Let’s open this week with the following statement-slash-proclamation: there’s already a spot waiting for Zach Collaros in the Winnipeg Football Club Hall of Fame and the Ring of Honour and, very likely, his bust will one day be included among the legends at the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, too.

Just to reinforce that, Collaros now ranks third in Blue Bombers history in career passing yardage behind only Dieter Brock and Khari Jones, has won two Grey Cups and appeared in three other championship games during his time behind centre here and has the second-best winning percentage in franchise history with a 55-22 record (71.4), behind only Jim Van Pelt at 20-5 (80.0). He also ranks 15th in CFL history in passing yardage.

There’s also this: he’s 37 and will turn 38 next August, is entering the final year of his current contract in 2026. And as of right now there is no clear-cut heir apparent at QB1 although there are options already in house and potentially on the near horizon and 11 intriguing quarterback names on the team’s 45-player negotiation list, eight of which have been added during the 2025 NCAA season.

With all that in mind, let’s take a peek at the Blue Bombers organizational QB depth chart, to to speak, in this week’s edition of 1st & 10…

THE STARTER

Zach Collaros

We gushed about QB1 above and, as some of the numbers bear out, with good reason. There’s nothing to say that Collaros can’t continue to put up superb numbers, although they dipped last year as he missed five starts and did not finish three other games in posting his lowest totals since becoming a Blue Bomber. The big caveat in that being he was working with a new offensive coordinator and with often a revolving door at the receiver position.

And so, when he’s on it looks like it did against Hamilton in late September when he completed 2o of 25 passes for 367 yards and a touchdown a total which suggests in the right system and surrounded by consistent personnel he could enjoy a revival in 2026 the way Trevor Harris has in Saskatchewan and Bo Levi Mitchell in Hamilton. Still, there is little doubt the club must also be prepared for life after Zach or have options coming out of the bullpen if he can’t finish games or be available for others as was the case in ’25.

THE DEPTH CHART BEHIND COLLAROS

Terry Wilson

–Terry Wilson finished the season as the back-up to Collaros as veteran Chris Streveler was injured in the regular-season finale. Wilson, now 27, has dressed for all 36 regular season games over the last two years, sometimes as the No. 2 to Streveler or Collaros and often as the third QB on the depth chart. Still, he’s only thrown 22 passes over those two years with 12 completions for 79 yards — all but one of those passes coming in the regular-season finale this year.

No one is questioning his arm strength, and there were flashes in his extended work against Montreal that he can be effective, especially when he’s using his legs to move the pocket or extend plays. Yet, it’s also fair to wonder if his lack of playing time over the last two years — and there were opportunities — says something about the coaching staff’s faith in him.

–Chris Streveler is a pending free agent and, after ripping up his knee in the last game of the regular season for the second straight year it’s not overly dramatic to ask now what’s next for the popular veteran given the depth at the position already on the roster. Say what you will about how it looked at times this year, but the team was 4-1 in his starts as he worked with some of the same challenges Collaros also struggled with all year.

–Chase Artopeous dressed for five games as a rookie in 2024 — the five games Collaros was not on the roster — but did not throw a pass. He posted solid numbers as a starter at Tennessee-Chattanooga in 2023-24, but with limited practice reps and no playing time in the regular season he still remains very much an unknown.

–Bryce Perkins was signed less than a month ago and can already be listed as one of the more fascinating players to track when camp opens next spring. A star at the University of Virginia back in 2018-19, Perkins — who turns 29 later this month — has an impressive pro profile after making one start for the Los Angeles Rams and being a member of their Super Bowl LVI championship in 2021. He spent two years in the UFL, and this past season was named the league’s MVP and Offensive Player of the Year for his work with the Michigan Panthers.

If his skills translate quickly to the CFL — and that’s not always a given — then the Blue Bombers may have found something in a league where two thirds of the starting QBs are in their 30s in Saskatchewan’s Harris (39), Collaros (37), Mitchell in Hamilton (35), Cody Fajardo in Edmonton (33), Calgary’s Vernon Adams, Jr. (32) and Toronto’s Chad Kelly (31). The three starters in the league still in their 20s are Nathan Rourke in B.C. and Montreal’s Davis Alexander (both 27) and Ottawa’s Dru Brown (28).

ON THE HORIZON?

Taylor Elgersma; photo courtesy Wilfrid Laurier Athletics

-No prospect moves the needle more for Blue Bomber faithful than Taylor Elgersma, the towering 6-5, 227-pound Canadian product of Wilfrid Laurier University with a cannon for an arm. Selected by the club in the second round of the 2025 CFL Draft, Elgersma flashed in three preseason games with the Green Bay Packers this summer before his release and had a look from the New York Giants before getting another opportunity with an NFL team this week with the San Francisco 49ers.

He’s told the Blue Bombers he’ll explore his NFL options through January and if that doesn’t provide anything concrete, will gladly consider coming to Winnipeg. That scenario — having him in camp next spring to learn from the likes of Collaros while pushing for work — is absolutely ideal for the organization.

NEG LIST PROSPECTS

Diego Pavia; photo courtesy Vanderbilt Athletics

Diego Pavia — Vanderbilt

Added: June 1, 2024

FYI: A simply electric prospect who guided the Commodores to a 10-2 record — the first 10-win season in school history — including last week’s win over Tennessee. Vandy’s playoff fate will be determined on Sunday but Pavia’s work this year now has him currently listed as one of the favourites to win the prestigious Heisman Trophy along with Ohio State’s Julian Sayin and Indiana pivot Fernando Mendoza.

Set a school record with 3,192 passing yards this season and was also the team’s rushing leader. What makes him an intriguing CFL prospect is his height is listed at 6-0, smallish by NFL standards.

Keali’i Ah Yat — Montana

Added: October 25, 2025

FYI: The son of former Blue Bomber QB Brian Ah Yat (1999-01), Keali’i completed 68.7 % of his passes this season for 3,154 yards — tops in the Big Sky Conference — and 25 TDs against eight interceptions while rushing for 127 yards and another seven scores in leading the Grizzlies to an 11-1 record. Montana faces South Dakota State on Saturday in the second round of the FCS playoffs.

Rocco Becht — Iowa State

Added: November 12, 2025

FYI: Led the Cyclones to an 8-4 record and a bowl game TBA while throwing for 2,565 yards with 16 TDs against nine picks while rushing for 116 yards and another eight TDs.

Ryan Browne – Purdue

Added: September 27, 2025

FYI: Led Purdue in passing this year in what was a difficult season for the Boilermakers in a two-win season. Had a 9:7 TD-to-interception ratio, but has good size at 6-4, 210.

Jordan Cooke — Idaho State

Added: October 15, 2025

FYI: Was the Bengals starter this year and threw for 3,052 yards with 16 TDs and nine interceptions while rushing for 220 yards and four more scores. Idaho State finished the year 6-6.

Mark Gronowski — Iowa

Added: May 10, 2021

FYI: Holds the distinction of being on the Blue Bombers neg list longer than any other player, dating back to being added in the spring of 2021 during his days at South Dakota State. Highly decorated during his days with the Jackrabbits — he led the school to two FCS national championships, was twice named the FCS national championship game MVP and won the Walter Payton Award in 2023 as the most outstanding offensive player in the FCS — Gronowski transferred to Iowa in 2025 and led the Hawkeyes to an 8-4 record and now wait to see which bowl game they’ll be playing.

Jarrett Guarantano — Washington State

Added: August 25, 2025

FYI: Was 12-22 as a starter at Tennessee and Washington State through 2021 and first turned pro as an undrafted free agent with the Arizona Cardinals in 2022. Had a look from the Denver Broncos in 2022, spent 2024 with the Houston Roughnecks of the XFL and played one game in 2025 with the San Antonio Brahmas of the UFL. Now 28 years old.

Haynes King — Georgia Tech

Haynes King; photo courtesy Georgia Tech Athletics

Added: December 2, 2024

FYI: Was named the ACC Offensive Player of the Year on Thursday after a sensational season in which he finished with 2,697 yards passing, 922 yards rushing and 27 touchdowns — 12 passing and 15 rushing. He is only power-conference player this season to average at least 240 yards passing and 80 yards rushing per game — just the fifth to do so since 1956.

The Yellow Jackets finished the year at 9-3 and are also headed to a bowl game.

Justin Lamson — Montana State

Added: November 18, 2025

FYI: Led Montana State to a Big Sky Championship with a win over Ah Yat and Montana and is the most recent QB addition to the Blue Bombers neg list. Was 4-2 as a starter this year, throwing 20 touchdowns against two picks and rushing for 589 yards and a whopping 11 TDs.

Chase Mason — South Dakota State

Added: October 28, 2025

FYI: Returned from missing six games with a foot injury to lead the Jackrabbits to a 41-3 win over New Hampshire last week in the FCS playoffs and will now face Montana — and QB Keali’i Ah Yat — on Saturday in the next round. Threw for 1,649 yards and 14 TDs in eight games while rushing for 264 yards and four TDs. Growing chatter he could now be a high pick in the NFL draft.

Payton Thorne — Auburn

Added: August 28, 2025

FYI: Was 10-12 as the starter in his two years with the Tigers, throwing for 4,468 yards and 37 touchdowns against 19 interceptions while rushing for 798 yards and five more TDs. Signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent this year and attended their training camp before being released in late August.