Bomber Free Agents

[TBURGESS]

Quarterback

Jake Dolegala (A)
Chris Streveler (A)

Running back

Johnny Augustine (N)

Fullback

Bailey Feltmate (N)

Receiver

Kenny Lawler (A)
Dalton Schoen (A)
Lucky Whitehead (A)

Offensive linemen

Stanley Bryant (A)
Liam Dobson (N)
Eric Lofton (A)
Patrick Neufeld (N)

Defensive linemen

Miles Fox (A)
TyJuan Garbutt (A)
Celestin Haba (A)
Willie Jefferson (A)
Jake Thomas (N)

Linebacker

Adam Bighill (A)
Brian Cole (A)
Shayne Gauthier (N)
Tony Jones (A)
Kyrie Wilson (A)

Defensive back

Brandon Alexander (A)
Tyrell Ford (N)
Nick Hallett (N) signed for 2 years - Jan 31 2024
Noah Hallett (N)
Evan Holm (A)
Jamal Parker (A)

Specialists

LS Mike Benson (N)
K Sergio Castillo (A)- re-signed Nov 21, 1 year

I underlined the guys I don't care if we bring back.

[dd]

Agree with most of your selections...I wouldn't be in a hurry to bring any D lineman back until we sign a big name DT and DE. And I'd bring back Alexander for depth/injuries to our starting DB's but a lower $$. Also, Gauthier has been good on ST and is a decent role player on our D.

Key acquisitions needed in 2025- capable #2 Qb, capable #2 reciever, killer DE to compliment Willie, solid DT that commands double teaming vs the space fillers we have now. We get ZERO pressure from our inside D line.

[Ridermania]

Every CFL team has a large list of free agents.

Have to wait to see who retires or still rehabbing.

[Blue In BC]

Agree with most of your selections...I wouldn't be in a hurry to bring any D lineman back until we sign a big name DT and DE. And I'd bring back Alexander for depth/injuries to our starting DB's but a lower $$. Also, Gauthier has been good on ST and is a decent role player on our D.

Key acquisitions needed in 2025- capable #2 Qb, capable #2 reciever, killer DE to compliment Willie, solid DT that commands double teaming vs the space fillers we have now. We get ZERO pressure from our inside D line.

Wilson is a capable # 2 receiver but it's too early to know whether we can afford to bring Lawler or Schoen back.  IMO I'd like both back on smaller contracts.

Nearly our DL players are potential free agents. I'm not sure I want any of them back but you can't replace them all. Some might look worse than they are due to those around them.

My list to not bring back is longer than yours but I'll leave that for awhile to see where the dust settles.

[theaardvark]

Quarterback

Jake Dolegala (A)
Chris Streveler (A)

Running back

Johnny Augustine (N)

Fullback

Bailey Feltmate (N)


Receiver

Kenny Lawler (A)
Dalton Schoen (A)
Lucky Whitehead (A)

Offensive linemen

Stanley Bryant (A)
Liam Dobson (N)
Eric Lofton (A)
Patrick Neufeld (N)

Defensive linemen

Miles Fox (A)
TyJuan Garbutt (A)
Celestin Haba (A)
Willie Jefferson (A)
Jake Thomas (N)


Linebacker

Adam Bighill (A)
Brian Cole (A)
Shayne Gauthier (N)
Tony Jones (A)
Kyrie Wilson (A)

Defensive back

Brandon Alexander (A)
Tyrell Ford (N)
Nick Hallett (N)
Noah Hallett (N)
Evan Holm (A)
Jamal Parker (A)

Specialists

LS Mike Benson (N)
K Sergio Castillo (A)

Bold is "I want them to make their full effort at re-signing"

The rest, if the price is right, of course we'd like them back.

And other than Tyrell Ford and Evan Holm, there isn't any other player on the list that I would make a "sign at all costs" judgement on.

Now the discussion turns to what free agents do we chase in the tampering period...

Tre Ford is my #1 there.

Signing other teams free agents that are worthwhile is costly and not always well advised. Of course, anyone that gets passed over because of that team's $SMS issues are always interesting, like Bailey was last year, but I can't see us being high on the "buyers" list for any help, except at QB1b.

Oline has a full pipeline, and the draft this year.

Dline had a lot come off the IR late, and TC will shake them out.

WR and RB, well... if we only sign Lawler out of the FA list, we sill have Lawler, Demski, Wilson which is a solid core to build around, and some interesting prospects show up every year. 

LB, AB4 will be back, in whatever role, but Cole, Jones and Kramdi are pretty solid.

DB's, we gotta sign Ford and Holm. Nichols and Bonds will be fine, and if we can find a FS in the draft, that's a get.

I don't think Walters is going to have a hard time resigning most of the FA's he wants, and I am confident in our scouts to bring in some good competition for camp.

Interesting, the CFLPA will be putting out a club rating survey for the players, like the NFL, that rates each club to help potential free agents, draft picks and recruits to evaluate decisions. I can't see this being anything but a huge boon to the WFC, they should be top of the chars across the board.

[tlf]

I agree with most of those.   Our backup QBs need refreshing.  Tre Ford to take over the following year anyone?

I fear S. Bryant may retire.

My priorities would be Jefferson, Thomas, Holm, Jones, Ford *if no NFL gig*, Benson, Castillo, and I'd like Hallett back.  Schoen..I'd love him to stay healthy a full season. So good when healthy.

 

[ModAdmin]

I agree with most of those.   Our backup QBs need refreshing.  Tre Ford to take over the following year anyone?

I fear S. Bryant may retire.

My priorities would be Jefferson, Thomas, Holm, Jones, Ford *if no NFL gig*, Benson, Castillo, and I'd like Hallett back.  Schoen..I'd love him to stay healthy a full season. So good when healthy.

 

Bryant has already said that he wants to come back next season.

[tlf]

Bryant has already said that he wants to come back next season.

I missed that.  That is good news for ZC and the other pivots. I wondered with his health scare this year is all but that is great news.  Thanks!

[Blue In BC]

I agree with most of those.  Our backup QBs need refreshing.  Tre Ford to take over the following year anyone?

I fear S. Bryant may retire.

My priorities would be Jefferson, Thomas, Holm, Jones, Ford *if no NFL gig*, Benson, Castillo, and I'd like Hallett back.  Schoen..I'd love him to stay healthy a full season. So good when healthy.

 

I don't think Ford has interest or gets another NFL opportunity. The problem is that he will get other offers in free agency in the CFL. It's possible another team offers him more than we can or should. There has to be a limit.

Benson can still play but we have Leroux returning to TC in 2025. He is probably the succession plan. I don't know what Benson earns but he turns 38 by TC. He might also consider retiring. While I don't think he earns a lot, there might still be a $20K savings on SMS.

It's too bad we don't know what players salaries are since that is part of mitigating the SMS over the roster.

Re-signing Holm and Ford might cost us another $100K each coming off an ELC?

I'm not so sure about Castillo though. He missed a bunch of FG's and that cost us a couple of games. K/O's were generally seemed shorter, but that may have been coaching choices. Again, it depends on what his salary is and what the new expectation will be. Are there other choices available in free agency or recruitment?

Anyone that gets an increase has an equal and opposite result elsewhere on the roster in theory.

[Stats Junkie]

Benson can still play but we have Leroux returning to TC in 2025. He is probably the succession plan. I don't know what Benson earns but he turns 38 by TC. He might also consider retiring. While I don't think he earns a lot, there might still be a $20K savings on SMS.

I hope that Leroux is the long snapper next year.

IMHO, Benson has been wildly inconsistent with his snaps since he arrived in Winnipeg. It was a massive downgrade from Chad Rempel.

Benson can thank Jamieson Sheahan for making him look good better than he is. High snaps, low snaps, inside or outside, Sheahan has done a good job of securing Benson's snaps these past two seasons. I would blame a handful of the Castillo misses on Benson's inconsistency. Even though Sheahan gets the ball down, the timing can be off.

We can do better.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

I don't think Ford has interest or gets another NFL opportunity. The problem is that he will get other offers in free agency in the CFL. It's possible another team offers him more than we can or should. There has to be a limit.

Re-signing Holm and Ford might cost us another $100K each coming off an ELC?

Maybe $100k more together, but not individually, top payment for DB's has to be around $140k, any more and you let them walk and make do with a cheap replacement, dime a dozen etc. Potentially Ford could set a new benchmark for DB's salaries because he's a VG Natl. CB, but $150k should be top offer if he'll sign a 3 year contract.

[Blue In BC]

Maybe $100k more together, but not individually, top payment for DB's has to be around $140k, any more and you let them walk and make do with a cheap replacement, dime a dozen etc. Potentially Ford could set a new benchmark for DB's salaries because he's a VG Natl. CB, but $150k should be top offer if he'll sign a 3 year contract.

Houston got $200K from the Stamps IIRC. We're paying Kramdi $140K if that figure is correct and a CB might hold more value than a SAM. A Canadian CB is more rare IMO.

I'd be happy if we can keep both / either at near $150K. The issue is that some teams try to " buy " a starter in free agency. Desjarlais got something like $230K in Ottawa. OL are valuable but they set the bar higher as a result.

I think Holm has more value than Houston and he'll get offers.

Obviously I'd like both back but if other teams offer more than $150K we may need to pass. My comment was that we could see either at $170K which is a $100K bump each.

You're suggestion for only another $100K in total would take them to about $124K from their ELC of $74K. Almost nobody besides QB's sign 3 year deals anymore. Draft choices but not on 2nd deals.

I'd be thrilled if that happens. We'll see.

[Pete]

Quarterback

Jake Dolegala (A)          replace (Tre Ford)
Chris Streveler (A)        replace ( Wilson)

Running back

Johnny Augustine (N)        replace (Chris Ike)

Fullback

Bailey Feltmate (N)        replace (thru Draft)


Receiver

Kenny Lawler (A)          re-sign but no higher than 220k
Dalton Schoen (A)          re-sign at right price 180K?
Lucky Whitehead (A)        scout for a new returner

Offensive linemen       

Stanley Bryant (A)        re-sign
Liam Dobson (N)            re-sign
Eric Lofton (A)            re-sign
Patrick Neufeld (N)        re-sign reduced role..look at signing younger guard

Defensive linemen
Miles Fox (A)              replace need an upgrade           
TyJuan Garbutt (A)        re-sign
Celestin Haba (A)          replace need an upgrade  ie carrter/Mauldin from ottawa, Uguak mtrl
Willie Jefferson (A)      re-sign
Jake Thomas (N)            replace with lawton


Linebacker

Adam Bighill (A)          ok with re-signing at lower cap hit
Brian Cole (A)            resign
Shayne Gauthier (N)      replace thru draft
Tony Jones (A)            resign
Kyrie Wilson (A)          replace (he's 32 with injury history )

Defensive back

Brandon Alexander (A)    upgrade -esp if we cant resign ford. (BA would be excellent coach) 
Tyrell Ford (N)          re-sign
Nick Hallett (N)          re-sign
Noah Hallett (N)          time to retire, his body cant take much more
Evan Holm (A)            re-sign
Jamal Parker (A)          re-sign and will have to win a spot in training camp

Specialists

LS Mike Benson (N)        replace
K Sergio Castillo (A)    open up competition with CDn or Global, that extra di is valuable

[Pigskin]

Houston got $200K from the Stamps IIRC. We're paying Kramdi $140K if that figure is correct and a CB might hold more value than a SAM. A Canadian CB is more rare IMO.

I'd be happy if we can keep both / either at near $150K. The issue is that some teams try to " buy " a starter in free agency. Desjarlais got something like $230K in Ottawa. OL are valuable but they set the bar higher as a result.

I think Holm has more value than Houston and he'll get offers.

Obviously I'd like both back but if other teams offer more than $150K we may need to pass. My comment was that we could see either at $170K which is a $100K bump each.

You're suggestion for only another $100K in total would take them to about $124K from their ELC of $74K. Almost nobody besides QB's sign 3 year deals anymore. Draft choices but not on 2nd deals.

I'd be thrilled if that happens. We'll see.

There are players signing multi years deals other then QBs. Austin Mack just signed a 4 year deal. Demski will be on his last year of a 3 year deal.

[dd]

Ford will get top $$ in Free Agency and if Houston got $200, he'll easily get $200, and if we won't pay it, I am sure talent starved Edmonton couldn't write a cheque fast enough!! Same goes for Holm...he single handedly won the WF by totally shutting down Emilius, teams will be going after these guys big time as they are shut down game changers. They both would be high priority in my books to re-sign, and it will have to come from somewhere else, likely the D line--we won't be able to sign a big name DE or DT and we'll have to go with status quo, which isn't a bad thing either.

I would go after Tre Ford hard as our #2 and design a tempo package for him to run when he comes in for short yardage and let him roll it with the defenses jumbo package on. I think it would be excellent and he'd be a big step up from Strev. The guy can make plays in a phone booth.