]

Budget is totally fine.  We haven't even spent to the original cap, let alone the extra $400k, or "allowed" overages, or MMM.  If we have to spend to lock him for 2.5 seasons, you do it.

He's definitely worth Schoen money.  Probably more because he doesn't have the "knee may never be better" history.  Top end would be Demski money, though I'd hope we find a way to cheap out a bit.

[Blue In BC]

another way to look at it, say hes making 85k on current contract  so 43k for the remainder of the year  and to resign him next year will cost 160k for a total of 203k
What if we rework his contract to 70k for remainer ty  and 150 next. totalling 220k that way we spread out the hit and have him signed as well as giving him an incentive to return now.
if we release Mitchell the hit for this year wouldnt be a lot

I'm not sure what the team will do regarding any new contract offer. Giving him more this year won't necessarily make him come to the CFL NOW if he's thinking of waiting out another NFL offer.

However, if we can sign him to a new contract for 2026 - 2027 for a nice increase in each year, that would be good. Going to $160K for 2026 might be more than I think he should get though. Incentive laden clauses would help. $160K is in the range of Schoen and D.Mitchell.

He has to clear the waiver wire but in theory he could be back for LD.

[bunker]

If I'm Pokey I'm not hanging around down south hoping to catch on to a PR. He's too low on the Jets depth chart to get a PR spot IMO, and the other teams have their own last cut WRs for their own PR spots. He's going to be one of about 120 WRs without a job, hoping a rash of injuries in a roster gives them a break. Very small odds. He should come back ASAP, and hopefully Walter's makes it happen, and doesn't cheap out like he did in the off season.

[blue_or_die]

I don't care what we do contract-wise, just get him here asap. If he needs a reworked CFL contract to pay him more to come here vs waiting around for an NFL call, so be it. If we extend him later, great. If he comes up here now to play out the year but wants to test FA and maxx out, whatever dude. Just get here now and help win us the cup.