Bomber Free Agents

[Pete]

A short list of players that might be SMS issues.

1. Ford. I have heard he has some new NFL tryouts. So that might be beyond our control.
2. Holm. He might be the next Houston where other teams offer more that we can compete with realistically.
3. Dobson. Re-signing good Canadians early in their careers is not always easy.
4. Lawler. Can we fit him into the SMS? Does he want more than in 2024?
5. Schoen. Same question as Lawler except he won't looking for a raise.

I think the rest of the potential free agents that we want to retain will be back. The question is how does the re-negotiating go for those in the list. In theory we were close to SMS cap, so there is not a lot of room to spend cumulatively more without something giving.

That's where the need to part ways with some older more expensive vets comes into play.

Don't think Lawler will ask for or deserves a raise, yes he had a good wf but 662 yds this year, 902 the year before despite being by far the primary target for Collaros doesn't warrant the salary hes making  (285k). He does make some great catches but the ability to stay healthy is a factor as well. Note his catch to target ration is also very low but that's a lot on Zac for forcing throws to him even when the completion probability is low and when Zac should be looking elsewhere.
If he wants more than 230k I'd let him walk and look elsewhere for 1 or even two free agents. (Schoen if he's healthy but that may be a big risk unless we have him on an incentive laden contract)

[Blue In BC]

Don't think Lawler will ask for or deserves a raise, yes he had a good wf but 662 yds this year, 902 the year before despite being by far the primary target for Collaros doesn't warrant the salary hes making  (285k). He does make some great catches but the ability to stay healthy is a factor as well. Note his catch to target ration is also very low but that's a lot on Zac for forcing throws to him even when the completion probability is low and when Zac should be looking elsewhere.
If he wants more than 230k I'd let him walk and look elsewhere for 1 or even two free agents. (Schoen if he's healthy but that may be a big risk unless we have him on an incentive laden contract)

I'd like to think we can get Lawler, Schoen and even Collaros to drop their contract levels. If we let them reach free agency it becomes a slippery slope.

We lose opportunities to move in another directions across the roster while we wait. After the 1st week of free agency those available are not usually the top players.

I think we need to know what their plans are before we reach free agency so we can react accordingly.

It's possible that some teams might still offer them more than we are prepared to pay.

I like the idea of incentive laden contracts for Schoen in particular.

[dd]

id be going after begelton if hes a FA, he's gotta want to get out of calgary s mess and go to a championship before his career is over

But there's all kinds of recievers out there for under $200k that can produce for us

[Pete]

unfortunately begelton isnt a free agent https://www.bgmsportstrax.com/2024/11/20/cfl-free-agency-2025-potential-list/
interesting free agents include; eugene Lewis, Coxiee. Tevon Jones, Hardy (who is exactly the type o reciever i think we could use,) Julian-Grant,Kiondre Smith, Mayala,Mcinnis

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

A short list of players that might be SMS issues.

1. Ford. I have heard he has some new NFL tryouts. So that might be beyond our control.
2. Holm. He might be the next Houston where other teams offer more that we can compete with realistically.
3. Dobson. Re-signing good Canadians early in their careers is not always easy.
4. Lawler. Can we fit him into the SMS? Does he want more than in 2024?
5. Schoen. Same question as Lawler except he won't looking for a raise.

I think the rest of the potential free agents that we want to retain will be back. The question is how does the re-negotiating go for those in the list. In theory we were close to SMS cap, so there is not a lot of room to spend cumulatively more without something giving.

That's where the need to part ways with some older more expensive vets comes into play.

The Bombers do have some expiring vets but they're not all making excess money, Kyrie, Jake Thomas, BA, Neufeld and the rest of the O-line are all making fair journeyman wages but nothing excessive that needs trimming. The exception maybe Stanley, who is probably still making in the neighbourhood of $200k.

The good news is few existing players will be looking for raises after this season, other than those coming off ELC's who will receive modest bumps + Ford and Holm who may be the biggest challenge.  Lawler, Schoen and Demski will either stand pat or take cuts, Willie can't ask for more, Kramdi and Nichols are set and the LB crew is all new so no new expenses there.  All in all, I'd say they're in a better financial state than they were going into this season.

[Blue In BC]

The Bombers do have some expiring vets but they're not all making excess money, Kyrie, Jake Thomas, BA, Neufeld and the rest of the O-line are all making fair journeyman wages but nothing excessive that needs trimming. The exception maybe Stanley, who is probably still making in the neighbourhood of $200k.

The good news is few existing players will be looking for raises after this season, other than those coming off ELC's who will receive modest bumps + Ford and Holm who may be the biggest challenge.  Lawler, Schoen and Demski will either stand pat or take cuts, Willie can't ask for more, Kramdi and Nichols are set and the LB crew is all new so no new expenses there.  All in all, I'd say they're in a better financial state than they were going into this season.

Point and example about LB's. Jones and Cole are potential free agents. They might be looking at jumps from ELC to $100K. K. Wilson is probably above that or at the very least at that level. Bighill is above $100K Even if those 2 accept $85K that's still more than ELC and roster size doesn't allow to keep everyone on the AR.  It's SMS, ratio and roster.

So are you willing to release Wilson and / or Bighill in order to retain Jones and / or Cole?

As I've pointed out, even small increases for a bunch of those that are option year players ( 2 contract players ) means something has to be trimmed.

It doesn't really matter if some of those you mentioned are earning " fair " journeyman wages. The SMS is the SMS and for every $1 extra we have to find $1 less somewhere.

Someone suggested we might be able to re-sign Holm and Ford for $100K more in total. I'd don't agree it will be that little but lets say that evaluation is correct. Dobson might be another one in line for a $50K jump.

Where does the money for those 3 alone come from? Noting that if a player earning $150K is released, it's not a $150K reduction in SMS because you still would add an ELC player for roster size.

[dd]

unfortunately begelton isnt a free agent https://www.bgmsportstrax.com/2024/11/20/cfl-free-agency-2025-potential-list/
interesting free agents include; eugene Lewis, Coxiee. Tevon Jones, Hardy (who is exactly the type o reciever i think we could use,) Julian-Grant,Kiondre Smith, Mayala,Mcinnis

Dang. He would have been  a good one to pick up

Lewis is over paid and over rated. Coxie's a beast but doubt he leaves the big smoke. Hardy would be a nice pickup and he's got to want to get out of Ottawa.

 Not sure what type of $$ McInnis would want but he'd be awesome as well. If we're talking Schoen dollars, I m sure we could make it work, and the guy is always on the field vs in the hot tub.

[Blue In BC]

Dang. He would have been  a good one to pick up

Lewis is over paid and over rated. Coxie's a beast but doubt he leaves the big smoke. Hardy would be a nice pickup and he's got to want to get out of Ottawa.

 Not sure what type of $$ McInnis would want but he'd be awesome as well. If we're talking Schoen dollars, I m sure we could make it work, and the guy is always on the field vs in the hot tub.

McMinnis would be a great pick up but I don't think he leaves Toronto. If he did, he'd be another player we have to reduce our SMS spend elsewhere. Bighill SMS would be the gating differential to evaluate.

Adding very good players is not the issue, it's how to fit them into the SMS.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Point and example about LB's. Jones and Cole are potential free agents. They might be looking at jumps from ELC to $100K. K. Wilson is probably above that or at the very least at that level. Bighill is above $100K Even if those 2 accept $85K that's still more than ELC and roster size doesn't allow to keep everyone on the AR.  It's SMS, ratio and roster.

So are you willing to release Wilson and / or Bighill in order to retain Jones and / or Cole?

As I've pointed out, even small increases for a bunch of those that are option year players ( 2 contract players ) means something has to be trimmed.

It doesn't really matter if some of those you mentioned are earning " fair " journeyman wages. The SMS is the SMS and for every $1 extra we have to find $1 less somewhere.

Someone suggested we might be able to re-sign Holm and Ford for $100K more in total. I'd don't agree it will be that little but lets say that evaluation is correct.

Where does the money for those 2 alone come from?

I'm not worried about a few shekels here and there as I think they'll go over the SMS in the year of their GC, not excessively enough to lose a draft pick, but I see no problem exceeding the budget.

As for cuts to afford Ford and Holm, I think there's a good chance Ford goes elsewhere so they may only have to deal with Holm who I think will be appeased by $130-140k. 

Biggie and Bryant are making excess above journeyman wages, those are the two I would probably move on from based on the principle of age alone.  They'll be gone soon enough, why wait for the inevitable to happen when you can act on it?

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Dang. He would have been  a good one to pick up

Lewis is over paid and over rated. Coxie's a beast but doubt he leaves the big smoke. Hardy would be a nice pickup and he's got to want to get out of Ottawa.

 Not sure what type of $$ McInnis would want but he'd be awesome as well. If we're talking Schoen dollars, I m sure we could make it work, and the guy is always on the field vs in the hot tub.

Sure be nice to see a big sure-handed receiver like McInnis in the lineup, but he's pretty slow. Always thought finding the next iteration of Greg Ellingson would be the perfect fit.  Regardless unlikely to be any receiver positions up for grabs next season and a few like Clercius may have to take a step back and share a spot.

[Blue In BC]

I'm not worried about a few shekels here and there as I think they'll go over the SMS in the year of their GC, not excessively enough to lose a draft pick, but I see no problem exceeding the budget.

As for cuts to afford Ford and Holm, I think there's a good chance Ford goes elsewhere so they may only have to deal with Holm who I think will be appeased by $130-140k. 

Biggie and Bryant are making excess above journeyman wages, those are the two I would probably move on from based on the principle of age alone.  They'll be gone soon enough, why wait for the inevitable to happen when you can act on it?

Well I for one have no willingness to just go over the cap because it's a Grey Cup year. I also don't think it's part of what Miller / Walters will consider doing.

Moving on from Bighill I think is a very likely possibility. Moving on from Bryant, that's a tough one to contemplate. He's rarely missed a game or an assignment. As mentioned it is a Grey Cup in Winnipeg year. Perhaps not the year to release the best LT in CFL history?

If we lose Ford, which is a distinct possibility ( NFL or other ) then we don't need to worry too much about extra SMS for him. Although if we lose Ford, we may bring Parker back. He won't get a large raise, but he won't be ELC either.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Well I for one have no willingness to just go over the cap because it's a Grey Cup year. I also don't think it's part of what Miller / Walters will consider doing.

You're on one side of the spectrum on exceeding SMS spending, Aards and Techno are on the other side, I'm firmly in the middle.