2025 Free Agency (Blue Bomber Signings/News)

[Pigskin]

to be fair Lawler is being replaced by Schoen Walters said as much
Vanderpool is at least as good as Dobson
I agree we haven't replaced ford
We took a big hit on canadian talent. I agree that Walters should spend at least half of the 400k, even if it doesn't come to fruition as part of salary cap this is a year we could go over and fans would be happy with it.

I think Randolph would step into a starting role before Vanterpool.

[TecnoGenius]

Sounds like he thinks that he was the reason WFC won in 2019, and he thinks he's the savior that is going to break Hamilton's 25 year drought.

And his heel in '24 GC is part of the reason we lost.  What did he do in that game again??

Lawler's clearly lost his mind. Good riddance.

Meh.  He's talking up his game and his new team.  It's all part of the show.  It helps to believe in what you're doing.

[TecnoGenius]

Walters confirms he's spending to the original cap of $5.6 million and is operating as normally planned, he has not touched the extra $400k.

Well that's just insane.  No sense saving it so we can do year-end early signings for '26.  Fans care about the home GC.  WM cares about the home GC.  Players care about the home GC.

We should be spending to the cap and a little beyond (no penalty worth caring about up to $100k overspend!).

The only thing I can think of is we are leaving plenty of room for mid-season NFL cuts, like Pokey.  And maybe some other-team mercenary NFL rejects (like Henoc was).  And vet-cutdown-day CFL rejects too.

This could be the year we are the ones making significant Sep/Oct/Nov player moves to beef up for a GC run (see SSK 2013).

That's my dream, anyhow.

[TecnoGenius]

Our replacement for Dobson is already on our team...Gabe Wallace, the guy is a beast, he made some impressive blocks last year from what I recall, pancaked and bulldozed some opponents. Not worried about losing Dobson.

As 6th/7th.  Not starting OG.  I see nothing to indicate Wallace is ready to start, or even will ever be.  That said, you often can't tell until you throw them in the fire.  So we may start him week 1 just to see, and then revert to Randolph by week 6 if it's not working out.

[blue_gold_84]

Meh.  He's talking up his game and his new team.  It's all part of the show.  It helps to believe in what you're doing.

Until he actually follows up with consistent action, it's all just bluster. Empty words, IMO.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

As 6th/7th.  Not starting OG.  I see nothing to indicate Wallace is ready to start, or even will ever be.  That said, you often can't tell until you throw them in the fire.  So we may start him week 1 just to see, and then revert to Randolph by week 6 if it's not working out.

Can't really say yet, we haven't seen Wallace in any pass blocking situations so we don't know how well he works in reverse. Same with Eli and Dobson, they both do fine aggressively blocking forward, it takes more finesse to pass block well.

[Blue In BC]

Well that's just insane.  No sense saving it so we can do year-end early signings for '26.  Fans care about the home GC.  WM cares about the home GC.  Players care about the home GC.

We should be spending to the cap and a little beyond (no penalty worth caring about up to $100k overspend!).

The only thing I can think of is we are leaving plenty of room for mid-season NFL cuts, like Pokey.  And maybe some other-team mercenary NFL rejects (like Henoc was).  And vet-cutdown-day CFL rejects too.

This could be the year we are the ones making significant Sep/Oct/Nov player moves to beef up for a GC run (see SSK 2013).

That's my dream, anyhow.

We haven't seen any team spend the extra $400K yet. Most of the player movements were made during the tampering period which was before they knew of the increase.

The movement of free agents not due to tampering window deals has dropped significantly. I haven't seen any big name signed which might indicate any team using this extra money. I also can't see too many players left that might get bigger contracts.


O. Wilson is under contract so if he comes back it's on his original deal which was an ELC. While it may not have been rock bottom, it wasn't high either.

NFL cuts coming back mid season for the most part are just PR players. Only a few were veteran players that might have been in the CFL earlier. Only a few exceptions like Rourke and Betts returning in 2024. Mack came back but was still on his ELC IIRC.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

We haven't seen any team spend the extra $400K yet. Most of the player movements were made during the tampering period which was before they knew of the increase.

The movement of free agents not due to tampering window deals has dropped significantly. I haven't seen any big name signed which might indicate any team using this extra money. I also can't see too many players left that might get bigger contracts.


O. Wilson is under contract so if he comes back it's on his original deal which was an ELC. While it may not have been rock bottom, it wasn't high either.

NFL cuts coming back mid season for the most part are just PR players. Only a few were veteran players that might have been in the CFL earlier. Only a few exceptions like Rourke and Betts returning in 2024. Mack came back but was still on his ELC IIRC.

I haven't done the math but I have a hard time believing the Elks did not spend the extra cash, but as Walters said in the interview teams can spend the extra money how ever they see fit. 

[markf]

haven't the Bombers made money every season for some years?

I think the team is operated with that in mind.

Some of the others are, some are not. And one it seems, is run on a shoestring.

[Blue In BC]

I haven't done the math but I have a hard time believing the Elks did not spend the extra cash, but as Walters said in the interview teams can spend the extra money how ever they see fit. 

It was reported that no teams knew of the extra SMS. The Elks also trimmed some high salaries like: Lewis, MBT, Montcrief, Foucault, Oakman, Leonard and Purifoy. They also haven't yet re-signed another dozen or so of their own potential free agents.

Admittedly it's hard to calculate the + or - SMS. OTOH, With the exception of advance money or guaranteed money, none of this counts until final rosters are declared.

[theaardvark]

Ford was basically replaced by a returning Parker..

Every year, you lose all stars, and new all stars show up.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

It was reported that no teams knew of the extra SMS. The Elks also trimmed some high salaries like: Lewis, MBT, Montcrief, Foucault, Oakman and Purifoy. They also haven't yet re-signed another dozen or so of their own potential free agents.

Admittedly it's hard to calculate the + or - SMS. OTOH, With the exception of advance money or guaranteed money, none of this counts until final rosters are declared.

It's the number of $200k+ contracts added that stick out to me, that would include adding Ceresna, Fajardo, Robbie Smith, Brinkman, Ford and Kaion Julien-Grant who could be close. Of course they save a bit paying Tre Ford below premium.

[Blue In BC]

It's the number of $200k+ contracts added that stick out to me, that would include adding Ceresna, Fajardo, Robbie Smith, Brinkman, Ford and Kaion Julien-Grant who could be close. Of course they save a bit paying Tre Ford below premium.

Sure but Lewis was paid more than Lawler in 2024. Their net QB room cost went down after MBT was traded. They only re-signed about 6 of their own 24 potential free agents. There is a lot of SMS going out the door. It's possible the Elks are willing to risk going over the 2025 SMS.

Time will tell who makes the roster and / or who might get traded before final rosters are set.  Here are their details.

Subtracted: QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson (A), DB Darrius Bratton (A), DL Elliott Brown (A), DL Demarcus Christmas (A), REC Gavin Cobb (N), OL David Foucault (N), DB Josh Hagerty (N), REC Tevin Jones (A), P Jake Julien (N), REC Eugene Lewis (A), REC Hergy Mayala (N), REC Dillon Mitchell (A), SAM Derrick Moncrief (A), DL Shawn Oakman (A), DL J-Min Pelley (N), DB Loucheiz Purifoy (A), OL Jakub Szott (N)

Still unsigned: DB Jeremie Dominique (N), REC Vincent Forbes-Mombleau (N), OL Tony Gray (A), DB Scott Hutter (N), DL A.C. Leonard (A), LB Les Maruo (G), DL Romeo McKnight (A), REC Kyran Moore (A), QB Dakota Prukop (A), OL Shane Richards (N), OL Hunter Steward (N)

[CrazyCanuck89]

Can't really say yet, we haven't seen Wallace in any pass blocking situations so we don't know how well he works in reverse. Same with Eli and Dobson, they both do fine aggressively blocking forward, it takes more finesse to pass block well.

You've seen Eli block in passing situations.  He's subbed in at a couple positions during his career.

[Jesse]

I haven't done the math but I have a hard time believing the Elks did not spend the extra cash, but as Walters said in the interview teams can spend the extra money how ever they see fit. 

It just seems like they've spent more because they're turning over more of their roster.