OK, has Walters already won FA?

[theaardvark]

What the fizzy...  hours into the tampering period, Walters has signed players to all the spots the fans were demanding...

This is pretty much Christmas in Feb.

[Jesse]

Feels like we've signed the top FA at every available position group.

And that's after keeping all of our internal FAs already.

[Blue In BC]

He's done a good job today and yesterday with White. Much better than in 2025.  That's 5 new starters so far. 7 if you count Thomas and Kolo being replaced with veterans.

Ottawa is doing well in free agency. The Riders are losing talent. It's not over yet and I've lost count. Seems about 15-20 players are on the move.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Woah. Was not expecting this...

[TrueBlue75]

Put me in the surprised category for the signings so far. I'm impressed and excited for the upcoming season! Just wish Walters would have done something like this last offseason to get the team to the home Grey Cup game. But, definitely shaping up to be a rebound year! Now sask can feel our pain losing players after winning the cup and everyone wanting a payday. Love that for them!

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Felt like another status quo year but this is indeed the reload we need. See how the rest of the week plays out but this will be a pretty big departure from the past couple seasons. We have done the appropriate self scout and drawn the correct conclusions.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Stamps and a few other teams forgot to set their alarm clocks this morning, surprised Dominque Rhymes wasn't picked up by anyone yet, probably re-negotiating with the Stamps as he likes playing with Adams.

[Cool Spot]

Feels like we've signed the top FA at every available position group.

Sorry, I'm not as up to speed on everything as you folks. Could you list them? Tim White, Jake Ceresna, who else?

[gobombersgo]

Sorry, I'm not as up to speed on everything as you folks. Could you list them? Tim White, Jake Ceresna, who else?

Top Olineman left tackle Jarell Broxton

Top 5 DB: cornerback Jonathan Moxey

Top Canadian receiver?  Tommy Nield

[Blueforlife]

Hell yes!!!!

Problems problems how you going solve them lol

Mo money less problems in this case 

[dd]

This is the best we ve done in free agency ever!!

[GOLDMEMBER]

This is the best we ve done in free agency ever!!

Gotta be top five ever.

Walters is filling the needs.

So much now to look forward to.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Pretty exciting day for most CFL fans, it's the annual day of musical chairs when a swack load of players switch teams in pursuit of personal redemption and financial fulfillment, while creating wild hope for fanbases of every team for the coming season.  Beats static monotony any day, don't imagine the NFL has anything like it, first to last and last to first is forever a possibility.

Hats off to 3DN for posting every transaction, no other media outlet even tries to keep up with the frenzy.

[Pigskin]

This should have happen last off season when we had the GC in Winnipeg. Glad to see Mr. Walters acted early and often this year. Still a little concerned about our #2 QB, or lack of at this point.

[BLUEBOMBER]

What the BB truly needs is better defence...

[Blue In BC]

Day 2. Now we need to fill some depth players. It's possible we see one or 2 level 2 players added to fill some holes left, but for the most part depth.

I count about 100 players left on potential free agent list that are available. Whether we're interested will depend on player expecatations.

[blue_gold_84]

The status quo wasn't going to cut it and Walters and co. have clearly realized it with the moves made yesterday.

It's a little disappointing this approach wasn't taken a year ago but it is what it is. Maybe some redemption is in order.

[Jesse]

I'm totally fine with letting training camp determine the remaining positions, but I guess we still technically need a starting WR, DE, and CB.

I don't think there's a back up QB out there that makes sense.

[theaardvark]

The FA period has not even opened yet.

The "100 players" left out there might not even be on anyones' radar of yet, the big names have pretty much been picked off.

I don't think there is a depth spot we need to fill from the dregs and scrapheaps of what is remaining in the FA pool, I think we have enough coming into camp to address every roster spot, and have a full PR while letting go of a handful of players that will get immediate offers elsewhere.

Yeah, very optimistic about this roster, Walters has shown us a new side to his ability. How to fill out a roster where price is not the only object.

Well done shifting gears.

[Blue In BC]

I'm totally fine with letting training camp determine the remaining positions, but I guess we still technically need a starting WR, DE, and CB.

I don't think there's a back up QB out there that makes sense.

They may high hopes for Jenkins and Munier-Bailey as the DE candidates. There will be rookies fighting for that spot as well.

I wouldn't rule out Wheatfall returning after testing free agency. Whether that was his choice or ours IDK. There are probably some talented players left but can we afford them?

What's happening with the other CB spot is the most strange IMO. We could have re-signed Houston and we could still re-sign Lawson but haven't done so. Some suggested Allen might move to CB from safety but then we have an opening at safety.

The organization might be very confidant in some rookies coming to TC.

Last but not least is there is still an opportunity to pick up a player during the open window.

[theaardvark]

They may high hopes for Jenkins and Munier-Bailey as the DE candidates. There will be rookies fighting for that spot as well.

I wouldn't rule out Wheatfall returning after testing free agency. Whether that was his choice or ours IDK. There are probably some talented players left but can we afford them?

What's happening with the other CB spot is the most strange IMO. We could have re-signed Houston and we could still re-sign Lawson but haven't done so. Some suggested Allen might move to CB from safety but then we have an opening at safety.

The organization might be very confidant in some rookies coming to TC.

Last but not least is there is still an opportunity to pick up a player during the open window.

Sign Daquoy and play Allen at CB... could you imagine?

[Blue In BC]

The FA period has not even opened yet.

The "100 players" left out there might not even be on anyones' radar of yet, the big names have pretty much been picked off.

I don't think there is a depth spot we need to fill from the dregs and scrapheaps of what is remaining in the FA pool, I think we have enough coming into camp to address every roster spot, and have a full PR while letting go of a handful of players that will get immediate offers elsewhere.

Yeah, very optimistic about this roster, Walters has shown us a new side to his ability. How to fill out a roster where price is not the only object.

Well done shifting gears.

I only partially agree. There is some top talent available and some very good depth pieces. By my count we have 22 players that have left or remain unsigned at the moment. A lot of that is depth of which we are very thin as a result.

[Jesse]

They may high hopes for Jenkins and Munier-Bailey as the DE candidates. There will be rookies fighting for that spot as well.

I wouldn't rule out Wheatfall returning after testing free agency. Whether that was his choice or ours IDK. There are probably some talented players left but can we afford them?

What's happening with the other CB spot is the most strange IMO. We could have re-signed Houston and we could still re-sign Lawson but haven't done so. Some suggested Allen might move to CB from safety but then we have an opening at safety.

The organization might be very confidant in some rookies coming to TC.

Last but not least is there is still an opportunity to pick up a player during the open window.

Just due to the money spent on many guys, we still need some people playing on rookie contracts. Signing Houston, Lawson, Wheatfall likely means giving them raises. I don't think it's strange at all to expect Vaval or a rookie CB to take one spot. That said, maybe we add a vet late in FA as a fail-safe. Same thing at the last WR spot (which may be a rookie American or switching to 3 NI receivers).

At DE, I think people still need to remember how often Younger plays with a 3-man DL. We can use Jenkins, Jaworski, and Munier-Bailey, but we can also bump Ceresna out there (Jefferson-Lawson-Ceresna).

[Jesse]

Sign Daquoy and play Allen at CB... could you imagine?

I don't even know if that's better, tbh. Daquoy is slowing down and we've never seen Allen play CB.

[Blue In BC]

Sign Daquoy and play Allen at CB... could you imagine?

Yes I can drool over that but I really think Dequoy stays in Montreal or out east. His SMS hit would be high.

Aside from solving 2 issues with one addition, it flips a starting import ( safety ) to a Canadian. That in turn opens up flipping a starting Canadian OL to an import.

There are other ways to do that, but this kind of solution is optimum except for cost.

[Blue In BC]

I don't even know if that's better, tbh. Daquoy is slowing down and we've never seen Allen play CB.

In theory he was doing that in TC and pre-season last year.

[Jesse]

In theory he was doing that in TC and pre-season last year.

Sure...but during a game against starters is something different entirely.

Not saying he couldn't, just that we don't know if it's better or not.

[Blue In BC]

Just due to the money spent on many guys, we still need some people playing on rookie contracts. Signing Houston, Lawson, Wheatfall likely means giving them raises. I don't think it's strange at all to expect Vaval or a rookie CB to take one spot. That said, maybe we add a vet late in FA as a fail-safe. Same thing at the last WR spot (which may be a rookie American or switching to 3 NI receivers).

At DE, I think people still need to remember how often Younger plays with a 3-man DL. We can use Jenkins, Jaworski, and Munier-Bailey, but we can also bump Ceresna out there (Jefferson-Lawson-Ceresna).

I think we still have some money left. We signed some top players before the end of 2025. The SMS this year we get to use the full $400K increase from 2025 and the new $200K for 2026 increase added. The catch is so does every other team.

Younger used the 3 man DL because we didn't have enough talent to run and rotate players in the  4 front. So that may change to some degree.  And we'd have to replace him with another rookie at safety. So not the best idea unless they are confidant that he can play CB.

Again, using Vaval as a starting CB isn't in the cards IMO. He's too valuable to risk on adding another 40 + plays a game on defence. He may take away any need to have a DB on the roster as a DI.

Comments about Allen moving to CB are fair but we haven't seen the rookies in a CFL game either. IDK, Mcghee might be an early front runner.

We already have lots of players on ELC contracts. 6 2025 Canadian draft choices, 1 global draft choice, 2 rookie DE's

As an example I'd consider bringing back Woods with the understanding that he'll spend time on the PR. He's not going to get a big raise anywhere else IMO. He may a better chance to start but not a cash windfall.

Ditto for Wheatfall. If neither get offers elsewhere then it might be doable. For that matter Wheatfall could still end up starting. He'd be fighting against rookies for that spot.

[theaardvark]

Vaval at CB becomes more of a possibility with White on the roster...

[Blue In BC]

Vaval at CB becomes more of a possibility with White on the roster...

At best that's a maybe but I doubt it comes to that. While it gives you depth it's adding to the workload.

[theaardvark]

With all the FA moves, we forget about probably the most important off season move, Tommy Condell.  Now, was that MOS, was that Wade, or was it Walters?  Or some combination?

[blue_gold_84]

Yes I can drool over that but I really think Dequoy stays in Montreal or out east. His SMS hit would be high.

This. I can't see Dequoy being in the cards.

[Blue In BC]

This. I can't see Dequoy being in the cards.

I don't either but it's an interesting thought for a multitude of reasons.

Regarding depth: with those that have left or not re-signed yet, we've lost over 500 man games on our roster. So yes we'll have many rookies on our PR and a few starting possibly. However we could still add some lower cost depth.

Kolankowski alone was 95 games.

If our 2025 roster was 45 AR, 13 PR and 10 IR = 68 more or less.  I count 22 gone or going at the moment so that's 1/3 of all our rosters. That's enormous transition. Not all of them will be pure rookies.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Sure...but during a game against starters is something different entirely.

Not saying he couldn't, just that we don't know if it's better or not.

Allen looked decent at Safety but not outstanding, he has great mobility but does not add much of a physical presence, wouldn't be surprised to see Younger move him elsewhere.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

At best that's a maybe but I doubt it comes to that. While it gives you depth it's adding to the workload.

Agree other than as an in game replacement Vaval unlikely to play CB again, he's made his mark as a returner and has become an offensive weapon.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

Allen looked decent at Safety but not outstanding, he has great mobility but does not add much of a physical presence, wouldn't be surprised to see Younger move him elsewhere.

Allen would have looked better at safety if they would have treated training camp as a real open competition last year.

He popped in camp. He made plays in the pre-season but instead we threw him on the bench and went with familiarity for half the season even though the players we played there had never really done it before at the position.

Largely a disaster and those decisions were a big part of why we regressed so much last year. Had he started from day one he would have had the early season to figure things out. You learn by doing moreso than learn by sitting on the practice roster.

I don't care who starts at safety this year except that it should be the most talented player on the roster at that spot that we have. That was not how things were done last year at several positions and the results were reflective.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Younger used the 3 man DL because we didn't have enough talent to run and rotate players in the  4 front. So that may change to some degree.  And we'd have to replace him with another rookie at safety. So not the best idea unless they are confidant that he can play CB.

I don't buy that theory for a second, Younger has been integrating the 3 front ever since he moved up to DC, his playbook is built around it, personnel are selected to fit into it, not the other way around.

Replacing Vaughters with Ceresna isn't a straight swap, Ceresna is a DT, if anything he's replacing Woods in the 3 DT rotation.  Back in the good old days when they were winning GC they used 4 DT's in rotation as Hanson was sort of a hybrid. Direct replacement for Vaughters seems to be Jaworski, Jenkins or a newcomer, Munier-Bailey is a light weight pass rusher at 235 lbs that will probably not play when there is any threat of a run, could be he takes Ayers DE role from last season.

[Jesse]

I don't buy that theory for a second, Younger has been integrating the 3 front ever since he moved up to DC, his playbook is built around it, personnel are selected to fit into it, not the other way around.

Replacing Vaughters with Ceresna isn't a straight swap, Ceresna is a DT, if anything he's replacing Woods in the 3 DT rotation.  Back in the good old days when they were winning GC they used 4 DT's in rotation as Hanson was sort of a hybrid. Direct replacement for Vaughters seems to be Jaworski, Jenkins or a newcomer, Munier-Bailey is a light weight pass rusher at 235 lbs that will probably not play when there is any threat of a run, could be he takes Ayers DE role from last season.

Yes, in our regular ol' 4 man alignment, it'll be Willie-Lawson-Ceresna-TBD. But just like we've placed Willie in the middle, we're probably going to throw Ceresna at the end in a 3 man alignment.

Jaws or Jenkins may be the replacement DE, but it doesn't mean they'll play every snap. They'll be listed as a starter on the depth chart, but might play less snaps than Griffin, who'll be listed as a back-up.

[Blue In BC]

I don't buy that theory for a second, Younger has been integrating the 3 front ever since he moved up to DC, his playbook is built around it, personnel are selected to fit into it, not the other way around.

Replacing Vaughters with Ceresna isn't a straight swap, Ceresna is a DT, if anything he's replacing Woods in the 3 DT rotation.  Back in the good old days when they were winning GC they used 4 DT's in rotation as Hanson was sort of a hybrid. Direct replacement for Vaughters seems to be Jaworski, Jenkins or a newcomer, Munier-Bailey is a light weight pass rusher at 235 lbs that will probably not play when there is any threat of a run, could be he takes Ayers DE role from last season.

Our front 4 were not good enough and now 3 of them are gone. We didn't have a DL as a DI, we had more LB's.

3 man front may have been part of Younger's strategy. As I said he didn't have the horses the last 2 seasons to do otherwise.

Also noting that strategy gave QB's too long to throw and that was our demise. If he isn't flexible enough to adjust his strategy then he'll be out of work in 2027. Lions, Stamps and Riders all improved in 2025 while we stumbled into a crossover.

Currently the 2 other players on the roster that aren't rookies are Munier-Bailey and Jaworksi. Each have only played in1 game and recorded 1 DT.

Now either may turn out to be great players or we may see a rookie win that spot. What I don't see is a move to adding front 4 depth as a DI. That could change but for the moment the front 4 is still an issue. It's fair to believe that Ceresna and Lawson will be upgrades but depth not so much.

We no longer have Woods or Adams etc.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

Our front 4 were not good enough and now 3 of them are gone. We didn't have a DL as a DI, we had more LB's.

3 man front may have been part of Younger's strategy. As I said he didn't have the horses the last 2 seasons to do otherwise.

Also noting that strategy gave QB's too long to throw and that was our demise. If he isn't flexible enough to adjust his strategy then he'll be out of work in 2027. Lions, Stamps and Riders all improved in 2025 while we stumbled into a crossover.

Currently the 2 other players on the roster that aren't rookies are Munier-Bailey and Jaworksi. Each have only played in1 game and recorded 1 DT.

Now either may turn out to be great players or we may see a rookie win that spot. What I don't see is a move to adding front 4 depth as a DI. That could change but for the moment the front 4 is still an issue. It's fair to believe that Ceresna and Lawson will be upgrades but depth not so much.

We no longer have Woods or Adams etc.

You forgot Kydran Jenkins, who looked to be the best pass rusher of the 3.

[Blue In BC]

You forgot Kydran Jenkins, who looked to be the best pass rusher of the 3.

I didn't forget him but he also only played 1 game that was virtually a pre season contest. Each team was playing a bunch of PR players. That was the game against the Als when Alexander didn't play and he had 1 DT.

Sure he might be the best of the lot but sample size is next to zero.

[GOLDMEMBER]

This. I can't see Dequoy being in the cards.

He is retiring from ball.

[GOLDMEMBER]

You forgot Kydran Jenkins, who looked to be the best pass rusher of the 3.

He really impressed me.