1st & 10 | The Blue Bombers Pending Free Agent List

[bunker]

true enough, since when we had Jefferson and Sayles we've not been able to replace impact players and our dline has gotten progressively worse and one of the main reasons that sask has supplanted us in the west. They added Carney, Rose, and Ray thru free agency and have one of the best dlines in the league now.
  Walters mentioned that in a league with mostly one year contracts it's easier to retool, but unless you actually sign a quality player it doesn't matter. At some point we have to realize that even if it's an overpay to make a difference you have to go after some of the big fish

I agree with this. Walters has tended to adopt a "moneyball" approach of letting the big contract players leave, while he tries to find hidden value in the mid-value and bargain basement bin. It has not worked out lately, and the pendulum has swung too far in that direction. I'm not sure he would have even signed Brady last off season if Wade Miller had not stepped in to make it happen. He's hampered in what he can do SMS wise by a QB who's now very overpaid, but that's his doing as well.

[Tecno]

CFL award-winner Trey Vaval to work out for New Orleans Saints, Cleveland Browns: sources

If J.Grant couldn't make it, then certainly Vaval won't.  First year Grant > first year Vaval.  NFL gets maybe 1-3 returns a game per team?  It's not worth it.

Plus, I think it's harder to get rostered when you're a returner who's "other job" is on D, rather than O.  Everyone dreams of their returner being the next Speedy B.  That doesn't happen on D.

[Jesse]

If J.Grant couldn't make it, then certainly Vaval won't.  First year Grant > first year Vaval.  NFL gets maybe 1-3 returns a game per team?  It's not worth it.

Plus, I think it's harder to get rostered when you're a returner who's "other job" is on D, rather than O.  Everyone dreams of their returner being the next Speedy B.  That doesn't happen on D.

This is actually a good point. The NFL has nerfed the return game. I'm not sure Vaval gets a shot as solely a returner.

[Blue In BC]

If J.Grant couldn't make it, then certainly Vaval won't.  First year Grant > first year Vaval.  NFL gets maybe 1-3 returns a game per team?  It's not worth it.

Plus, I think it's harder to get rostered when you're a returner who's "other job" is on D, rather than O.  Everyone dreams of their returner being the next Speedy B.  That doesn't happen on D.

That may be true but it doesn't mean he doesn't get an off for an NFL TC and is lost for half the season.

[markf]

I don't understand how Vaval doesn't get killed returning kicks.

Also... "Vaval comes to Winnipeg after attending training camp with the Atlanta Falcons in 2024."

I hope he gets a job there, but I just can't see it.

NFL.... I Saw a kick returned for a t.d. This last weekend .

[Blue In BC]

C'mon Bombers. Time to get a few players re-signed.

[Tecno]

NFL.... I Saw a kick returned for a t.d. This last weekend

That's because the cover team has no idea what to do when a player actually returns it!  They never get any practice, it's all fair catch and downing the ball.        They were like, hey what's going on here!          

[Blue In BC]

Just checked the salaries of RB's in 2025. Brady was about $80K more than the next highest paid RB. Food for thought when we consider what he should be offered in 2026. It will be interesting to see if he goes to free agency to see what the market value offers elsewhere.

Hopefully we resolve this before he reaches free agency. It's somewhat of a loyalty test versus who can pay me the most. I know he said he wants to play for a championship team, but can we really determine that before the seasons starts.

I think we'd all like to see him back in Winnipeg. He's an exceptional talent and fun to watch. Being a local Canadian just adds to fan appreciation. Working in the community on various things and his work with protecting dogs doesn't hurt.

Be a Bomber forever.

[M.O.A.B.]

C'mon Bombers. Time to get a few players re-signed.

Agree. Sure, we don't know what's going on behind the scene. But optics doesn't look good as if Walters and co is not doing any thing or having hard time to re-sign our pending free-agents.

[BBRT]

Agree. Sure, we don't know what's going on behind the scene. But optics doesn't look good as if Walters and co is not doing any thing or having hard time to re-sign our pending free-agents.

Have to wonder if signing a new OC first is holding up signing players!

[Blue In BC]

Have to wonder if signing a new OC first is holding up signing players!

Virtually our entire defensive players are potential free agents.  Nothing stops re-signing some of them in the meantime.

That said, Bombers are 1 of 3 teams to not yet announce any re-signings.

[Jesse]

Just checked the salaries of RB's in 2025. Brady was about $80K more than the next highest paid RB. Food for thought when we consider what he should be offered in 2026. It will be interesting to see if he goes to free agency to see what the market value offers elsewhere.

Hopefully we resolve this before he reaches free agency. It's somewhat of a loyalty test versus who can pay me the most. I know he said he wants to play for a championship team, but can we really determine that before the seasons starts.

I think we'd all like to see him back in Winnipeg. He's an exceptional talent and fun to watch. Being a local Canadian just adds to fan appreciation. Working in the community on various things and his work with protecting dogs doesn't hurt.

Be a Bomber forever.

We've been told he is going to Free Agency. He's going to hear all his options and play us against each other before making a decision.

That potential 300k could be part of the delay in other negotiations.