Blue Bombers add quarterback

[theaardvark]

Yeah, on paper we don't appear to have the optimum QB room compared to most other teams. Will really want to hear what posters think about Perkins in early days of TC. He has the tools and if he can adapt quickly to the CFL, our stock will go up.

It's probable that we'll see some new QB's in tryout camps and may add one to the roster before rookie camps. Who survives Maybe we snag one of our neg list QB's. A few show some promise but we don't know if we'll ever see a given neg list player.

Perkins seems to have a far better UFL resume than MBT... so I'm hopeful.

And who know what other arms come into camp, and what Zach has done in the off season to be ready for 2026. 

With Zach eating up so much $SMS, we need QB2 and QB3 to be affordable.  For those asking for a Masoli or MBT type, would they be as cheap as a rookie now that they have proven not to be starters, or do they carry a premium for their "CFL experience"?  If they do, that's another reason not to have them on the roster.

[bunker]

Kelley/Arbuckle
Mitchell/Ford
Alexander/Crum
Fajardo/Powell
Rourke/Brice
Adams/Walker
Harris/Coan
Brown/Maier
Collaros/Wilson.

Eastern teams have decent backups. In the west, other than in Edmonton, all the number 2's are unproven.

[blue_or_die]

Perkins seems to have a far better UFL resume than MBT... so I'm hopeful.

And who know what other arms come into camp, and what Zach has done in the off season to be ready for 2026. 

With Zach eating up so much $SMS, we need QB2 and QB3 to be affordable.  For those asking for a Masoli or MBT type, would they be as cheap as a rookie now that they have proven not to be starters, or do they carry a premium for their "CFL experience"?  If they do, that's another reason not to have them on the roster.

They 100% carry a premium for being a known quantity. You pay that price to offset the risk.

If you have a rookie QB who is exciting on paper and plays for ELC QB money, you get to roll the dice that they show well and have potential or are a complete dud. That dice roll ain't 50/50, btw. More like 95/5.

[dd]

I watched Perkins highligh reel and he ain't the saviour by any stretch. He's an athletic Qb who can run, similar to Ford, and completed a bunch of curl passes on his highlight reel, decent but nothing jaw dropping, especially given its USFL talent he's getting these highlights on.

I still contend the successor to ZC is currently playing in the league somewhere, and we'll get him via FA.

[theaardvark]

I watched Perkins highligh reel and he ain't the saviour by any stretch. He's an athletic Qb who can run, similar to Ford, and completed a bunch of curl passes on his highlight reel, decent but nothing jaw dropping, especially given its USFL talent he's getting these highlights on.

I still contend the successor to ZC is currently playing in the league somewhere, and we'll get him via FA.

What team has 2 starters that the will allow one of to escape via FA?

We had Zach and Dru, and made the tough decision.  What duo is at that level right now?  Especially with starters aging out all over the place?  Will a different team facing the Zach Dru question make the same decision we did?

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I watched Perkins highligh reel and he ain't the saviour by any stretch. He's an athletic Qb who can run, similar to Ford, and completed a bunch of curl passes on his highlight reel, decent but nothing jaw dropping, especially given its USFL talent he's getting these highlights on.

I still contend the successor to ZC is currently playing in the league somewhere, and we'll get him via FA.

Hervey gambled a year early on Taylor Powell, could turn out to be the smartest move in free agency, only time will tell.

I agree Zach's successor is currently playing somehwere in the league, most likely tangled up in the Argo/RedBlack triangle, between Chad Kelly, Nick Arbuckle and Dru Brown. With Dinwiddie now in charge of the RB's I'm guessing if they don't do well this season, Dru Brown will be the QB that pops out the side door.

Can't say Brown will ever bring the Bombers more GC's, but know he will make the team competitive if he can stay healthy.

[Blueforlife]

Sure hope the QBs have a good year and stay healthy across the board.

[dd]

What team has 2 starters that the will allow one of to escape via FA?

We had Zach and Dru, and made the tough decision.  What duo is at that level right now?  Especially with starters aging out all over the place?  Will a different team facing the Zach Dru question make the same decision we did?

Arbuckle, Ford and Crum come to mind. They're better than any #2 we'll have and would welcome the opportunity to be a starter, and we'll be able to outbide their current teams as they'll prioritize paying Alexander, Mitchell and Kelly and that's not even considering we could likely outbid other teams on their current starter, aside from Kelly and Rourke as Zach's salary is up there so the dollars would be available to sign a Adams or Brown

[Pigskin]

Interesting. Elgersma having told getting a work visa in the US.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Walters chopped Zach down to $550k from $600k, but he should have gone down to $450k IMO.

https://3downnation.com/2026/03/26/winnipeg-blue-bombers-planned-zach-collaros-pay-reduction-prior-to-high-priced-cfl-free-agent-signings/

[theaardvark]

Arbuckle, Ford and Crum come to mind. They're better than any #2 we'll have and would welcome the opportunity to be a starter, and we'll be able to outbide their current teams as they'll prioritize paying Alexander, Mitchell and Kelly and that's not even considering we could likely outbid other teams on their current starter, aside from Kelly and Rourke as Zach's salary is up there so the dollars would be available to sign a Adams or Brown

The only one in that group with a possible "age out" decision is Mitchell, and we've all agreed that Ford is never a starter in this league.  Even Arbuckle and Crum would be, at best, a third tier starter in the CFL, both have proven they can't lock down a starting gig.

Powell is the more interesting concept, depending on Fajardo.  If Cody continues his renaissance, Powell might shake loose in 2 years, but if he shows enough to get starting consideration, I think they cut Cody loose instead, although he's only 34, Powell is 27.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

The only one in that group with a possible "age out" decision is Mitchell, and we've all agreed that Ford is never a starter in this league.  Even Arbuckle and Crum would be, at best, a third tier starter in the CFL, both have proven they can't lock down a starting gig.

Powell is the more interesting concept, depending on Fajardo.  If Cody continues his renaissance, Powell might shake loose in 2 years, but if he shows enough to get starting consideration, I think they cut Cody loose instead, although he's only 34, Powell is 27.

Fajardo came close to retiring this off-season, so I don't think he'll stick with it much longer, unless he comes to the realization his earning potential will drop off a roof once he retires.

[theaardvark]

Fajardo came close to retiring this off-season, so I don't think he'll stick with it much longer, unless he comes to the realization his earning potential will drop off a roof once he retires.

Zach had a similar situation just before he joined the Bombers...