{"id":476341,"date":"2026-02-15T10:48:34","date_gmt":"2026-02-15T10:48:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/476341\/"},"modified":"2026-02-15T10:48:34","modified_gmt":"2026-02-15T10:48:34","slug":"how-do-the-winnipeg-blue-bombers-look-after-cfl-free-agency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/476341\/","title":{"rendered":"How do the Winnipeg Blue Bombers look after CFL free agency?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Courtesy: CFL<\/p>\n

CFL free agency has come and gone with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers being the most active we\u2019ve seen them in a long time.<\/p>\n

After grabbing from the bargain bin last year, the Blue and Gold returned to the strategy that once helped them land players like Stanley Bryant, Andrew Harris, Adam Bighill, and Willie Jefferson: quality over quantity.<\/p>\n

The Blue Bombers signed two of 3DownNation\u2019s top six pending free agents<\/a>, including the No. 1 available player in offensive lineman Jarell Broxton<\/a>. Three-time All-CFL receiver Tim White would also have also ranked high on the list had he not hit the market early following his release from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.<\/p>\n

With the additions now official<\/a>, it\u2019s time take a look at Winnipeg\u2019s updated depth chart. What you see below is based on informed speculation, serving as an unofficial mock-up to illustrate how the team currently looks on paper.<\/p>\n

\"\"John Hodge\/3DownNation. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n

Tim White and Tommy Nield were signed from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Saskatchewan Roughriders, respectively, to upgrade Winnipeg\u2019s receiving corps.<\/p>\n

White is coming off four-straight 1,000-yard seasons and though he\u2019s struggled with drops in the past, it\u2019s a skill he\u2019s continuing to hone<\/a>. The 31-year-old received a $75,000 signing bonus to join the Blue Bombers, per source, on a contract worth $222,000 in hard money.<\/p>\n

Nield, meanwhile, scored the game-winning touchdown for Saskatchewan in the West Final and should still have some untapped potential at the age of 26. He set all-new career-highs in 2025 with 42 catches for 535 yards and five touchdowns and will bring some much-needed size to the group at six-foot-three and 200 pounds. The native of Guelph, Ont. will earn $175,000 in hard money in 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Nic Demski and Ontaria \u2018Pokey\u2019 Wilson are locks to be in starting lineup, which means there\u2019s only one spot left. Kevens Clercius and Joey Corcoran both started games at field-side wideout in 2025, though Clercius was publicly berated by Zach Collaros for a mistake late in the regular-season and subsequently benched for the playoffs.<\/p>\n

If Clercius or Corcoran win the starting job in training camp, Winnipeg would have three starting Canadian receivers, making it a little easier to start three Americans along the offensive line (more on that in a moment). The team has brought in several rookie American receivers, however, as they look to find the next Dalton Schoen, who wasn\u2019t re-signed after suffering another torn ACL. Jerreth Sterns and Keric Wheatfall, who started a combined 30 regular-season games in 2025, also weren\u2019t retained.<\/p>\n

Jarell Broxton was Winnipeg\u2019s flashy addition along the offensive line, signing a two-year contract worth $250,000 per season<\/a>. He\u2019ll likely be the team\u2019s starter at right tackle with Stanley Bryant remaining on the left side, where he\u2019s started since 2015. If this is Bryant\u2019s swan song \u2014 he turns 40 in May \u2014 Broxton would be the perfect heir apparent. The 32-year-old was the best pass-blocking offensive tackle in the CFL last season, per Pro Football Focus, while protecting Nathan Rourke\u2019s blindside in B.C.<\/p>\n

It\u2019ll be interesting to see how Winnipeg manages the interior of the offensive line, a spot that wasn\u2019t addressed in free agency. Gabe Wallace had ups and downs over 15 starts at left guard in 2025 and though Micah Vanterpool struggled in three starts at left tackle, he played well in three starts at left guard. There\u2019s also Kendall Randolph, who was a full-time starter at right tackle last year. With Broxton now presumably manning that spot, Randolph would be available to start at left guard.<\/p>\n

Patrick Neufeld is a lock to start at right guard, while Tui Eli is the heavy favourite to win the starting job at centre following the release of Chris Kolankowski. Ethan Vibert, the team\u2019s third-round pick in the 2025 CFL Draft, should be ready to fill a full-time depth role, though the Blue Bombers would be wise to use their first-round pick in the upcoming draft on a blue-chip offensive lineman.<\/p>\n

Winnipeg didn\u2019t make any additions at quarterback, instead standing pat with incumbent passers Zach Collaros, Terry Wilson, and Chase Artopoeus. Wilson has attempted only 12 regular-season passes in the CFL, while Artopoeus has never taken a regular-season snap. Chris Streveler, who suffered a torn in ACL in October, wasn\u2019t retained and he has yet to confirm whether or not he intends to return to the CFL<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It should be noted that the Blue Bombers have added two CFL rookies at the position in Bryce Perkins and Payton Thorne. Perkins is far from the average rookie<\/a>, bringing six years of professional football experience with a UFL MVP award. Thorne, meanwhile, started 48 games at Michigan State and Auburn, two top collegiate programs, and was mentored by longtime CFL quarterback Kent Austin<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It remains to be seen if Perkins or Thorne achieve any success in the CFL, but it\u2019s noteworthy that they have stronger collegiate and professional resum\u00e9s than most quarterbacks who come to the league.<\/p>\n

As for the running back position, there\u2019s no question that Brady Oliveira will be the team\u2019s starter. Matthew Peterson is a solid Canadian backup, having rushed for 329 yards and one touchdown as a rookie in 2025. It appears longtime NFL speedster J.J. Taylor<\/a> will be this year\u2019s American running back who almost surely gets cut, following in the footsteps of players like Quinton Cooley and Chris Smith. If Taylor is going to make the team, it\u2019ll likely have to be as a kick returner.<\/p>\n

\"\"John Hodge\/3DownNation. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n

Jake Ceresna was the team\u2019s big-money addition along the defensive line<\/a> and he should add some much-needed punch to the pass rush. The 31-year-old has been a game-wrecker for much of his CFL career, recording 30 sacks and five forced fumbles from 2022 to 2024 and helping the Toronto Argonauts upset Winnipeg in the Grey Cup in Vancouver.<\/p>\n

The six-foot-four, 295-pound native of New Fairfield, Conn., who makes his offseason home in Tampa, Fla., received a better financial offer from the Ottawa Redblacks, per sources, but ultimately chose to sign in Winnipeg. He will earn $235,000 in hard money in 2026, making him one of the league\u2019s highest-paid defensive linemen. Though he primarily plays along the interior, it wouldn\u2019t be surprising if the two-time All-CFL selection pushes out to defensive end when the Blue Bombers flex to a three-man front on passing downs.<\/p>\n

Matt Jaworski and Kydran Jenkins should have the inside track to winning the starting job opposite Willie Jefferson. Both players dressed for Winnipeg\u2019s regular-season finale in 2025 and recorded a sack, drawing speculation that they should have been in the lineup earlier and perhaps remained active for the East Semi-Final.<\/p>\n

Jaworski has prototypical size at six-foot-five and 260 pounds and was named the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year at Fordham University in 2024, while Jenkins is a more compact edge rusher and was named third-team All-Big Ten at Purdue University in 2024. James Vaughters, who started opposite Jefferson in 2025, has signed with the Saskatchewan Roughriders<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Cameron Lawson, who made a career-high 21 tackles in 2025, is expected to start at nose tackle in place of Jake Thomas, who ended his 14-year playing career to become Winnipeg\u2019s defensive line coach<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Jonathan Moxey was signed from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and should fill an important hole at cornerback. He\u2019s been pencilled-in at boundary cornerback above, though he played field-side cornerback at a high level in 2025. Moxey will earn $135,000 in 2026<\/a>, which is the first of a two-year deal in Bomberland.<\/p>\n

Trey Vaval, who was named the CFL\u2019s Most Outstanding Rookie and Most Outstanding Special Teams Player in 2025, has been pencilled-in as the starter at field-side cornerback, though it may be best to have him focus solely on his return duties. Alijah McGhee, who was signed in November, has starting experience at field-side cornerback from his tenure with the Ottawa Redblacks.<\/p>\n

Winnipeg lost boundary cornerback Terrell Bonds to a torn ACL in August<\/a> and the team struggled to replace him, repatriating Demerio Houston, who was only available because he\u2019d been the subject of criminal charges that were subsequently dropped<\/a>. Jamal Parker Jr., who struggled at field-side cornerback during the playoffs, was released by the team in December<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The halfback spots are set in stone with Deatrick Nichols and Evan Holm being two of the highest-paid defensive backs in the league. Cam Allen is the incumbent at safety, though it\u2019ll be interesting to see if big-bodied UCLA product Bryan Addison gets an opportunity to play there<\/a>. The team could also move Redha Kramdi back to safety, which they did three times this past season, allowing someone else to start at strong-side linebacker.<\/p>\n

Winnipeg made one addition at linebacker, bringing Jovan Santos-Knox back where he started his CFL career in 2017<\/a>. The 31-year-old has played 77 regular-season games with Edmonton, Hamilton, and Ottawa since departing the Blue Bombers, earning an All-East Division selection in 2022 and Ottawa\u2019s nomination for Most Outstanding Defensive Player in 2025.<\/p>\n

Tony Jones and Kyrie Wilson are the incumbent starters at middle and weak-side linebacker, respectively, though Santos-Knox could change that. Kramdi is the returning starter at strong-side linebacker, though Winnipeg will likely rotate in players like Michael Ayers, Michael Griffin II, and Jaiden Woodbey, particularly on passing downs.<\/p>\n

Shayne Gauthier, who is best remembered for making a key tackle late in the West Final in 2019, was not retained, which could open opportunities for 2025 CFL Draft picks Connor Shay and Jaylen Smith. Shay recorded 10 special teams tackles as a rookie, while Smith made 22 to finish one shy of Ayers for the team lead.<\/p>\n

\"\"John Hodge\/3DownNation. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n

The Blue Bombers have made no changes on special teams with Sergio Castillo, Jamieson Sheahan, Ian Leroux, and Trey Vaval all returning.<\/p>\n

Vaval had six NFL workouts after being named the CFL\u2019s Most Outstanding Rookie and Most Outstanding Special Teams Player in 2025, though it doesn\u2019t appear he was offered a contract down south. He remains under contract with Winnipeg through 2027.<\/p>\n

Winnipeg will open its rookie camp on Wednesday, May 6 with training camp getting into full swing on Sunday, May 10.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Courtesy: CFL CFL free agency has come and gone with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers being the most active…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":476342,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[437],"tags":[166835,166836,22070,22936,110975,137441,49,48,7028,521,522,520,193302,193303,193304,193305,168936,527,14108,193306,182041,116856,193307,180620,193308,46245,193309,180622,193310,193311,193312,193313,193314,193315,193316,175683,173843,193317,82,176423,193318,171515,180627,93659,176424,114896,22073,52049],"class_list":["post-476341","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cfl","tag-3down","tag-3downnation","tag-blue-bombers","tag-bombers","tag-brady-oliveira","tag-bryce-perkins","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-canadian","tag-canadian-football-league","tag-canadianfootballleague","tag-cfl","tag-chase-artopoeus","tag-connor-shay","tag-deatrick-nichols","tag-ethan-vibert","tag-evan-holm","tag-football","tag-free-agency","tag-gabe-wallace","tag-jake-ceresna","tag-jarell-broxton","tag-jayden-smith","tag-jerreth-sterns","tag-joey-corcoran","tag-jonathan-moxey","tag-kendall-randolph","tag-keric-wheatfall","tag-kevens-clercius","tag-kydran-jenkins","tag-matthew-jaworski","tag-matthew-peterson","tag-micah-vanterpool","tag-nic-demski","tag-ontaria-wilson","tag-patrick-neufeld","tag-payton-thorne","tag-redha-kramdi","tag-sports","tag-stanley-bryant","tag-terry-wilson","tag-tim-white","tag-tommy-nield","tag-trey-vaval","tag-tui-eli","tag-willie-jefferson","tag-winnipeg","tag-zach-collaros"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/476341","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=476341"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/476341\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/476342"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=476341"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=476341"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=476341"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}