Bombers extend quarterback Zach Collaros through 2026

[Sir Blue and Gold]

WINNIPEG — The Winnipeg Blue Bombers announced on Friday the club has signed quarterback Zach Collaros to a one-year contract extension through the 2026 Canadian Football League season.

Collaros is entering his sixth season with the Blue Bombers and has firmly established himself as one of the greatest pivots in franchise history.

His 49 regular season wins ranks third in franchise history behind only Ken Ploen (82) and Dieter Brock (71) and his 16,177 passing yards is fifth in Blue Bombers history. Collaros has now suited up for 158 career CFL games with Toronto (2012-13), Hamilton (2014-17), Saskatchewan (2018-19) and Winnipeg (2019-). His 32,935 career passing yards ranks 17th in CFL history and his next passing TD will be the 200th of his career.

https://www.cfl.ca/2025/05/23/bombers-extend-quarterback-zach-collaros-through-2026/

[Jesse]

#untilhes40

[Sir Blue and Gold]

I know he's been great but when you add up the accomplishments and consider he's only been here four full seasons (plus two regular season games and playoffs in 2019) it's pretty amazing where he ranks as a Blue Bombers QB.

[Blueforlife]

Will go down as one of the Bomber greats all time!

[Pete]

Honestly until we a get a look at the numbers I have no idea what to think of this, luv Zac but he is no longer head and shoulders above the other qbs in the league so hopefully his salary is more in line with the current qb structure.
Hopefully we used a significant marketing portion so as we don't put ourselves in the same cap situation as the past.
 

[theaardvark]

Well, it takes the "are you going to retire after this season" discussion off the table.

Doesn't rule out it happening, though.  Contracts are not guaranteed, either way, barring injury.  I really hope there is not a lot of guaranteed money, or signing bonus involved, as that takes away from other signings I think we should make.

Marketing money, we need to spend a minimum, and we made $7mil last year, so give him all you want there.  Even if he retires, he can still earn marketing money.

[Blueforlife]

Honestly until we a get a look at the numbers I have no idea what to think of this, luv Zac but he is no longer head and shoulders above the other qbs in the league so hopefully his salary is more in line with the current qb structure.
Hopefully we used a significant marketing portion so as we don't put ourselves in the same cap situation as the past.
 

Zach if healthy is a top tier QB and yes is expensive but worth every penny and has earned that money each year.  Give him protection and a good run game and he will light it up.  He will groom the next Bomber QB to be sure.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Honestly until we a get a look at the numbers I have no idea what to think of this, luv Zac but he is no longer head and shoulders above the other qbs in the league so hopefully his salary is more in line with the current qb structure.
Hopefully we used a significant marketing portion so as we don't put ourselves in the same cap situation as the past.
 

Zach's agent drives a hard bargain and I can't see him accepting a discount after his client put the Bombers in the Grey Cup game 5 years straight.  I expect he'll still make $500k+ which is in the range of the top tier QB's, which should be ok budget wise as long as Walters realizes he doesn't have to overpay to find good receivers and running backs. Until Zach fails to produce like BLM did for a few seasons, his pay rate is not likely coming down much for this new contract.

[Pete]

the thing is other than Chad Kelly Zacs cap hit is 150k more than any other qb in the league.
Meaning instead of Lawler we get Mitchell.

[GOLDMEMBER]

I myself am not sure on this one. Depends how he performs in the playoffs.

He has been only ok in playoff games lately.

He has no excuses this year. No Lawler fine but he has Schoen Demski and Clercius and any one a couple good others who make the team. Top notch RB and higher graded OL.

I'd like to see him be more careful with the ball this year and not throw so many interceptions.

Reserve final judgement.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

the thing is other than Chad Kelly Zacs cap hit is 150k more than any other qb in the league.
Meaning instead of Lawler we get Mitchell.

I don't know how you calculate where Rourke's salary fits in, but I don't believe it.

[Pete]

Rourke is at AT 650K with 200K in marketing money so his cap hit is 450K (chad kelly has 125K in marketing money reducing his cap hit to 490K. After that the next highest is Adams at 465K)
https://3downnation.com/2025/04/14/qb1-money-cfls-highest-paid-quarterbacks-for-the-2025-season/

[TecnoGenius]

Zach is still a top-3 QB.  He's smart, cool as a cucumber, and he knows how to win.

Clearly Mafia is extremely happy with what they've seen of Zach in TC.  Probably no (more) loss of arm strength, showing up in shape, etc.  Why not lock him down now?  If he goes deep in the playoffs again his FA26 $ would be quite high indeed.

We should 100% be working $200k of his contract into Magic Marketing Money.  Until the league stops it, match what cheater BC is doing.  If Zach doesn't like being out with the plebes, just have him do a weekly podcast or something.  $10k a podcast.

I bet the total salary is just a bit of a bump from his existing one.  That would put it close to $600k, right?  That's fair, he's better than Rourke and at least as good as Kelly -- the only other guys earning that much.

I see only 3 weak points with Zach, and most are fixable:

1) His wind up is slow, giving DBs (and LBs!) a chance to jump the routes, and sometimes making passes to running RECs slightly behind.  This bites us every GC.  (Fixable??)

2) He follows the "rules of the QB" to the T, and gets fooled by smart OCs/teams.  He sees the WILL blitzing, he throws to the weak side hot route.  But smart teams like TOR have a LBer or DB hiding right there who cut across and either get the INT or limit us to a tiny gain.  You watch him and you'll see this happen all the time.  Happens in most GCs.  (Fixable: spot the tricks, more film study)

3) His arm is really only good for 45-50Y or so now. (Not fixable, but you can work around it)

All in all this is an astute move by WFC.  Heck, if we have a ton of the "new $400k" leftover by Dec we can pay him a huge chunk from that.

[Pete]

Zac's strength has always been the 20-30 yatd throw which he reads better than any qb in league.
His escape ability has declined whether its age or teams studying film not sure.
The other area of concern is his tendancy to lock into one receiver snd throw into coverage at times although with Lawler gone that may actually help. In the past he really relies on vets he knows which can lead to overuse and lead to injuries ie Demski, Ly he didnt have much choice but to go to Wilson more as Demski was banged up as usual at end of year
Hopefully with new offensive coach we develop shorter game utilizing Sterns and even Logan more.
 I do agree he can still be effective just needs to tweak his game much like BLM did.

[markf]

My recollection is ..........when Zac leaves a collapsing pocket, he always goes to his right.

That has to make defending easier.

And He's no spring chicken.

But He has certainly earned whatever he gets from the Bombers.