Bomber Free Agents

[LXTSN]

Do we think we can get Schoen and Lawler both back for another season?
I just have a hard time seeing them make that decision with how that handcuffed our roster options this last season. It's a lot of money to spend on a single position group.
Of those two receivers would you rather retain Lawler or Schoen?
Did we have enough firepower in our receiving core with out both of them?
Sask seems to develop or find WR options better than anyone these days! Meyers, Ajou, Bane, Emilus, Johnson, Picton and Sterns.

[Blue In BC]

Do we think we can get Schoen and Lawler both back for another season?
I just have a hard time seeing them make that decision with how that handcuffed our roster options this last season. It's a lot of money to spend on a single position group.
Of those two receivers would you rather retain Lawler or Schoen?
Did we have enough firepower in our receiving core with out both of them?
Sask seems to develop or find WR options better than anyone these days! Meyers, Ajou, Bane, Emilus, Johnson, Picton and Sterns.

I think we could bring back both of them. I'm not so sure we will. Schoen's injury may delay his return and / or make him more suspect in re-injury. Never really heard what his injury was so that's a question that could be a concern.

It did handcuff our ability with SMS spend potentially otherwise. That said, we finished in 1st and ended up in the Grey Cup.

IMO we didn't have enough firepower in the receiving group. Josh Johnson was a bust. Wheatfall could be good going forward but not that good in 2024.

We succeeded finding O. Wilson but I don't know why we weren't shuffling through more candidates on our PR to find another good rookie.

If Woli was healthy our overall receiver / depth would have been better but by how much?

Finding very good receivers has not been a strong suit for Winnipeg for many years. We've brought in veterans at times but besides Schoen and Wilson who have we found on our own? Lawler was a cut by the Lions before we brought him to Winnipeg.

Woli was a good find, but he's not a # 1 or even a # 2 guy.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Do we think we can get Schoen and Lawler both back for another season?
I just have a hard time seeing them make that decision with how that handcuffed our roster options this last season. It's a lot of money to spend on a single position group.
Of those two receivers would you rather retain Lawler or Schoen?
Did we have enough firepower in our receiving core with out both of them?
Sask seems to develop or find WR options better than anyone these days! Meyers, Ajou, Bane, Emilus, Johnson, Picton and Sterns.

Hard to say. It depends how everything else shakes out. If basically everyone else comes back it's going to be difficult and probably impossible. If we've got the appetite to make some changes then it's likely a possibility if we want that.

For example: Are we willing to move on from Neufeld and go with Gabe Wallace? Are we willing to replace Drew Wolitarsky for Kevens Clercius? What about Brandon Alexander? Can we find a more economical option? Wilson or Dolegala for Streveler? (Dolegala might not a savings but Wilson would be, likely) Can we run thinner at Canadian DL and run with Lawson and Schemekel or equivalent? What if we turned that Canadian DL spot in an import spot and found first year Americans? How much less effective would it really be?

[BlueFire]

Here's who I wouldn't bring back:

Chris Streveler (next year barring a big surprise might be): Collaros, Wilson, Dolegala/Grainer)
Johnny Augustine
Dalton Schoen
Lucky Whitehead
Patrick Neufeld (somewhat on the fence, not sure what we'll get in another year).
Celestin Haba (a very disappointing year 2, outplayed by Garbutt)
Jake Thomas
Adam Bighill

Thomas has stuck around because of his passport.

[Blue In BC]

Those that I don't expect back but as you decide on some, it may leave room, experience and SMS for others to be retained. You can't disregard 15 - 20 players per se.

Noting that my list is still actually longer but includes some 2nd year import DL where SMS is not specifically an issue.

In the case of the list it's where we might need to make some decisions to save SMS in order to re-sign others. Some on the list have value but will it be best bang for the buck? It would be helpful to know current contract money.

1. Augustine
2. Benson
3. Bighill
4. Feltmate
5. Gauthier
6. Nick Hallett
7. Noah Hallett
8. Neufeld
9. Streveler
10. Thomas
11. K. Wilson
12. Wolitarski
13. Dolegala
14. Whitehead
15. Parker

[Jesse]

Here's who I wouldn't bring back:

Chris Streveler (next year barring a big surprise might be): Collaros, Wilson, Dolegala/Grainer)
Johnny Augustine
Dalton Schoen
Lucky Whitehead
Patrick Neufeld (somewhat on the fence, not sure what we'll get in another year).
Celestin Haba (a very disappointing year 2, outplayed by Garbutt)
Jake Thomas
Adam Bighill

I think it's safe to say that almost all of those players will be back.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

I think it's safe to say that almost all of those players will be back.

You're probably correct.

[blue_gold_84]

Would Kongbo be worth a look? He didn't play this past season but I think he still has plenty left in the tank.

[Blue In BC]

You're probably correct.

That would be unfortunate IMO.

[TrueBlue4]

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)

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

[bwiser]

Would Kongbo be worth a look? He didn't play this past season but I think he still has plenty left in the tank.

He would be worth bringing into camp and see how he looks. He is a national who could possibly start depending how he showed in camp. If he doesn't look good in camp release him.

[BBRT]

I think it's safe to say that almost all of those players will be back.

If that is the case then we are in deep deep do-do as a bunch of these folks are long past their best before date IMHO.

[dd]

I d definitely bring back Lawler as our #1 reciever---proved beyond a doubt in the WF his worth as a #1, single handedly won the game for us.

For the other starters, I'd have Demski, Woli and Wilson, with Clercius as depth/backup.

I think we need a solid #2, I wouldn't bring in Schoen due to injury history, he may be back later in the season and his contract hit would be prorated.

So find a good #2 who's a FA on a team that isn't going anywhere ie Ottawa, Hamilton, Edmonton, Calgary. Maybe Wilson can develop into a more dominant role, who knows. Wheatfall definitely doesn't have it.

[Pete]

It's a balancing act of retaining experience but also bringing alone the younger less expensive players and fitting it all into the SMS.

I'd target about 6 new starters in a new season as the max I'd like to imagine. We exceeded that in 2024 and hence the slow start.

Six new starters
Guard (free agent signing)
Wide receiver (rookie)
Dt or de (free agent)
Safety (rookie)
Returner (rookie)
Both the guard and dline would require big investments.
I am not including positions as mlb where jones already became starter

[Blue In BC]

Six new starters
Guard (free agent signing)
Wide receiver (rookie)
Dt or de (free agent)
Safety (rookie)
Returner (rookie)
Both the guard and dline would require big investments.
I am not including positions as mlb where jones already became starter

Both Dobson and Neufeld are potential free agents. So it may not cost as much more as it appears on the surface. Both could be back or we could see Wallace as a starter and a free agent added as well.

It's never a sure thing but the team will have graded everybody. Then they'll look at SMS and other opportunities. The draft comes into play and that might be the new # 6 OL.