Blue Bombers sign All-CFL halfback Evan Holm to two-year contract extension

[Tecno]

Anyone have an estimate on the $?

Nothing yet, just guesses.  We might need a 3down "highest paid DBs" list before we get the real story.

[Tecno]

Houston never lost his job for performance.  Once cleared, he was back

CGY seemed perfectly happy to let him go.  I think it was more than just injury.  $$ and age worked against him.  And he never lit it up in CGY like he did here.  M.Sayles has been the poster child for sustained success after leaving WFC.

[Ridermania]

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have made Evan Holm the CFL's highest-paid American defensive back, per league sources.

The 27-year-old signed a two-year contract extension with the team on Tuesday, which included an $80,000 signing bonus. Holm will also receive $71,700 in salary, $15,300 in housing, $10,000 in marketing, and a $3,000 travel bonus. In total, he will earn $180,000 in hard money in 2026, plus up to $6,000 in all-star and awards incentives.

https://3downnation.com/2026/01/08/winnipeg-blue-bombers-make-evan-holm-cfls-highest-paid-american-db/

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Makes sense and not surprised. Better use of SMS than throwing dump trucks full to Brady. Half backs of his caliber are rare. We should probably limit his ST usage a bit this year although it will be hard because he's probably also the best edge setter on kick coverage in the league by a pretty wide margin.

[Blue In BC]

Makes sense and not surprised. Better use of SMS than throwing dump trucks full to Brady. Half backs of his caliber are rare. We should probably limit his ST usage a bit this year although it will be hard because he's probably also the best edge setter on kick coverage in the league by a pretty wide margin.

I agree. He's as solid as you can get. It's the nature of the higher SMS being spent. Still lots of other DB's not re-signed that might get more I suppose but to each team their choice.

We are going to have an expensive secondary though.

[bunker]

I agree. He's as solid as you can get. It's the nature of the higher SMS being spent. Still lots of other DB's not re-signed that might get more I suppose but to each team their choice.

We are going to have an expensive secondary though.

Might need one given how little pressure we put on QBs. 
Hopefully that changes this year.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have made Evan Holm the CFL's highest-paid American defensive back, per league sources.

The 27-year-old signed a two-year contract extension with the team on Tuesday, which included an $80,000 signing bonus. Holm will also receive $71,700 in salary, $15,300 in housing, $10,000 in marketing, and a $3,000 travel bonus. In total, he will earn $180,000 in hard money in 2026, plus up to $6,000 in all-star and awards incentives.

https://3downnation.com/2026/01/08/winnipeg-blue-bombers-make-evan-holm-cfls-highest-paid-american-db/

This is getting expensive, amazing all that without a bidding war?  Ever get the feeling player agents are hearing silent bids long before free agency opens.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

CGY seemed perfectly happy to let him go.  I think it was more than just injury.  $$ and age worked against him.  And he never lit it up in CGY like he did here.  M.Sayles has been the poster child for sustained success after leaving WFC.

Pretty sure the Stamps dropped Houston like a red hot stone when he was charged with domestic violence, which is the same reason no other team picked him up till the Bombers called. 

In his first stop with the Bombers he was hit or miss at CB, in his 3rd and last season he snared 7 interceptions but also gave up a lot of big plays he gambled on and lost, thus he never became a fan favourite as some accused him of attempting to pad his numbers above the team objective.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Interesting, his NFL workout consisted of 20-30 minutes of running drills with 4 other DB's and that was it.

[Blue In BC]

This is getting expensive, amazing all that without a bidding war?  Ever get the feeling player agents are hearing silent bids long before free agency opens.

Nope just the result of the higher SMS and players asking for their share of it.

[Tecno]

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have made Evan Holm the CFL's highest-paid American defensive back, per league sources.

Ouch.  I did not see that coming.  He's one of the best, but he's mostly under the radar and has basically said he's happy to stay here and not be mega confrontational in negotiating.  Maybe it's all his agent.  I think he would have stayed for less.

I have 2 problems with this:

1. You need to re-sign the DBs you want to pay LESS FIRST!  Now all the FA DBs will want a big bump too.  Ya, we got Nichols already.  But there's still Bonds, Houston, maybe Lawson.  Unless we don't want any of them or think we'll get away with offering cheap deals...

2. We're front-loading FA with a ton of VERY expensive contracts.  Part of KW's job is to find value, not just run out of money with half a roster still to fill.  At the rate we're going, our "big FA splash" acquisitions will be ... nobody.

Bonus: 3. Almost half the money in signing bonus??  Mega ouch if he gets injured...

[Jesse]

These "highest paid" things need to be taken with a grain of salt. We are a) only getting salary leaks on a handful of players, and b) about half the league is a FA every year. And FA agency hasn't started yet. Every all star on every team is being made the highest paid at their position every time a new one signs.

Holm and Nichols were among the highest paid DBs the last couple of seasons and they stay in the same range. I doubt they top the list once FA is over.

[theaardvark]

I have no issue with Holm being the highest paid DB.  He earns it, adn has been one of our most reliable DB's, and is a good backup returner, although we haven't seen him do that in a long while.

[dd]

Not sure why fans are upset with EH getting a fair contract, yet giddy that Brady hosed us for $300k.

EH is worth every penny of his contract, the same cant be said for Brady

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Ouch.  I did not see that coming.  He's one of the best, but he's mostly under the radar and has basically said he's happy to stay here and not be mega confrontational in negotiating.  Maybe it's all his agent.  I think he would have stayed for less.

I have 2 problems with this:

1. You need to re-sign the DBs you want to pay LESS FIRST!  Now all the FA DBs will want a big bump too.  Ya, we got Nichols already.  But there's still Bonds, Houston, maybe Lawson.  Unless we don't want any of them or think we'll get away with offering cheap deals...

2. We're front-loading FA with a ton of VERY expensive contracts.  Part of KW's job is to find value, not just run out of money with half a roster still to fill.  At the rate we're going, our "big FA splash" acquisitions will be ... nobody.

Bonus: 3. Almost half the money in signing bonus??  Mega ouch if he gets injured...

Splash???  What splash? FA could turn out similar to last year if the kopeks in the bank get too low, the big prizes are going to get paid in full.

Have to say I prefer Walters earlier approach of keeping the secondary on a low budget with steady turnover and great recruitment, I believe that remains the winningest strategy mainly because DB's have always been a dime a dozen and every good mother in Alabama gives birth to at least 3 more. 

Hope he hasn't created a problem for himself by falling in love with his preferred children, causing them to come up short in other departments, a narrative that ties right back into the loyalty issues of last season.  All could be forgiven if he'd just put a gun to Zach's head and knock him down to $400k, a discount Trevor Harris and BLM willingly accepted when their careers looked near the end.