1st & 10 | The Blue Bombers Pending Free Agent List

[Tecno]

I've heard rumours that the Bombers are close to finalizing a deal with Oliveria. 3 years for $900K.

Actually sounds ideal.  Locking up a franchise NAT for 3 years is more than ideal.  Takes the pressure away until FA29.  3 year deals for Brady-like players are pretty rare.

It's also perfect from a WM / business / marketing side.  Allows us to sell a ton of merch.  You can't put a price on what the "hometown boy" value is.

And if it's 900 it's probably laddered.  275 / 300 / 325.  Add in $50 (hopefully $100) in MMM and it's actually quite affordable.  In fact, it would only be a bit more than the 225 we payed him last year?

If we assume he was going to get at least 300 or 325 with another team in FA, these numbers all come in to precisely what they should with the "hometown discount".

If Brady takes this offer and doesn't mouth off about it, we should probably all be happy and cut back on the Brady bashing.

[Tecno]

Can Walters please open the vault for one of Katsatonis or Duqouy?  Please?  I'd love to see either of those guys in our defensive backfield.

Dequoy is my fave FS bar none.  However, he had a really "bad" season in '25.  He wasn't nearly as effective as he was in '23-'24.  I think O's have figured him out and can negate his ability.

He didn't do much in the GC (from memory).

It's funny, because Katsatonis is like 180 degrees different from Dequoy.  You have to pick your type (lanky rover vs stout hitter): can't have both in one guy.  Since we haven't relied on our FS to run stop as much in the last few seasons, I think a Dequoy style would be more useful here.

[Tecno]

Would love to look for at least one more good OL in the draft, and maybe a RB to back up BO. Safety would be another place I'd look for a difference maker!

No need.  Peterson is locked in for at least 1 more season, and he's perfectly adequate (and cheap!).  More upside than Johnny27 IMHO.

[Tecno]

Interesting... KW is signing for duration so far.  I don't recall so many 2 & 3 years contracts in FA25.

I wonder if it's related to KW/Mafia having fresh 3 year contracts themselves?  KW trying to make sure his team is well stocked for the rest of his duration?

[Pigskin]

Dequoy is my fave FS bar none.  However, he had a really "bad" season in '25.  He wasn't nearly as effective as he was in '23-'24.  I think O's have figured him out and can negate his ability.

He didn't do much in the GC (from memory).

It's funny, because Katsatonis is like 180 degrees different from Dequoy.  You have to pick your type (lanky rover vs stout hitter): can't have both in one guy.  Since we haven't relied on our FS to run stop as much in the last few seasons, I think a Dequoy style would be more useful here.

Actually Dequoys 2024 and 2025 seasons were nearly identical. I don't think MAD is going anywhere. He a French Canadian kid that loves Quebec.

2025:   34 DTs, 4 STs, 3 Sacks, 1 Int, 1 TD, 0 FF.
2024:   32 DTs, 0 STs, 0 sacks, 2 Int, 0 TD, 1 FF

2025:

[Tecno]

Actually Dequoys 2024 and 2025 seasons were nearly identical. I don't think MAD is going anywhere. He a French Canadian kid that loves Quebec.

2025:  34 DTs, 4 STs, 3 Sacks, 1 Int, 1 TD, 0 FF.
2024:  32 DTs, 0 STs, 0 sacks, 2 Int, 0 TD, 1 FF

Now add 2023.  You'll see a trend.  The main thing is his INTs keep going down from his crazy '22-'23.  4 INT in '22, 5 in '23 (incl 2 TDs).  '23 had him with 3 FF too.

He's still great, but looking a bit more pedestrian -- coming back down to earth.

Agreed it would be hard to entice him away from Frenchie-land.  I hope/bet Maciocia is ripping him off in every new contract -- as he'll accept a massive homer discount.  Must be nice for MTL!

[Blue In BC]

Actually sounds ideal.  Locking up a franchise NAT for 3 years is more than ideal.  Takes the pressure away until FA29.  3 year deals for Brady-like players are pretty rare.

It's also perfect from a WM / business / marketing side.  Allows us to sell a ton of merch.  You can't put a price on what the "hometown boy" value is.

And if it's 900 it's probably laddered.  275 / 300 / 325.  Add in $50 (hopefully $100) in MMM and it's actually quite affordable.  In fact, it would only be a bit more than the 225 we payed him last year?

If we assume he was going to get at least 300 or 325 with another team in FA, these numbers all come in to precisely what they should with the "hometown discount".

If Brady takes this offer and doesn't mouth off about it, we should probably all be happy and cut back on the Brady bashing.

We paid him $240K in 2025 according to reports. We don't know another team will pay him that much. I'd prefer to find out during the tampering period before making that kind of offer.

It's the similar thought as we had with not paying Lawler in 2025.

[TBURGESS]

At +$250K, I'd let Brady go and pick up a good to great US RB for $180ish. 

[Jesse]

Interesting... KW is signing for duration so far.  I don't recall so many 2 & 3 years contracts in FA25.

I wonder if it's related to KW/Mafia having fresh 3 year contracts themselves?  KW trying to make sure his team is well stocked for the rest of his duration?

I don't think it's any more than coincidence. I'm sure Walters is all ways trying to lock guys up to longer contracts but there's no incentive for players to sign deals longer than one year unless they get some guaranteed money.

[dd]

I've heard rumours that the Bombers are close to finalizing a deal with Oliveria. 3 years for $900K.

Of course this is just a " rumour " but IMO it would be nuts no matter what the deals involve like Marketing Money or guaranteed money. That's just too much for any non QB.

Yes, I'd like to get him re-signed before the end of 2025 or certainly before free agency.

The question I would have is if that's the number he's asking for, why not let him get to the tampering window in February? Then we'd see if another team is going to up the anti. Why jump the gun on that level of contract?

One other point would be if we re-sign him for that amount shortly, what impact does that have on other player demands?

It seems strange that we don't have total contract disclosures but repeatedly hear about some of the larger deals being announced / completed.

Just bad business IMO.

I agree. This deal, if true, does not excite me. If he made $225 in 2025, why such a huge pay increase when he fumbled the ball every second series?? If he's sooooo valuable, why don't we use him when the game is on the line?? What happens when he underperforms when he's getting the big contract, like so many other players do?

Give me AJ Oulette and Sam Emilius or Stevie Scott and Phillipot any day, we have Brady and Wilson, both decent players, but not #1's at their respective positions. If this is the shape of things to come, here we go again in FA

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I agree. This deal, if true, does not excite me. If he made $225 in 2025, why such a huge pay increase when he fumbled the ball every second series?? If he's sooooo valuable, why don't we use him when the game is on the line?? What happens when he underperforms when he's getting the big contract, like so many other players do?

Give me AJ Oulette and Sam Emilius or Stevie Scott and Phillipot any day, we have Brady and Wilson, both decent players, but not #1's at their respective positions. If this is the shape of things to come, here we go again in FA

Ouellettie has had 2 decent seasons out of 6, if it wasn't for his body transformation last year and AH's guidance the Riders would have cut him.  Previous years he was slower than a slug.

[Blue In BC]

I agree. This deal, if true, does not excite me. If he made $225 in 2025, why such a huge pay increase when he fumbled the ball every second series?? If he's sooooo valuable, why don't we use him when the game is on the line?? What happens when he underperforms when he's getting the big contract, like so many other players do?

Give me AJ Oulette and Sam Emilius or Stevie Scott and Phillipot any day, we have Brady and Wilson, both decent players, but not #1's at their respective positions. If this is the shape of things to come, here we go again in FA

How many times did he actually fumble? I think you're exaggerating. Didn't Ouellette fumble in the WDF? lol

[kkc60]

Well, Darren Cameron said they were working hard to announce more "good news" in the coming weeks. I don't know if I believe anything to do with Brady, as I feel like he is going to go to the tampering window, but I wouldn't be opposed to the contract you outlined. It keeps him here and we can focus on the rest of the roster.

If there's a signing bonus on the 2025 cap (lost season), and marketing money as a part of the deal, it wouldn't hurt us against the cap, so it'd be a great outcome in my opinion.

And we're not living in 2005 where QBs are making 300k. The cap is higher. The floor is higher. Elite nationals are all going to be making around 300k. Tyson Philpot just signed for 275k and his career high is 800 yards and 5 TDs. You need to shift your thinking a bit on these contract numbers.

Have a bad feeling the "good news" is that the podcast buddies are gonna get brought back (Neufeld and Kolankowski)in which case, Zach might wanna hang them up