2027 SMS increase

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Yes we are competing with NFL money now... For qbs. You're showing guys who are 3rd thru 6th qb on an NFL roster that you can possibly get a million up north.

That's massive compared to the 400 to 500k joke that qbs maxed out at 3 years ago.

This new money would have impacted guys like N.Rourke. They won't play the NFL pr carousel as long anymore.

The only QB's that came up to Canada and went back to careers in the NFL, Flutie, Dickenson, Garcia and Moon off the top of my head, committed to the CFL for many years before returning to the NFL.

There is no instant success story, for every QB that thinks he's going to take the CFL by storm as soon as he touches the field, there are 99 QB's warming benches that would tell him that's not a realistic perception.

[Tecno]

I think BinBC you're getting caught up on reality and not on perception.  It doesn't matter how it turns out, or what the vet QBs are telling the rookies, all that matters is the rookies' frame of mind.  And they all think they are the best and the next big thing.  Almost without exception.

Jesse understands.  It's not guys coming up thinking they'll be ELCs like Perkins, or perennial bottom feeders like Dom Davis.  It's guys coming up thinking they are the next Kelly and Alexander.  Especially Kelly: they think they'll get put in as their first live playing time in a GC and light it up and get max payday 1 month later.  That is what they all think!!  And what they think is ALL that matters.

So yes, we will get more future Kellys and Alexanders coming up to try out, because now it's not just an NFL stepping stone (though it still is) it's now a respectable "I'm a millionaire" salary even if they don't make the NFL and they have to "settle" for the CFL!  Before, with a max of $500k it was kind of just a joke for many USA QBs. 
That's like $178k USD take-home pay for them.  They made more doing USFL.

Now we can offer them legit real money that isn't a joke.

[Blue In BC]

I think BinBC you're getting caught up on reality and not on perception.  It doesn't matter how it turns out, or what the vet QBs are telling the rookies, all that matters is the rookies' frame of mind.  And they all think they are the best and the next big thing.  Almost without exception.

Jesse understands.  It's not guys coming up thinking they'll be ELCs like Perkins, or perennial bottom feeders like Dom Davis.  It's guys coming up thinking they are the next Kelly and Alexander.  Especially Kelly: they think they'll get put in as their first live playing time in a GC and light it up and get max payday 1 month later.  That is what they all think!!  And what they think is ALL that matters.

So yes, we will get more future Kellys and Alexanders coming up to try out, because now it's not just an NFL stepping stone (though it still is) it's now a respectable "I'm a millionaire" salary even if they don't make the NFL and they have to "settle" for the CFL!  Before, with a max of $500k it was kind of just a joke for many USA QBs. 
That's like $178k USD take-home pay for them.  They made more doing USFL.

Now we can offer them legit real money that isn't a joke.

Not at all. I don't think the perception changes one bit because of a slightly higher SMS and one QB getting $1M. The reality rules over perception.

I don't think those players are dumb enough to be influenced by what you're are suggesting is a new world of perception.

Toronto is taking a big chance with Kelly in the sense of offering him that big a raise. We can only speculate what the Redblacks might have offered even without a potential increase in SMS.

Mike Reilly got $700K several seasons ago going to Edmonton and has been out of the league since the end of the 2021 season. That changed nothing in the landscape of the CFL.

I think you're contradicting yourself.

Yes every QB thinks he has a path to the NFL because of the lure of a $50M usd paycheck. It's both a perception and a reality.  He's not thinking ok I have a 2nd best chance at $1M CAD playing in the CFL because salaries are going up. They're also going up in the NFL.

Like I said, we agree to disagree.  Still waiting to see what the official SMS increase is and what we see or think we see with new players coming to the CFL.


Key Details of the 2026 NFL Salary Increase

• Milestone Cap: This is the first time in league history that the salary cap has surpassed the $300 million mark.
• Rookie Minimum Salary: The minimum base salary for an NFL rookie rose to $885,000, up from $840,000 in 2025.
• Total Player Costs: Projected total player costs per team, including benefits, reach $378.8 million.

[bomb squad]

Getting the top of the range qb salaries into the million dollar area should be a game changer for the CFL. It makes it an immediate more viable option to pursue.

[Tecno]

Not at all. I don't think the perception changes one bit because of a slightly higher SMS and one QB getting $1M. The reality rules over perception.

What you fail to see is that EVERY top-3 QB will be getting $1M+ in the next 3 seasons as their contracts get renewed.  And the next-3 QBs will be getting $750-$900.  Only bottom feeders will be looking at $500k QBs after the DAZN money hits.

I calculated MINIMUM $1M increase in SMS in '28.  QBs going from $500-$600 to $800-$1000 is only $300-$400k of that $1M.  This is a drop in the bucket to the teams and they will gladly spend $400k more to get the best QBs.  That still leaves $600k for everyone else!  Probably more because the math almost certainly works out to more than $1M -- mandated by the CBA as-is!

Lastly, I see your reasonable idea that I'm being contradictory: is it the money or the NFL that's the true lure.  But it's another both/and, not either/or.  The NFL lure will not change, but the real money will sweeten the pot and add respectability.  Think of it as an extra incentive.  I bet a lot of QBs never come north because their friends laugh at the CFL and everyone laughs at the pay as a big joke.  But no one laughs at the psychological magical ONE MILLION DOLLARS!

All of this is nothing but good for the league -- as long as the DAZN money doesn't dry up.  If/when that happens (especially if it happens prematurely!) it will be disaster, destruction and chaos.  I've warned about that already.  But if everyone is running with the drunken sailor DAZN money, we might as well enjoy it for now and throw my caution to the wind!  Because Johnston and 90% of fans aren't thinking about the huge "and then what" elephant in the room.  I've said my peace; I've done my part.  Pass me the booze!

[tlf]

Alexander is signed for "just" over 500k next year.  Does he try and reup after seeing Kelly's contract? Esp after getting the MOP.

[Blue In BC]

What you fail to see is that EVERY top-3 QB will be getting $1M+ in the next 3 seasons as their contracts get renewed.  And the next-3 QBs will be getting $750-$900.  Only bottom feeders will be looking at $500k QBs after the DAZN money hits.

I calculated MINIMUM $1M increase in SMS in '28.  QBs going from $500-$600 to $800-$1000 is only $300-$400k of that $1M.  This is a drop in the bucket to the teams and they will gladly spend $400k more to get the best QBs.  That still leaves $600k for everyone else!  Probably more because the math almost certainly works out to more than $1M -- mandated by the CBA as-is!

Lastly, I see your reasonable idea that I'm being contradictory: is it the money or the NFL that's the true lure.  But it's another both/and, not either/or.  The NFL lure will not change, but the real money will sweeten the pot and add respectability.  Think of it as an extra incentive.  I bet a lot of QBs never come north because their friends laugh at the CFL and everyone laughs at the pay as a big joke.  But no one laughs at the psychological magical ONE MILLION DOLLARS!

All of this is nothing but good for the league -- as long as the DAZN money doesn't dry up.  If/when that happens (especially if it happens prematurely!) it will be disaster, destruction and chaos.  I've warned about that already.  But if everyone is running with the drunken sailor DAZN money, we might as well enjoy it for now and throw my caution to the wind!  Because Johnston and 90% of fans aren't thinking about the huge "and then what" elephant in the room.  I've said my peace; I've done my part.  Pass me the booze!

I pointed out that a $1M CFL deal is still less than the NFL minimum ELC. The goal of imports is the NFL. Their are 3 top QB's in the CFL at the moment. How many of them will be in the CFL in 3 years?  Ottawa doesn't have a QB now. Bombers are not far from that problem either. Regina , Edmonton and Hamilton will lose their starters in that time frame.  No obvious successors on the horizon.

Anyway. I think the speculation about SMS increase is interesting and we'll see what happens.

One of the first things I'll be watching is 2027. Do Rourke and Alexander look to re-negotiate NOW. What happens in Toronto if they over spent on Kelly ( jumped the gun early ) and have to shed SMS elsewhere on the roster. Something like what happened to the Lions with M. Reilly.

One last comment. I'm wondering how the changes to field and rules impacts interest in the CFL and whether it impacts revenue. I've been a CFL fan for nearly 70 years and I'm not sure that the new concept retains my interest as much. It declined for me ( and others ) when we added American teams as an early example.

In particular having 8 of 9 teams make the playoffs is a game changer for me.

[Blue In BC]

Getting the top of the range qb salaries into the million dollar area should be a game changer for the CFL. It makes it an immediate more viable option to pursue.

Maybe but it's been discussed that increasing the ELC minimum could / would have a similar impact.

No one has mentioned the impact of US college NIL deals and that some players coming out of college are already making big money. 

2026 NFL draft pool had 27 players ranked. About 12 -16 were considered high profile and actually drafted.

2027 NFL draft shows 49 QB's will be available in the draft class.

BTW. The NFL salary cap went up $22M in 2026.  Regardless of how much ours goes up, we're chasing the last horse in the race by a mile.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Maybe but it's been discussed that increasing the ELC minimum could / would have a similar impact.

No one has mentioned the impact of US college NIL deals and that some players coming out of college are already making big money. 

2026 NFL draft pool had 27 players ranked. About 12 -16 were considered high profile and actually drafted.

2027 NFL draft shows 49 QB's will be available in the draft class.

BTW. The NFL salary cap went up $22M in 2026.  Regardless of how much ours goes up, we're chasing the last horse in the race by a mile.

Not sure what you're taking about. The CFL isn't chasing anything. No one thinks we're going to be competitive with NFL compensation. But if you're trying to recruit QBs who have no other option to come north, being able to say the top guys make a million a year makes the job far easier.

[Jesse]

Maybe but it's been discussed that increasing the ELC minimum could / would have a similar impact.

No one has mentioned the impact of US college NIL deals and that some players coming out of college are already making big money. 

2026 NFL draft pool had 27 players ranked. About 12 -16 were considered high profile and actually drafted.

2027 NFL draft shows 49 QB's will be available in the draft class.

BTW. The NFL salary cap went up $22M in 2026.  Regardless of how much ours goes up, we're chasing the last horse in the race by a mile.

No one understands why you keep bringing up the NFL. No one is suggesting we will ever compete with them. Were talking about players not in the NFL who don't come up north because it hasnt been financially viable for them.

[TBURGESS]

The CFL can't compete with the NFL on salaries. We are competing against whatever job these QB's who won't come up to Canada to play are getting after their college careers are over. The CFL already pays more than most of those jobs anyway. $100K for a 6-month job right out of college is pretty good IMO. 

[Blue In BC]

No one understands why you keep bringing up the NFL. No one is suggesting we will ever compete with them. Were talking about players not in the NFL who don't come up north because it hasnt been financially viable for them.

I keep bringing it up because the players not in the NFL still only have the same options. CFL, USFL or the coach. Having a possible larger pay day for a QB doesn't change that issue. It's already been pointed out that they have little other option. How does a new $1M salary at the top become a tipping point?

A higher ELC might create more incentive on an immediate basis for a rookie. $100K is better than $75K. There are 45 players on a roster of which about half are Americans.

As far as QB's we've covered that the ELC is a minimum salary. If a given team is interested in a QB that doesn't think it's worth coming to Canada, does his attitude change if we offer him $150K.

Sure it's good to attract better QB prospects but those candidates are still going to be starting at the bottom. Players will also consider the talent of the QB's ahead of them on a roster.

[Jesse]

I keep bringing it up because the players not in the NFL still only have the same options. CFL, USFL or the coach. Having a possible larger pay day for a QB doesn't change that issue. It's already been pointed out that they have little other option. How does a new $1M salary at the top become a tipping point?

A higher ELC might create more incentive on an immediate basis for a rookie. $100K is better than $75K. There are 45 players on a roster of which about half are Americans.

As far as QB's we've covered that the ELC is a minimum salary. If a given team is interested in a QB that doesn't think it's worth coming to Canada, does his attitude change if we offer him $150K.

Sure it's good to attract better QB prospects but those candidates are still going to be starting at the bottom.

We're all discussing more money. Yes, the million dollar salary creates awareness that a higher ELC does not. No, we cant raise ELC's in this moment, but if the cap goes way up then the ELC will also get bumped in the new CBA. We just don't have that info yet.

Obviously more money will bring in more people. It feels crazy that you're arguing the point.

[Blue In BC]

We're all discussing more money. Yes, the million dollar salary creates awareness that a higher ELC does not. No, we cant raise ELC's in this moment, but if the cap goes way up then the ELC will also get bumped in the new CBA. We just don't have that info yet.

Obviously more money will bring in more people. It feels crazy that you're arguing the point.

I keep telling you that the ELC doesn't have to increase in order to pay a rookie more.

Let's use Diego Pavia as an example the team think is a " better candidate ". I don't know they think that but for the sake of argument let's say they do.

So they call his agent and offer a 3 year deal starting at $100K with an additional $50 signing bonus. A raise in season 2 of another $25K and ditto in season 3.

Bird in the hand versus bird in the bush. That's a pretty simple business analysis. I don't know why that's so hard to understand.

If you start a new job on Monday, are you more interested in your starting salary or the fact you could end up as an executive in the future.

[Tecno]

If you start a new job on Monday, are you more interested in your starting salary or the fact you could end up as an executive in the future.

Depends on the person. But if your mindset is you're going to be the ceo in 9 to 18 months you probably don't care what your starting salary is.

That's what these qbs are thinking. That's the Kelly scenario. And it is possible!