2024 Free Agency Signings/Transactions (Other CFL Teams)

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Looks like free agency is pretty much over, all teams have spent their budget and a lot of veteran players have been left out in the cold.  There may be a few random signings as teams get closer to training camp and discover players coming off injury won't be ready to go, or choose to retire instead of train.  Hopefully the Bombers can get Grant inked, but not expecting much more to happen.

It looks like CFL.ca has not been updating their F.A. list recently, so it's hard to say who exactly is still available.

[TecnoGenius]

Ya, CFL FA24 page is been slow on the updates for weeks.

Yes, we've entered the FA phase where the guys who want to play but are on the couch start looking at lowball offers.  Especially the aging guys.  If a team has kept some powder dry they can score some great deals on some older gambles.

As for Janarion, I have this feeling we'll sign him still.  I have no idea what they are all waiting for.  He won't go for ELC, as I'm sure other teams would happily pay that and more.  But clearly no one wants to pay his ask, which might be somewhat hefty.  Whatever Alford got might be a hint as to Grant's $$, assuming SSK didn't way overpay again.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

I'm on the fence on Janarion. I think if we can get him close to minimum it's probably a good move but much more and I'm thinking hard. He's an exceptional return guy and if we had larger rosters he'd be a slam dunk must sign, but we don't and he offers very little else.  That tradeoff is manageable at a low SMS hit but it makes way less sense if he comes at a premium. Additionally, durability is an issue and he's 30, which isn't old, but returners probably have the biggest cliff at the youngest age. I think I'd probably roll the dice on going younger in that spot with someone new and hoping they can develop into a realistic backup receiver/defensive back. 

[theaardvark]

Love what Grant brings to the game, but he's one of those guys that misses a lot of games.  Returners are not the hardest player to find, and even easier to slot in quick.  We have a lot of potential returners on the roster currently, and the key is to see how they handle the wider, longer field, and the halo. 

If Holm is in fact back, he's been a good returner in the past. 

If Grant is 100% and ready to go, he will get a contract, either here, or somewhere else.  But at this time, it really looks like it teams are going to sign a veteran player, they wanting to invest in players that are durable.

[LXTSN]

Grant is the best in the league and has been for the past few years. Finding a replacement is easy but finding someone who can produce like him is next to impossible.

[theaardvark]

Grant is the best in the league and has been for the past few years. Finding a replacement is easy but finding someone who can produce like him is next to impossible.

Grant was 9th in a 9 team league last year.  Even if you project for a full season, he didn't lead in any category. 

When he is on, he's dynamite. 

The issue is, are we signing the 2022 Grant who was there 16 games and made plays, or the 2023 Grant who was there 8 games and had a play. 

What have you done for me lately...

[blue_gold_84]

Grant was 9th in a 9 team league last year.  Even if you project for a full season, he didn't lead in any category. 

When he is on, he's dynamite. 

The issue is, are we signing the 2022 Grant who was there 16 games and made plays, or the 2023 Grant who was there 8 games and had a play. 

What have you done for me lately...

That should be reflected in the new contract he's being offered.

The team certainly shouldn't blow the bank on an aging return specialist but I'd still prefer to have him on the roster than not. He was still the best returner despite the time missed and I'm not sure that the scouting team has uncovered a superior option.

I still can't help but wonder how his 2023 campaign would've gone had he not been forced to play offense and get injured. That was just bad gameday roster management, IMO.

[Jesse]

No replacement we've put in for Grant has been anything close and at times has actively hurt us.

It has not been as easy position for us to find.

[theaardvark]

That should be reflected in the new contract he's being offered.

The team certainly shouldn't blow the bank on an aging return specialist but I'd still prefer to have him on the roster than not. He was still the best returner despite the time missed and I'm not sure that the scouting team has uncovered a superior option.

I still can't help but wonder how his 2023 campaign would've gone had he not been forced to play offense and get injured. That was just bad gameday roster management, IMO.

Forced to play offense?  Not a lot of "returns only" specialists out there.  Grant had 6 offensive touches, Alford had 2, Leake had 12...

He was far from the best returner (when he played) last year.  He was in 2022.  And he was good in 2021.

We were so fortunate to have signed him away from.. oh wait.. he was a scouting find.  As have been so many of the great returners in the league.  SSK has horrible recruiting and had to pay Alford. 

I have no issue with our scouts finding the next Grant and it costing us ELC money.

No replacement we've put in for Grant has been anything close and at times has actively hurt us.

It has not been as easy position for us to find.

We found Grant... so by definition, the times Grant was in the lineup were games where the guy we "found" helped us... 

[blue_gold_84]

Forced to play offense?  Not a lot of "returns only" specialists out there.  Grant had 6 offensive touches, Alford had 2, Leake had 12...

He was far from the best returner (when he played) last year.  He was in 2022.  And he was good in 2021.

We were so fortunate to have signed him away from.. oh wait.. he was a scouting find.  As have been so many of the great returners in the league.  SSK has horrible recruiting and had to pay Alford. 

I have no issue with our scouts finding the next Grant and it costing us ELC money.

He was the best returner on this team's roster last season. He was put on offense needlessly and got hurt, which further hindered an already shaky special teams unit while he was absent.

Who cares how he was found? And it's not like the scouts have found his replacement yet, anyway.

I'm not sure what you're trying to argue here. If Grant can be retained for a reasonable salary, it seems like a no brainer considering the alternative.

[dd]

I m thinking Walters has made his offer to him and he's waiting to see if he can get bigger $$ elsewhere, which he won't. So he'll sign here again and do our return duties

[theaardvark]

I m thinking Walters has made his offer to him and he's waiting to see if he can get bigger $$ elsewhere, which he won't. So he'll sign here again and do our return duties

I'm not sure that's the case, unless Grant has some proof that he will be more durable this year.  No doubt that he is a great returner, but we have shown that we are not signing players with injury history this year.  From Jefferson to Hansen, many players not re-signed have injury history.

The best ability is availability?  The next, durability? 

Whether Grant is signed or not, there will be stiff competition in TC at the return position.  Even if he is signed, he might not play much in the preseason... save him for live snaps/

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I'm not sure that's the case, unless Grant has some proof that he will be more durable this year.  No doubt that he is a great returner, but we have shown that we are not signing players with injury history this year.  From Jefferson to Hansen, many players not re-signed have injury history.

The best ability is availability?  The next, durability? 

Whether Grant is signed or not, there will be stiff competition in TC at the return position.  Even if he is signed, he might not play much in the preseason... save him for live snaps/

Durability is always an issue with returners as they get smashed at high speed by multiple tacklers multiple times each game.  You're asking him to show proof he won't get injured???

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Jose Borregales, splendido.

[gobombersgo]

Dont forget about this guy: