1st & 10 | The Complete Blue Bombers QB Picture
Let's open this week with the following statement-slash-proclamation: there's already a spot waiting for Zach Collaros in the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame and the Ring of Honour and, very likely, his bust will one day be included among the legends at the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, too.
Just to reinforce that, Collaros now ranks third in Blue Bombers history in career passing yardage behind only Dieter Brock and Khari Jones, has won two Grey Cups and appeared in three other championship games during his time behind centre here and has the second-best winning percentage in franchise history with a 55-22 record (71.4), behind only Jim Van Pelt at 20-5 (80.0). He also ranks 15th in CFL history in passing yardage.
There's also this: he's 37 and will turn 38 next August, is entering the final year of his current contract in 2026. And as of right now there is no clear-cut heir apparent at QB1 although there are options already in house and potentially on the near horizon and 11 intriguing quarterback names on the team's 45-player negotiation list, eight of which have been added during the 2025 NCAA season.
With all that in mind, let's take a peek at the Blue Bombers organizational QB depth chart, to to speak, in this week's edition of 1st & 10...
THE STARTER
We gushed about QB1 above and, as some of the numbers bear out, with good reason. There's nothing to say that Collaros can't continue to put up superb numbers, although they dipped last year as he missed five starts and did not finish three other games in posting his lowest totals since becoming a Blue Bomber. The big caveat in that being he was working with a new offensive coordinator and with often a revolving door at the receiver position.
And so, when he's on it looks like it did against Hamilton in late September when he completed 2o of 25 passes for 367 yards and a touchdown a total which suggests in the right system and surrounded by consistent personnel he could enjoy a revival in 2026 the way Trevor Harris has in Saskatchewan and Bo Levi Mitchell in Hamilton. Still, there is little doubt the club must also be prepared for life after Zach or have options coming out of the bullpen if he can't finish games or be available for others as was the case in '25.
THE DEPTH CHART BEHIND COLLAROS
–Terry Wilson finished the season as the back-up to Collaros as veteran Chris Streveler was injured in the regular-season finale. Wilson, now 27, has dressed for all 36 regular season games over the last two years, sometimes as the No. 2 to Streveler or Collaros and often as the third QB on the depth chart. Still, he's only thrown 22 passes over those two years with 12 completions for 79 yards — all but one of those passes coming in the regular-season finale this year.
No one is questioning his arm strength, and there were flashes in his extended work against Montreal that he can be effective, especially when he's using his legs to move the pocket or extend plays. Yet, it's also fair to wonder if his lack of playing time over the last two years — and there were opportunities — says something about the coaching staff's faith in him.
–Chris Streveler is a pending free agent and, after ripping up his knee in the last game of the regular season for the second straight year it's not overly dramatic to ask now what's next for the popular veteran given the depth at the position already on the roster. Say what you will about how it looked at times this year, but the team was 4-1 in his starts as he worked with some of the same challenges Collaros also struggled with all year.
–Chase Artopeous dressed for five games as a rookie in 2024 — the five games Collaros was not on the roster — but did not throw a pass. He posted solid numbers as a starter at Tennessee-Chattanooga in 2023-24, but with limited practice reps and no playing time in the regular season he still remains very much an unknown.
–Bryce Perkins was signed less than a month ago and can already be listed as one of the more fascinating players to track when camp opens next spring. A star at the University of Virginia back in 2018-19, Perkins — who turns 29 later this month — has an impressive pro profile after making one start for the Los Angeles Rams and being a member of their Super Bowl LVI championship in 2021. He spent two years in the UFL, and this past season was named the league's MVP and Offensive Player of the Year for his work with the Michigan Panthers.
If his skills translate quickly to the CFL — and that's not always a given — then the Blue Bombers may have found something in a league where two thirds of the starting QBs are in their 30s in Saskatchewan's Harris (39), Collaros (37), Mitchell in Hamilton (35), Cody Fajardo in Edmonton (33), Calgary's Vernon Adams, Jr. (32) and Toronto's Chad Kelly (31). The three starters in the league still in their 20s are Nathan Rourke in B.C. and Montreal's Davis Alexander (both 27) and Ottawa's Dru Brown (28).
ON THE HORIZON?
Read the rest of the article here...
https://www.bluebombers.com/2025/12/05/1st-10-the-complete-blue-bombers-qb-picture/
Long list on the neg list of QB's including Brian Ah Yat's son. You never know if or when a neg list player gets signed or even pursued by the team.
It's going to depend on what the team feels about the 3 already competing behind Collaros. Two from 2025 may return for TC or be gone before. based either on the evaluation or a neg list choosing to come to Canada.
I'd expect at least a look at 1 or 2 more to add for the early days of TC. Tryout camps and NFL rejects may win an invitation.
Paveia would be a steal, although I think his career is in media if/when the NFL doesn't work. Other than that, still lots of intrigue. I think Wilson has stuck around more because of lack of competition or options than anything he has showed at any point.
Can't help but feel the Bombers will be behind the 8-ball from the start betting the farm on Zach again based on the 2 good performances he put up last season. He's not even ranked in the top 6 QB's in ability anymore, don't know how they could sit through last season and not come to realize he's all out of magic beans and the poor results delivered were not everyone else's fault. Maybe Zach will prove me wrong, but I seldom believe in what I can't see.
Not many options available this off-season but I would straight up trade him to the Argos for Arbuckle, he may not be the best but you get a cheaper, younger, more mobile QB with a decent arm that is intelligent enough to be coached to success with the help of a good OC.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on Today at 12:50:40 AMNot many options available this off-season but I would straight up trade him to the Argos for Arbuckle, he may not be the best but you get a cheaper, younger, more mobile QB with a decent arm that is intelligent enough to be coached to success with the help of a good OC.
No offence, but this is straight up nonsense. I'll pound the table for Zach all day long, but even if the team wanted to trade him (they do not), he's a 600k QB. No one is trading for him when they already have their announced starter.
Quote from: Jesse on Today at 02:47:04 AMNo offence, but this is straight up nonsense. I'll pound the table for Zach all day long, but even if the team wanted to trade him (they do not), he's a 600k QB. No one is trading for him when they already have their announced starter.
Based on what, other than your optimism?
I said I'd make that trade, not Kyle Walters.
Highly paid players do get traded and often as part of the deal they are forced to renegotiate their contract downward. It happened a few years ago when Trevor Harris was traded from the Elks to the Als and took a massive chop in salary.
Quote from: Throw Long Bannatyne on Today at 03:27:56 AMBased on what, other than your optimism?
I said I'd make that trade, not Kyle Walters.
Highly paid players do get traded and often as part of the deal they are forced to renegotiate their contract downward. It happened a few years ago when Trevor Harris was traded from the Elks to the Als and took a massive chop in salary.
We can all agree that Zach did not perform exceptionally well in 2025. But too many people are putting it all on Zach. He had a new OC who seemed to struggle and could be replaced in 2026, and a weaker Oline that will require upgrades and who were responsible for protecting Zach who was under pressure most of the year. He also had receivers who also struggled this past season.
Just to say it was not all on Zach. He deserves another year with some necessary upgrades before deciding he should take a reduced role or be traded.