It’s been five years since the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have held a top-four pick.
After this weekend’s CFL Combine in Edmonton — where 82 prospects will try to impress their future employers — the Bombers should have a much clearer idea of whose name they’ll be calling at No. 4 when draft day rolls around on April 28.
But before anyone’s 40-yard dash time was clocked, coaches and general managers from across the league took turns speaking to reporters via video conference calls on Wednesday to discuss a wide variety of topics, including the combine and upcoming draft. Here are the key takeaways from the conversation with Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea and general manager Kyle Waters.
Saluting Streveler
It appears Chris Streveler is retiring. The 31-year-old quarterback posted a video on Instagram on Tuesday of him hanging up all the jerseys he’s worn over the years dating back to his collegiate days before sitting down with a book.
“Created something special to honour a chapter of my life that’s coming to a close,” wrote Streveler in the caption. “All love for the journey. Full video coming later this week.”
JOHN WOODS / THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES
All signs point to Chris Streveler retiring after the 31-year-old quarterback posted a video on Tuesday of him hanging up all the jerseys he’s worn over the years dating back to his collegiate days.
Streveler suffered a torn ACL, MCL and partially torn PCL in his left knee in the 2024 Banjo Bowl and worked his tail off to return in time for the 2025 campaign. The 2019 Grey Cup champion then re-tore the ACL in last October’s regular-season finale at home.
“Unbelievable competitor, terrific leader. Leads in a variety of ways, but his actions are first and foremost,” said O’Shea.
“The way he leads, it’s pretty evident from teammates that when he was out there on the field, what he was willing to do for his teammates would be second to none. It was also a great reminder to other guys of how much they need to give to this game for their teammates, so he was sensational.”
Walters added: “For me, it’s just his will to win. Didn’t care about anything — the scoreboard at the end of the game, that’s it. And he was willing to do anything, and it showed that it did not matter — winning the football game was the only thing that mattered. It was obvious and contagious and that was really, really the only thing that mattered to him.”
Quarterback questions
With Streveler out of the picture, the Bombers are without an experienced backup quarterback. Behind starter Zach Collaros is Terry Wilson, who has just 22 passing attempts to his name in two seasons of work. Joining those two in training camp is a pair of CFL rookies in Bryce Perkins and Payton Thorne.
“All these quarterbacks that we’re watching now that everybody talks about being the greatest started off at some point,” said O’Shea.
“So, who’s the next one? I don’t know if we’re in a rush to find that out. Zach’s a stud.”
RUTH BONNEVILLE / FREE PRESS FILES
Winnipeg Blue Bombers head coach Mike O’Shea said Wednesday he has full confidence in his starting quarterback Zach Collaros going into the 2026 season.
Perhaps they should be in a rush considering Collaros turns 38 this year and is coming off back-to-back lacklustre seasons.
Walters said it’s unlikely the club will add a veteran arm before camp. He also isn’t banking on Canadian pivot Taylor Elgersma — who was drafted in the second round by the Bombers in 2025 — being in the picture in the near future.
Elgersma recently threw at the NFL Combine to help scouts evaluate position players with the hopes of catching the eye of a team in the four-down circuit. He was also drafted by the United Football League’s Birmingham Stallions and is working on getting his U.S. work permit in order to play in the league.
“There’s a lot of uncertainty and I still think there’s uncertainty but the clock is ticking,” said Walters, who spoke with Elgersma’s agent on Tuesday. “It seems it’s getting less and less likely. But … we’ve still got a few weeks to sort it out.”
Collaros pay cut
Walters said back in November that the club isn’t big on renegotiating and that Collaros has earned his contract.
So much for that.
Earlier this month it was revealed that Collaros agreed to a restructured one-year contract for 2026 that will see him max out at $550,000 in hard money as opposed to the $600,000 that he originally signed for. The move saved the Bombers $50,000 in salary cap space.
“Well, I just asked Zach if that was something he would be interested in and he said, ‘If that helps the team, for sure.’ That was about the extent of it,” said Walters.
Walters added that it was not a result of the team spending big money in free agency on names like Jarell Broxton and Jake Ceresna.
“Despite it coming out a little bit later with the paperwork, it was all decided prior to those signings,” said Walters.
His reduction in pay doesn’t mean his coach has lost any confidence in him, though.
“Zach can win us a championship. Zach can be a part of a team that wins a championship. Absolutely,” said O’Shea.
Draft, combine talk
MIKAELA MACKENZIE / FREE PRESS FILES
Winnipeg Blue Bombers general manager Kyle Walters said Wednesday the talent in the CFL combine is the best he’s seen in years and making the draft on April 28 all the more challenging.
So, other than running fast, jumping high and pumping out a bunch of reps on the bench press, what’s a guy gotta do to impress this weekend?
“Little things that you notice, or that I notice, just stick with me. You want an example? Everybody has a process they do before a drill. They stand up, they’re in line, then they turn to the camera, or whatever,” said O’Shea.
“And if the guy seventh in line doesn’t turn to the camera, I notice that. I’m like, ‘Well, he’s just not paying attention.’ Or he’s really nervous and you give him the benefit of the doubt and you try to dig a little deeper on that kind of stuff. All those little interactions, I happen to notice.”
This year’s class is loaded. That’s a good thing, obviously, but Walters believes that will also present some unique obstacles to CFL decision-makers.
“The talent is the best in quite a while. The problem is it might be too good in the sense that it’s NFL good, so, that makes it a big challenge,” said Walters.
“It’s great that you’re seeing these Canadian players have so much success at a high level, but it does certainly add a stressful element to the draft process and an unknown to the draft process.”
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Taylor Allen is a sports reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. Taylor was the Vince Leah intern in the Free Press newsroom twice while earning his joint communications degree/diploma at the University of Winnipeg and Red River College Polytechnic. He signed on full-time in 2019 and mainly covers the Blue Bombers, curling, and basketball. Read more about Taylor.
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