{"id":446464,"date":"2026-02-01T03:31:18","date_gmt":"2026-02-01T03:31:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/446464\/"},"modified":"2026-02-01T03:31:18","modified_gmt":"2026-02-01T03:31:18","slug":"1st-10-roster-check-in-with-free-agency-looming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/446464\/","title":{"rendered":"1st & 10 | Roster check-in with free agency looming"},"content":{"rendered":"

If there\u2019s a Winnipeg Blue Bombers playbook for Canadian Football League free agency, it\u2019s essentially a concise, one-sentence mantra spelled out in just a couple of key thoughts.<\/p>\n

And it goes like this:<\/p>\n

Try to keep the ones you know and love \u2014 within the constraints of the salary cap, obviously \u2014 be selective in your shopping in the open market and then lean on the scouting department to find some American gems while scoring in the annual CFL Draft.<\/p>\n

Now, we know what you\u2019re probably thinking: thanks for the insight, pal. You\u2019ve really split the atom here.<\/p>\n

Well, bear with us for a moment as we open the latest edition of 1st & 10 by taking a look at where the Blue Bombers are currently as the CFL\u2019s \u2018legal tampering\u2019 period opens on Sunday with a week-long stretch which allows teams to speak to pending free agents and their representatives in advance of the market opening on February 10th.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Granted, while the Blue Bombers free agent playbook is hardly unique, it has evolved over the years given the change in the team\u2019s fortunes during the course of the Wade Miller-Kyle Walters-Mike O\u2019Shea regime \u2014 the Canadian Mafia \u2014 as the franchise has transformed from a CFL also-ran at the start of 2014 to a squad which has two championships in five Grey Cup appearances since 2019 and nine consecutive double-digit win seasons since 2016.<\/p>\n

And over the last decade or so the club\u2019s haul in winter free agency has brought in far more booms than busts \u2014 last year admittedly brought more whiffs than hits \u2014 but over the last dozen years it has also landed the likes of Stanley Bryant, Justin Medlock, Andrew Harris, Willie Jefferson, Nic Demski, to name a few \u2014 with that crew all bound for the club\u2019s hall of fame one day.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Nic Demski was one of several key starters to re-sign this offseason for the Blue Bombers<\/p>\n

The Blue Bombers already made their first big splash in the market this week in landing two-time CFL All-Star receiver Tim White, with his addition coming off a busy December-January in which a number of familiar faces were re-signed before they got to market.<\/p>\n

Consider that since the end of the 2025 season the team has re-signed the following starters (age in brackets) in running back Brady Oliveira (28); receiver Nic Demski (32); defensive backs Evan Holm (27), Redha Kramdi (29) and Deatrick Nichols (31), defensive end Willie Jefferson (34); offensive linemen Stanley Bryant (39) and Pat Neufeld (37) and linebacker Kyrie Wilson (33).<\/p>\n

In addition, several critical contributors were also locked up like kicker Sergio Castillo (35), punter Jamieson Sheahan (28), defensive back Michael Griffin II (27) along with centre\/guard Tui Eli (29), linebacker Tanner Cadwallader (28); receiver Gavin Cobb (27) and defensive tackles Cam Lawson (27), Tanner Schmekel (26) and Collin Kornelson (25) \u2014 the final six listed here all Canadians.<\/p>\n

As well, receiver Pokey Wilson (26) signed a contract extension and kick returner\/cornerback Trey Vaval (25) recommitted after a six-team tour of the NFL.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s also remember there is a new offensive coordinator in Tommy Condell, who will also serve as the QB coach with Jason Hogan resuming his role as running backs coach, with Jake Thomas retiring to become the new defensive line coach. Cornerback Jamal Parker, Jr. and centre Chris Kolankowski were both released, with Kolankowski already landing with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.<\/p>\n

Official 2026 Free Agent Tracker<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Now, with all this in mind let\u2019s take full stock of the roster by position by looking at those under contract, the pending free agents, the new faces and a burning question for each position group (*: Indicates Canadian); (G: Global player):<\/p>\n

QUARTERBACK
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Zach Collaros<\/p>\n

Signed:\u00a0Zach Collaros, Terry Wilson, Chase Artopoeus<\/p>\n

New: Bryce Perkins, Payton Thorne<\/p>\n

Pending free agents: Chris Streveler<\/p>\n

Burning question(s):\u00a0One of the biggest questions currently involves a player not even listed above in Canadian QB Taylor Elgersma, who was selected by the Blue Bombers in the second round of the CFL Draft a year ago before he shone in training camp with the Green Bay Packers and has since had NFL looks from the New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins. He can wait as long as he wants to see if he lands another NFL shot, sign with the UFL\u2019s Birmingham Stallions to get more four-down work or come to the Blue Bombers and step into a QB room where he could learn from Collaros and Condell. His decision looms large this offseason for the Blue Bombers.<\/p>\n

And so, let\u2019s be blunt here: the QB depth chart behind Collaros is currently very, very blurry. Winnipeg\u2019s starter missed five starts last year \u2014 say what you will about his numbers, but Streveler was 4-1 in relief \u2014 and Collaros didn\u2019t finish three other games, meaning there is a potential high workload for whoever lines up as the second and third pivots. That\u2019s even more so with Streveler having ripped up his knee again in the regular-season finale and his future in the league, especially as a pending free agent, uncertain.<\/p>\n

The club still has Wilson under contract, but he\u2019s only thrown 22 passes in two years \u2014 21 of them coming in relief of Streveler in the last game of the year, when he went 11 of 21 for 79 yards. Artopoeus is also under contract, but he\u2019s even more of a mystery as a guy who was here all last year and dressed for five games but did not attempt a pass.<\/p>\n

Perkins and Thorne have more than just \u2018training camp arm\u2019 resum\u00e9s \u2014 Perkins as UFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year last season with the Michigan Panthers; Thorne as the former Michigan State\/Auburn starter who had a long look from the Cincinnati Bengals last year during camp.<\/p>\n

RUNNING BACK\/FULLBACK
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Brady Oliveira<\/p>\n

Signed: Brady Oliveira*, Matthew Peterson*, Michael Chris-Ike* (fullback)<\/p>\n

New: none<\/p>\n

Pending free agents: none.<\/p>\n

Burning question: There isn\u2019t one. Period. Oliveira signed a three-year contract extension in December and is the best tailback in the CFL, having posted four consecutive 1K seasons. Peterson proved very valuable coming out the bullpen last year in relief \u2014 including a 130-yard effort in the opener following an injury to Oliveira.<\/p>\n

Chris-Ike, meanwhile, is regarded by many as one of the best athletes on the team and has flashed on those rare occasions he does get his mitts on the ball.<\/p>\n

RECEIVER
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Pokey Wilson<\/p>\n

Signed: Nic Demski*, Ontaria Wilson, Kevens Clercius*, Joey Corcoran*, Gavin Cobb*<\/p>\n

CFL free agent added: Tim White<\/p>\n

New: Jahmal Banks, TJ Davis, Bryce Kirtz, Gerald Monroe, Key\u2019Shawn Smith, Kenneth Womack.<\/p>\n

Pending free agents: Keric Wheatfall, Jerreth Sterns, Dillon Mitchell, Dalton Schoen, Kody Case.<\/p>\n

Burning question(s): White\u2019s signing this week helps appease some concerns about this position group. Still, there are some\u00a0questions with the market soon to open, with Wheatfall and Sterns pending free agents, with Mitchell\u2019s offseason legal issues putting his future in doubt and with Schoen hobbled by injuries the last couple of years.<\/p>\n

There are two solid and proven starters in Demski and Wilson, and Clercius, Corcoran and Cobb \u2014 all Canadians \u2014 started games last year but have yet to flash enough to scream out they are the next Joe Poplawksi, Rick House or Gerald Wilcox.<\/p>\n

Wheatfall (42 catches for 655 yards and four TDs in 16 games) and Sterns (48-530-4 in 14 GP) could be receivers who take that proverbial next step to become 1,000-yard men, but there are also some proven receivers who will soon hit the CFL market and could bolster this group even further.<\/p>\n

OFFENSIVE LINE
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Stanley Bryant<\/p>\n

Signed: Stanley Bryant, Pat Neufeld*, Kendall Randolph, Gabe Wallace*, Tui Eli*, Micah Vanterpool, Ethan Vibert*<\/p>\n

New: Ben Dooley, Tyler Elsbury, Zovon Lindsday, Micah Mazzccua, Joseph More, Sebastian Pares, Hunter Poncius, Tariq Stewart, Iwinosa Uwubanmwen*, Bucky Williams<\/p>\n

Pending free agents: Eric Lofton<\/p>\n

Burning question: There is talent to suggest a succession plan is already in house, even with the belief Bryant (39) and Neufeld (37) still have tread on their tires. Eli could be the new starting centre with Kolankowski now in Hamilton and there are two other young Canadians in Wallace (26, with 15 starts last year) and 2025 CFL Draft pick Vibert, who is 25, on board along with American Kendall Randolph (27) at right tackle and versatile Micah Vanterpool, also 27, all under contract,<\/p>\n

What\u2019s intriguing is the number of American linemen already having been signed this offseason, including Elsbury and Poncius, who had looks last year during the practice roster expansion in the fall, and Stewart, who been in camps with Edmonton, Saskatchewan and B.C. We brought this up last year and it\u2019s still months from camp, but the number of Americans under contract could again open up the possibility of playing three up front alongside two Canadians, instead of three Canadians between the tackles.<\/p>\n

DEFENSIVE LINE
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Willie Jefferson<\/p>\n

Signed: Willie Jefferson, Cam Lawson*, Tanner Schmekel*,\u00a0 Collin Kornelson*, Kemari Munier-Bailey (G), Matt Jaworski, Kydran Jenkins<\/p>\n

New: De\u2019Shaan Dixon, Khris Bogle, Warren Peeples, Arnold Young<\/p>\n

Pending free agents: Jamal Woods, James Vaughters.<\/p>\n

Burning question: Both Vaughters, who led the team in sacks last year with six and Woods, who started 17 games over the last two seasons are inching closer to the market while Thomas retired to take on a coaching role \u2014 meaning there is potentially going to be change along the defensive front for the Blue Bombers.<\/p>\n

Management was also impressed with the work of Jaworski and Jenkins in their starts in the regular-season finale last year, and with Munier-Bailey, who flashed on special teams in that same game. There\u2019s also a lot of intrigue in Dixon, who opened some eyes during his stint on the practice roster last year.<\/p>\n

LINEBACKERS
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Tony Jones<\/p>\n

Signed:\u00a0 Tony Jones, Kyrie Wilson, Michael Ayers, Tanner Cadwallader*, Jaylen Smith*, Connor Shay*, Lane Novak*<\/p>\n

New: Brandon Bouyer-Randle, Johnny Hodges, Mike Smith, Jr.<\/p>\n

Pending free agents: Shayne Gauthier*<\/p>\n

Burning question: This seems like a \u2018safe\u2019 position right now, with Jones locked in at middle linebacker and Wilson re-signed to handle the weak-side linebacker spot. (Note: the Dime back spot \u2014 long known as the strong side linebacker position \u2014 is essentially manned by a defensive back and we\u2019ve listed Redha Kramdi, who handles that gig, in that position group.<\/p>\n

There is good young Canadian depth courtesy last year\u2019s draft class which brought Shay, Smith and Novak to join Cadwallader and Ayers is one of the best special teams players in the league. That said, Jones is 30 and Wilson is 33, so there could be need for new young talent to jump out in training camp.<\/p>\n

DEFENSIVE BACKS
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Redha Kramdi<\/p>\n

Signed:\u00a0Redha Kramdi*, Deatrick Nichols, Evan Holm, Cam Allen, Jaiden Woodbey, Michael Griffin II, Trey Vaval, Ethan Ball*, Jake Kelly*<\/p>\n

New: Bryan Addison, Shyheim Battle, Warren Burrell, Javaris Davis, Michael Dixon, Cameron McCutheon, Alijah McGhee, Ridge Texada, Major Williams.<\/p>\n

Pending free agents: Demerio Houston, Dexter Lawson, Jr., Terrell Bonds, Nick Hallett*, Enock Makonzo*.<\/p>\n

Burning question: The Blue Bombers never seem to sweat the idea of potential changes to their secondary and they\u2019ve already addressed the critical spots by signing Nichols, Kramdi and Holm to new deals, along with Griffin II. Couple that group with Woodbey, Allen, Vaval and Ball \u2014 all new last year \u2014 and there is a solid mix of vets and fresh faces.<\/p>\n

All that said, with Houston, Bonds and Lawson, Jr. all pending free agents and Parker, Jr. released in December and Marquise Bridges last summer, of the six different players who started at corner for the club in 2025, only Vaval is under contract. That\u2019s a pile of uncertainty at those two spots with the market soon to open.<\/p>\n

SPECIALISTS
\n\"\"<\/p>\n

Sergio Castillo<\/p>\n

Signed: PK Sergio Castillo, P Jamieson Sheahan (G), LS Ian Leroux*, KR Trey Vaval<\/p>\n

Pending free agents: None.<\/p>\n

Burning question:\u00a0This is as concrete as any positional group heading into the market and with training camp just a few months away. Both Castillo and Sheahan were re-signed last month, Leroux was solid in his first season as the long-snapper after replacing veteran Mike Benson and Vaval\u2019s return after his NFL tour means the uncertainty about the return game is gone \u2014 even with Peyton Logan having been released and since signing in Toronto.<\/p>\n

What will be interesting to monitor is whether Vaval is in the mix for a starting cornerback spot and how that might impact his workload as a returner, where he sparkled last year as the CFL\u2019s Most Outstanding Rookie and Most Outstanding Special Teams Player.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"If there\u2019s a Winnipeg Blue Bombers playbook for Canadian Football League free agency, it\u2019s essentially a concise, one-sentence…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":446465,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[437],"tags":[49,48,521,522,520,82],"class_list":["post-446464","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cfl","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-canadian-football-league","tag-canadianfootballleague","tag-cfl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/446464","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=446464"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/446464\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/446465"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=446464"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=446464"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=446464"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}