Remaining Blue Bomber Free Agents as of January 9, 2023

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

You would think not (like SAM, haha).  But, man, do the run-D stats really start to suffer when you don't have top DT talent.  And it's a really hard position to eyeball and judge because most of their work is hidden in the scrum.

The big thing for me is can a DT shed the tackles, know where the ball is coming, and make the A or B-gap tackle.  That is key.  Nevis was DA MAN at that.  The weaker guys can't shed those OL paws and RBs zoom right past them.  Pass pressure is, for me, a distant second consideration.

I'm glad we have Fatboi, as he stabilizes the shaky and ever-changing DT unit, and adds vet presence and certainly knowledge.  Like you, I was also impressed with the little we saw of Walker and Lawson.  Both made some pivotal (but, again, hard to see) plays last season.  Are we good enough with them?  No one knows.  One would think there must be some new faces being brought into TC...

Lawson is going to be a good Natl. replacement for Jake when he decides to hang em up.  Not that impressed with Ricky Walker when he's played, but he will be going into his 3rd season with the team, so perhaps they see him as Sayles legitimate replacement.

[ModAdmin]

Here is a good summary of where things stand - roster-wise - just prior to Free Agency (provided by Ed Tait...

DEFENCE

Defensive line

Under contract: DE Willie Jefferson, DE Jackson Jeffcoat, DT Jake Thomas*, DT Cam Lawson*, DT Ricky Walker, DE DeJuan Cooper, DE Thiadric Hansen (Global), DT Cole Adamson* (2022 CFL Draft pick)

Pending Blue Bomber free agents: DT Casey Sayles, DE Keion Adams

Linebackers

Under contract: Adam Bighill, Kyrie Wilson, Malik Clements, Brian Cole, Shayne Gauthier*, Tanner Cadwallader*

Pending Blue Bomber free agents: Jesse Briggs*, Les Maruo (G)

Secondary

Under contract: DB Deatrick Nichols, CB Winston Rose, S Brandon Alexander, DB/CB Desmond Lawrence, DB/CB Demerio Houston, Dime Alden Darby, Jr., DB Evan Holm, DB/CB Jamal Parker, S Nick Hallett*, S Noah Hallett *, DB Redha Kramdi*, DB Souleymane Karamoko (G), DB Cedrick Lavigne*, DB Deuce Wallace, DB Karon Delince, Jacob Janke*

Note: CB Tyrell Ford* has signed with the Green Bay Packers but remains under contract to the Blue Bombers should he be released

Pending Blue Bomber free agents: DB Nick Taylor, DB Mercy Maston

OFFENCE

Quarterbacks

Under contract: Zach Collaros, Dru Brown

Pending Blue Bomber free agent: Dakota Prukop

Receivers

Under contract: Nic Demski*, Drew Wolitarsky*, Dalton Schoen, Brendan O?Leary-Orange*, Janarion Grant, Carlton Agudosi, Tavaris Harrison, Jaivon Heiligh (late practice roster addition last year), Timothy Knuettel (Global, late practice roster addition last year).

'New' faces: Kenny Lawler (agreed in principle)

Pending Blue Bombers free agents: SB Rasheed Bailey, SB Greg Ellingson

Running backs/Fullbacks

Under contract: RB Brady Oliveira*, RB/SB Greg McCrae, RB Johnny Augustine*, FB Mike Miller*, FB Konner Burtenshaw*

Pending Blue Bomber free agents: none

Offensive line

Under contract: LT Stanley Bryant, RG Pat Neufeld*, RT Jermarcus Hardrick, G Geoff Gray*, G Chris Kolankowski*, G Liam Dobson*, OT Drew Richmond, Tui Eli* (returns after not playing in 2022), Tomoya Machino (G)

Pending Blue Bomber free agents: C Michael Couture*

SPECIALISTS

Under contract: P/PK Marc Liegghio*, LS Mike Benson*, KR Janarion Grant

Pending Blue Bomber free agents: none

3. One of the narratives occasionally stoked up since last fall, and especially after the one-point loss in the Grey Cup, is how the Blue Bombers have an aging roster staring at a championship window open for only so long. It?s valid, but some context is also needed here. Consider the list of projected Blue Bombers starters who are currently 30 and over:

LB Adam Bighill (34)
LT Stanley Bryant (36)
RT Jermarcus Hardrick (32)
G Pat Neufeld (34)
C Chris Kolankowski (31)
QB Zach Collaros (34)
Dime Alden Darby, Jr. (30)
DE Jackson Jeffcoat (32)
DE Willie Jefferson (32)
DT Jake Thomas (32)
LB Kyrie Wilson (30)

So, while we're doing this, here are the Blue Bombers projected starters currently under 30 years of age:

WR Carlton Agudosi (29)
S Brandon Alexander (29)
SB Nic Demski (29)
G Geoff Gray (28)
DB Demerio Houston (26)
DB Desmond Lawrence (28)
DB Deatrick Nichols (28)
RB Brady Oliveira (25)
CB Winston Rose (29)
WR Dalton Schoen (26)
WR Drew Wolitarsky (27)
WR Kenny Lawler (28)
DT Ricky Walker (26)

[pjrocksmb]

Nice mix of vets of younger players.  I want at least one more cup in next three years and two home playoff games.

[TecnoGenius]

I can argue that point. Stove's best season was 25 tackles and 2 sacks.  Since then he played half a season and then missed a season.

And durability is an asset. 

Yes, I should have qualified my statement.  Stove is better than Sayles when he's on the field.  From a signing standpoint, Sayles was way better than Stove in '22 because Stove didn't see the field.  So KW did the right thing in hindsight.

But surely you can't say that for the games where Stove was on the field we had a weaker run D than when Sayles was on the field...

Maybe the Bomber DT curse will follow Sayles and now Sayles will spend a year in the tub.  Maybe it's our way of sabotaging other teams. 

[the paw]

Yes, I should have qualified my statement.  Stove is better than Sayles when he's on the field.  From a signing standpoint, Sayles was way better than Stove in '22 because Stove didn't see the field.  So KW did the right thing in hindsight.

But surely you can't say that for the games where Stove was on the field we had a weaker run D than when Sayles was on the field...

Maybe the Bomber DT curse will follow Sayles and now Sayles will spend a year in the tub.  Maybe it's our way of sabotaging other teams. 

No.  Stoves best season, when he WAS on the field, was less than either of Sayles 2 seasons.  Full stop.

Durability is just an additional reason Sayles got paid.

If you want to argue Stove is a better run stopper you can, but most CFL teams are looking for DTs that can play on both running downs and passing downs.

[TecnoGenius]

If you want to argue Stove is a better run stopper you can, but most CFL teams are looking for DTs that can play on both running downs and passing downs.

You only have to look at the '21 season, and go read the forum posts (and most not from me).  The parts of the season where Stove was missing and it was Sayles starting in his place our run D really sufferred.  When Stove came back it was back to '19 run-D.  I don't think many would dispute this.  It was talked about on here a ton.

You make a good point though in that maybe Sayles is a better complete package.  Maybe.  Sayles does have more speed and can reach the QB a bit more.  So maybe he is the better pass rusher.  However, I do remember Stove barrelling through the C & G's a few times to reach the QB for some big hits too.

It'll be interesting to see how Stove (and maybe even Nevis) has his season/career progress in 2023, compared to Sayles.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

You only have to look at the '21 season, and go read the forum posts (and most not from me).  The parts of the season where Stove was missing and it was Sayles starting in his place our run D really sufferred.  When Stove came back it was back to '19 run-D.  I don't think many would dispute this.  It was talked about on here a ton.

You make a good point though in that maybe Sayles is a better complete package.  Maybe.  Sayles does have more speed and can reach the QB a bit more.  So maybe he is the better pass rusher.  However, I do remember Stove barrelling through the C & G's a few times to reach the QB for some big hits too.

It'll be interesting to see how Stove (and maybe even Nevis) has his season/career progress in 2023, compared to Sayles.

To be fair Stove was gone for the first half of the season and I believe Sayles was just getting his feet wet in his rookie season.

[pjrocksmb]

Stove was good and reliable

Sayles slightly more versatile

I really like them both

[GCn19]

Stove and Sayles were both good for different reasons imo. Is Sayles worth 200k per? I don't think so. However, I don't think any DT is. I would say 2020 Richardson was better than Sayles in 2021, but rookie seasons aside I don't think there is much question that Sayles is now having a better career. The number one reason DTs have short careers is because they prove to be unreliable injury wise. Richardson is dangerously close to receiving that unreliable sticker next to his name.

[GCn19]

Yes, I agree.  Worth it to them.  But he's not worth that to me or (it would seem) any other team.

Here's my main problem: neither Nevis nor Stove earned $200k when they departed WPG, did they?  No one can argue that Nevis and Stove weren't better then Sayles.

And it still doesn't explain why HAM would do this with Wynn and Laurent, unless one of those isn't coming back.

And is Stove still under contract?  I would guess he'd be starting as a star DT this season if he's finally out of the tub.

Laurent is not the player he used to be, and Wynn doesn't play NT. Micah had a great season and is likely looking to cash in as well. So that is Hamilton's reasoning in a nut shell. The market dictates what the prices will be. Right now DTs and receivers are at a premium. These things tend to cycle based on supply and demand.

[LXTSN]

Stove and Sayles were both good for different reasons imo. Is Sayles worth 200k per? I don't think so. However, I don't think any DT is. I would say 2020 Richardson was better than Sayles in 2021, but rookie seasons aside I don't think there is much question that Sayles is now having a better career. The number one reason DTs have short careers is because they prove to be unreliable injury wise. Richardson is dangerously close to receiving that unreliable sticker next to his name.

This is kind of my point also. I see why we would overpay at this position when we've been able to find and develop talent at that position year after year.
We have a bright future at the position with Lawson and Adamson. Adamson did get 2 tackles and a sack in the home preseason game this year too.

[Pigskin]

1 day left and nothing happening in Bomber land. I was hoping we would sign Purkop over the weekend. Still hope there is time and money to sign Bailey. Maruo would be a nice global re-signing. DT still a ? Walker has been okay as a rotational player.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

1 day left and nothing happening in Bomber land. I was hoping we would sign Purkop over the weekend. Still hope there is time and money to sign Bailey. Maruo would be a nice global re-signing. DT still a ? Walker has been okay as a rotational player.

I wonder if the Bombers have lined up a young QB coming to camp who they think can replace Prukop as the 3rd down specialist.  No idea who is on their radar.

[Blue In BC]

1 day left and nothing happening in Bomber land. I was hoping we would sign Purkop over the weekend. Still hope there is time and money to sign Bailey. Maruo would be a nice global re-signing. DT still a ? Walker has been okay as a rotational player.

I agree. Getting Prukop back wouldn't hurt. OTOH, a # 3 QB with a higher ceiling as a development player is not the worst situation either. No idea how much Prukop is on SMS but a rookie on an ELC would save some money.

Maruo was probably our 2nd best Global. I expect he is re-signed.

Bailey is a puzzle. It doesn't seem like other teams have made any offers and receivers are changing teams in large numbers. There are some opening with other teams but SMS may be a downfall. Ditto for the Bombers on being able to pay him.

At this point I don't see any help on the DL with potential free agents. Some talent but older and expensive. I don't see us making a move there.

If we choose to not re-sign Maruo and Briggs, I can see the chance of looking at adding a LB in free agency. Depending on hot the team feels about Cole, Cooper and Clements, perhaps we add a new LB as a DI. That might include replacing Clements if SMS overall is involved.

IE: A free agent that is better but costs a little more. SMS could be made up by by rookies on ELC's replacing Briggs, Maruo and Clements ( possibly ).

Now is there a candidate that fills the loss in depth both on defence and ST's at a SMS we can manage? I've always liked Awe but Clements isn't bad either.


Obviously there are many players a fan might want to add. However it comes down to SMS and a role which might be role player rather than a direct starter.

[Jesse]

1 day left and nothing happening in Bomber land. I was hoping we would sign Purkop over the weekend. Still hope there is time and money to sign Bailey. Maruo would be a nice global re-signing. DT still a ? Walker has been okay as a rotational player.

We can't buy our whole team in FA.

The scouts have to earn their checks too.