Bomber Free Agents

[dd]

I saw him in last years Vanier Cup, a game in which he played very average at best. I am thinking we're are getting our hopes up on someone who isn't even going to make it through training camp, if he even attends a training camp.

[markf]

I saw him in last years Vanier Cup, a game in which he played very average at best. I am thinking we're are getting our hopes up on someone who isn't even going to make it through training camp, if he even attends a training camp.

I looked for his highlights video on YouTube... there isn't much there

[Pete]

I hope we go after a couple of Hamilton free agents, (its only fair given the raid on bombers ly) specifically Edwards and Bridges who were both underutilized with Lawler in the line up.

[Jesse]

I hope we go after a couple of Hamilton free agents, (its only fair given the raid on bombers ly) specifically Edwards and Bridges who were both underutilized with Lawler in the line up.

Bridges would be a solid pick-up.

Hard to talk about FAs until we get closer though. Obviously most players will be re-signed by their teams well in advance.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

It looks like the PR list has "disappeared", anyone know who all got flushed out to sea?  Seems like they missed a good opportunity to rid themselves of Dillon Mitchell, why protect him?

[Blue In BC]

It looks like the PR list has "disappeared", anyone know who all got flushed out to sea?  Seems like they missed a good opportunity to rid themselves of Dillon Mitchell, why protect him?

Adams, Kornelson and Weitz all ended up on the PR list and are now free agents. I would have thought Mitchell, Logan and Echols would have been bumped to the PR and now been free agents. Not sure what the thinking was there.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Adams, Kornelson and Weitz all ended up on the PR list and are now free agents. I would have thought Mitchell, Logan and Echols would have been bumped to the PR and now been free agents. Not sure what the thinking was there.

Must have been more than 3 left on the PR?  I don't see Jay Persons on the roster or that American OG.

[Blue In BC]

Must have been more than 3 left on the PR?  I don't see Jay Persons on the roster or that American OG.

Yes I forgot about Person. I was only intending to list those that were around back in 2023 but spent most of 2025 on the PR.  There were other rookies or recent additions during the expanded PR that were left.

I thought Person would be retained by way of adding him to the 1 game IR. Clearly they wanted to keep the 2 new rookies instead.

I mentioned earlier that it will be interesting to see who gets re-signed before the end of the year using whatever is left of the SMS or otherwise.

I wonder what D. Allen in BC will decide in his choice of team if he reaches free agency and what at what SMS? He's a TOP RT.

[Jesse]

Quarterback
Chris Streveler (A) - Gotta be time to move on. For him and us.

Running Back
Brady Oliveira (N) - Tough one. Would obviously love Brady on the team but he'll be expensive.

Receiver
Kody Case (A) - I don't really care one way or the other. Replaceable depth.
Nic Demski (N) - 100% Nic will be back.
Dillon Mitchell (A) - I assume he'll be hitting FA.
Dalton Schoen (A) - What to do with Schoen? Do we sign him and let him try again?
Jerreth Sterns (A) - Very useful piece for Zach.
Keric Wheatfall (A) - I assume Keric will be back, but I hope he has more than what we've seen so far.

Offensive Line - Especially with news that MOS is back, I assume the OL crew will all return.
Stanley Bryant (A)
Tui Eli (N)
Chris Kolankowski (N)
Eric Lofton (A)
Patrick Neufeld (N)

Defensive Line Woods and Vaughters are my only questions. Do they come back or try to find new opportunities?
Willie Jefferson (A)
Cameron Lawson (N)
Tanner Schmekel (N)
Jake Thomas (N)
James Vaughters (A)
Jamal Woods (A)

Linebacker - All these guys likely return unless Gauthier retires (we should let him walk do to our rookie LBs we drafted this year)
Tanner Cadwallader (N)
Shayne Gauthier (N)
Kyrie Wilson (A)

Defensive Back - Holm, Nichols, Kramdi are the locks to return. Gotta make decisions on the others, I guess.
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 - I assume our ST core stays intact.
Sergio Castillo (A)
Jamieson Sheahan (G)

[Pete]

Now OShea/Walters back there are some hard decisions They realize that last year was a step back and have to look hard at at least
Coaching
Keep ot replace ,Hogan/Jackson. My preference is lose both, along with Hall and hire Khari
Defense
Gautier - time to make way for the youth
Dt - we need an upgrade, to both JT and Woods,
De - am exited about new guys Jensen and Jaworski, may mean that either Vaughters or Jefferson are gone, we can use the sms on dt.
Lb - decision has to be made on Ayers, either hes good enough to replace Wilson or on pr,we shouldnt continue to use a di spot on a spec teams specialist.
Offence
The need for an upgrade at center is clear
Reciever, need to replace schoen and find a quality cdn. For some reason they've appear to have lost confidence in Clercius 

[theaardvark]

Now OShea/Walters back there are some hard decisions They realize that last year was a step back and have to look hard at at least
Coaching
Keep ot replace ,Hogan/Jackson. My preference is lose both, along with Hall and hire Khari
Defense
Gautier - time to make way for the youth
Dt - we need an upgrade, to both JT and Woods,
De - am exited about new guys Jensen and Jaworski, may mean that either Vaughters or Jefferson are gone, we can use the sms on dt.
Lb - decision has to be made on Ayers, either hes good enough to replace Wilson or on pr,we shouldnt continue to use a di spot on a spec teams specialist.
Offence
The need for an upgrade at center is clear
Reciever, need to replace schoen and find a quality cdn. For some reason they've appear to have lost confidence in Clercius 

Not sure you re accurate there, he made some very good plays last year.  I think he was nicked...  or got on Hogan's bad side.  He's still a top notch talent, and we should see him back next year, doing good things.

[Blue In BC]

I have no real idea how much SMS is left from this season. We'll get a gist of that by the end of the year to see who we re-sign and how much SMS is being used early. It will also give us insight as to where we might be staying the same or moving on.

There are some obvious re-signings we're hoping for so early news on Demski, Kramdi and Oliveria would be nice Xmas presents.

The team in 2026 will be different than the last team. That's true for every team each year. A lot can be done in free agency if a team chooses.

I probably have a mental list of 12 or so players I don't think will return. Watching the list dwindle as free agency approaches we'll see how that goes.

[BBRT]

Now OShea/Walters back there are some hard decisions They realize that last year was a step back and have to look hard at at least
Coaching
Keep ot replace ,Hogan/Jackson. My preference is lose both, along with Hall and hire Khari
Defense
Gautier - time to make way for the youth
Dt - we need an upgrade, to both JT and Woods,
De - am exited about new guys Jensen and Jaworski, may mean that either Vaughters or Jefferson are gone, we can use the sms on dt.
Lb - decision has to be made on Ayers, either hes good enough to replace Wilson or on pr,we shouldnt continue to use a di spot on a spec teams specialist.
Offence
The need for an upgrade at center is clear
Reciever, need to replace schoen and find a quality cdn. For some reason they've appear to have lost confidence in Clercius 

I agree with most of what you indicated. However I would probably only keep a few of our OL. Maybe keep Stanley Bryant and Wallace. The rest can go. As for the DL not sure if I would keep any of the starters including Jefferson. And the first move I would like is to replace both the OC and DC folks.

[theaardvark]

I agree with most of what you indicated. However I would probably only keep a few of our OL. Maybe keep Stanley Bryant and Wallace. The rest can go. As for the DL not sure if I would keep any of the starters including Jefferson. And the first move I would like is to replace both the OC and DC folks.

Why you would be interested in replacing Younger befuddles me... Hogan, you are in the consensus, but Younger has been very good...

[Blue In BC]

I agree with most of what you indicated. However I would probably only keep a few of our OL. Maybe keep Stanley Bryant and Wallace. The rest can go. As for the DL not sure if I would keep any of the starters including Jefferson. And the first move I would like is to replace both the OC and DC folks.

Off season has a lot of which comes first chicken or egg. We may want to re-sign several players while they may choose to test free agency. They might still end up re-signing in Winnipeg but timing is an issue.

Lots of player movement in the early hours / days of free agency. Teams will wait on some but be forced to act on replacing some that choose to delay.

With 1 year contracts every team has to make moment by moment decisions. Demski might re-sign before free agency. OTOH he may test free agency tampering period. I expect him back but as an example if he chooses to leave on day 1 of free agency, it changes who will then re-focus on acquiring.