Bomber Free Agents

[Ridermania]

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)

Offensive Line
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)

https://3downnation.com/2025/11/02/the-winnipeg-blue-bombers-potential-2026-free-agents-list/

[dd]

Quarterback
Chris Streveler (A)-no

Running Back
Brady Oliveira (N)-yes

Receiver
Kody Case (A)-no
Nic Demski (N)-yes
Dillon Mitchell (A)-no
Dalton Schoen (A)-yes, but likely unable to go due to injury
Jerreth Sterns (A)-yes
Keric Wheatfall (A)-invite to TC, must get impact/playmaker WR on roster!!

Offensive Line
Stanley Bryant (A)-yes
Tui Eli (N)-yes
Chris Kolankowski (N)-no
Eric Lofton (A)-no
Patrick Neufeld (N)-yes, 6th man only

Defensive Line
Willie Jefferson (A)-no
Cameron Lawson (N)-yes
Tanner Schmekel (N)-yes
Jake Thomas (N)-absolutely no
James Vaughters (A)-no
Jamal Woods (A)-yes

Linebacker
Tanner Cadwallader (N)-yes
Shayne Gauthier (N)-yes
Kyrie Wilson (A)-invite to TC, get a better WILL

Defensive Back
Terrell Bonds (A)-yes
Michael Griffin II (A)-yes
Nick Hallett (N)-yes
Evan Holm (A)-absolutely yes
Demerio Houston (A)-yes
Redha Kramdi (N)-yes
Enock Makonzo (N)-yes
Deatrick Nichols (A)-TC invite
Jamal Parker (A)-TV invite, look to upgrade size of our DB's

Specialist
Sergio Castillo (A)-yes
Jamieson Sheahan (G)-yes

[Blue In BC]

Quarterback
Chris Streveler (A)-no

Running Back
Brady Oliveira (N)-yes

Receiver
Kody Case (A)-no
Nic Demski (N)-yes
Dillon Mitchell (A)-no
Dalton Schoen (A)-yes, but likely unable to go due to injury
Jerreth Sterns (A)-yes
Keric Wheatfall (A)-invite to TC, must get impact/playmaker WR on roster!!

Offensive Line
Stanley Bryant (A)-yes
Tui Eli (N)-yes
Chris Kolankowski (N)-no
Eric Lofton (A)-no
Patrick Neufeld (N)-yes, 6th man only

Defensive Line
Willie Jefferson (A)-no
Cameron Lawson (N)-yes
Tanner Schmekel (N)-yes
Jake Thomas (N)-absolutely no
James Vaughters (A)-no
Jamal Woods (A)-yes

Linebacker
Tanner Cadwallader (N)-yes
Shayne Gauthier (N)-yes
Kyrie Wilson (A)-invite to TC, get a better WILL

Defensive Back
Terrell Bonds (A)-yes
Michael Griffin II (A)-yes
Nick Hallett (N)-yes
Evan Holm (A)-absolutely yes
Demerio Houston (A)-yes
Redha Kramdi (N)-yes
Enock Makonzo (N)-yes
Deatrick Nichols (A)-TC invite
Jamal Parker (A)-TV invite, look to upgrade size of our DB's

Specialist
Sergio Castillo (A)-yes
Jamieson Sheahan (G)-yes

Why have you got Nichols and Parker as only a TC invite? I get the size issue but you can't re-sign these players without a signing bonus and certainty you can replace them.

OTOH, you want to bring Bonds back ( achilles probably ) and he's the same size.  He was burned more often than my morning toast.

I don't believe Schoen will return after 2 seasons of serious injury, high risk to re-injure and big SMS.

The potential free agent is shorter than the " unofficial free agent list ". Players like Chris-Ike, Peterson, T. Wilson, Clercius , Wallace, Leroux and Vanterpool are on that list. 

I don't know which list is completely accurate but the ones  I mentioned don't seem likely to have been given new deals yet. I'd include them as re-signing choices.

Regardless it's a big list. Will be interesting to see who gets signed with excess 2025 SMS before the end of December.

Players like Kolo  and K. Wilson is trickier. We don't have current replacements and there is no guarantee we find / replacements in free agency.  Unless we expect to move Woodey to WIL next year?

Earlier I mentioned that players like Vaval, Woodbey and Allen might take advantage of their NFL option.  Landing an NFL TC offer is not a sure thing but we can't rule it out. The lure is always on the table of big money.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Do not re-sign
Jake Thomas (N)
Chris Streveler (A)
Kody Case (A)
Dillon Mitchell (A)
Dalton Schoen (A)
Stanley Bryant (A)
Willie Jefferson (A)
Shayne Gauthier (N)
Jamal Parker (A)
Kyrie Wilson (A)
Terrell Bonds (A)
Michael Griffin II (A)
James Vaughters (A)

For the right price
Brady Oliveira (N)
Keric Wheatfall (A)
Jerreth Sterns (A)
Patrick Neufeld (N)
Chris Kolankowski (N)
Eric Lofton (A)
Tui Eli (N)
Tanner Cadwallader (N)
Deatrick Nichols (A)
Nick Hallett (N)
Jamieson Sheahan (G)

Must extend
Nic Demski (N)
Cameron Lawson (N)
Evan Holm (A)
Tanner Schmekel (N)
Jamal Woods (A)
Demerio Houston (A)
Redha Kramdi (N)
Enock Makonzo (N)
Sergio Castillo (A)

[bunker]

The 2 biggest free agents are Walters and O'Shea. I can't see Miller not bringing them back unless they don't want to come back. IMO that's a problem. We need a rebuild and they are very conservative about making any changes. If they return next year, I see us taking another step back and missing the playoffs. 

[theaardvark]

Let go
Retain
Retain at any cost


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)

Offensive Line
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)

[dd]

The 2 biggest free agents are Walters and O'Shea. I can't see Miller not bringing them back unless they don't want to come back. IMO that's a problem. We need a rebuild and they are very conservative about making any changes. If they return next year, I see us taking another step back and missing the playoffs. 

I dunno. I can't see them not offering both of them a contract, whether they stay or move on remains to be seen. Not sure we take a step backwards, though, get us a bonafide #1 WR like Hatcher, Lewis or Hardy (both of whom I am sure are tired of losing in Ottawa) etc, and that's a BIG impact we currently don't have. Get us a stud DE and DT, and dump the absolute dead weight we are currently carrying, and  our D changes overnight. We have decent LB's, could use an upgrade at DB, but we're really not that far off.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Why have you got Nichols and Parker as only a TC invite? I get the size issue but you can't re-sign these players without a signing bonus and certainty you can replace them.

OTOH, you want to bring Bonds back ( achilles probably ) and he's the same size.  He was burned more often than my morning toast.

I don't believe Schoen will return after 2 seasons of serious injury, high risk to re-injure and big SMS.

The potential free agent is shorter than the " unofficial free agent list ". Players like Chris-Ike, Peterson, T. Wilson, Clercius , Wallace, Leroux and Vanterpool are on that list. 

I don't know which list is completely accurate but the ones  I mentioned don't seem likely to have been given new deals yet. I'd include them as re-signing choices.

Regardless it's a big list. Will be interesting to see who gets signed with excess 2025 SMS before the end of December.

Players like Kolo  and K. Wilson is trickier. We don't have current replacements and there is no guarantee we find / replacements in free agency.  Unless we expect to move Woodey to WIL next year?

Ayers, Woodbey or Shay could take over from Wilson at WIL if he didn't return.  Smith or Griffin could take over from Kramdi at SAM.  Noticed yesterday Cam Allen does not have a physical presence at Safety at all and he's the size of a standard DB, maybe he challenges at CB and Kramdi moves to Safety to maintain ratio and add more oomph.

[bunker]

I dunno. I can't see them not offering both of them a contract, whether they stay or move on remains to be seen. Not sure we take a step backwards, though, get us a bonafide #1 WR like Hatcher, Lewis or Hardy (both of whom I am sure are tired of losing in Ottawa) etc, and that's a BIG impact we currently don't have. Get us a stud DE and DT, and dump the absolute dead weight we are currently carrying, and  our D changes overnight. We have decent LB's, could use an upgrade at DB, but we're really not that far off.

Bryant, Neufeld, Collaros and Jefferson will all be worse next year, they are aging out. Our centre is terrible and needs to be replaced.(and Eli is not the answer). Our tackle talent is at best average to below average after Bryant. We have no nat receiver talent after Demski, and he's getting older and tends to get injured as the season progresses. We have one impact import receiver, Wilson. On D, Jake should retire. Lawson is good, but no other D-line man is above average. LBs are average. I think Nichols has lost 1/2 a step, and our corners range from mediocre to bad. Holm is great, and Allen showed promise. Vaval is great. We have no back up QB. We have so many holes in our roster to call it swiss cheese is a compliment. The worst thing we can do is just run it back expecting different results, but if O'Shea and Walters are back, that is what we will do.

[dd]

Bryant, Neufeld, Collaros and Jefferson will all be worse next year, they are aging out. Our centre is terrible and needs to be replaced.(and Eli is not the answer). Our tackle talent is at best average to below average after Bryant. We have no nat receiver talent after Demski, and he's getting older and tends to get injured as the season progresses. We have one impact import receiver, Wilson. On D, Jake should retire. Lawson is good, but no other D-line man is above average. LBs are average. I think Nichols has lost 1/2 a step, and our corners range from mediocre to bad. Holm is great, and Allen showed promise. Vaval is great. We have no back up QB. We have so many holes in our roster to call it swiss cheese is a compliment. The worst thing we can do is just run it back expecting different results, but if O'Shea and Walters are back, that is what we will do.

Sorry, I missed the O line. You're right, new centre and left tackle, I'd put aging Bryant to right tackle, and get a new LG

[Big Daddy]

Bryant, Neufeld, Collaros and Jefferson will all be worse next year, they are aging out. Our centre is terrible and needs to be replaced.(and Eli is not the answer). Our tackle talent is at best average to below average after Bryant. We have no nat receiver talent after Demski, and he's getting older and tends to get injured as the season progresses. We have one impact import receiver, Wilson. On D, Jake should retire. Lawson is good, but no other D-line man is above average. LBs are average. I think Nichols has lost 1/2 a step, and our corners range from mediocre to bad. Holm is great, and Allen showed promise. Vaval is great. We have no back up QB. We have so many holes in our roster to call it swiss cheese is a compliment. The worst thing we can do is just run it back expecting different results, but if O'Shea and Walters are back, that is what we will do.

I hear you - I just have to believe that if O'Shea and Walters are back, which I do hope happens, we will finally see some significant turnover.

No one likes to lose, and after winning back-to-back GC's and being in three more - they have got to see that we are on the wrong trajectory. 

Seriously, these two (and Miller) know more about football than anyone here, and for sure me.  They were able to make it happen, I have faith they will see this off-season as a turning point, and not just needing a tweak to correct the direction we are headed.

[Horseman]

I will say that we need a new OC or a new playbook, a different defensive system where we stress rushing the QB and getting pressure. Sacks would be great however, pressure where the QB has to rush his throw is also effective. Bring a blitz more often than we do.

Now the following players need to be released or traded:

J. Thomas (may retire)
W. Jefferson (trade for a QB, try to get Fajardo or at least Ford from the Elk)
P. Nuefeld (to many whiffs on blocks)
S. Bryant (saw him handing out bus tickets to guys running by him to many times this year)
Vaugters (was only average)
Lawson Jr. (terrible in coverage, can't tackle)
Parker (see above)
D. Mitchell (did nothing)
Eccols (hoe hum)
Schoen (his knee is done)
Streverler (See above)
ZC (trade him for someone or cut him)
P. Logan (total bust)

That is a lot of turn over, but the re-build has to begin. Go hard in FA with the available money saved.

[RebusRankin]

Why do some want to bring Makonzo back? Hurt all year and all of last year. 6 games since 2023.

[ichabod_crane]

I hear you - I just have to believe that if O'Shea and Walters are back, which I do hope happens, we will finally see some significant turnover.

No one likes to lose, and after winning back-to-back GC's and being in three more - they have got to see that we are on the wrong trajectory. 

Seriously, these two (and Miller) know more about football than anyone here, and for sure me.  They were able to make it happen, I have faith they will see this off-season as a turning point, and not just needing a tweak to correct the direction we are headed.

I agree minor tweaking is not the answer this off season. It is obvious some major changes are required. Edmonton will be better next season and if bombers just do tweaking they are headed for 5th place in the west

I'd throw in releasing hogan as a non player move desperately needed. 

[Blue In BC]

It's going to be a tougher off season with all the questions marks on the roster.  Some interesting views. In many cases what happens with one player is dependant on what happens elsewhere. What I mean for every dollar spent on one player there is one dollar less to spend on another or vice versa.

If for example we don't re-sign Jefferson, that's $200K we can use in free agency or to re-sign one of our own potential free agents.

Overall I expect we will shed some significant SMS on players we don't bring back. How and where we spend it is a TBD but I'd hope we are much more active in free agency than last year.

There are going to be some painful choices.