Bombers release off-season wish list

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This article was published 17/12/2019 (2091 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have revealed 10 players on their negotiation list.

As part of a league-wide mandate established following the 2018 Canadian Football League winter meetings, all nine CFL clubs are now required to disclose a list of names twice over a calendar year, with Tuesday’s announcement being the second and final sneak peek of 2019.

With negotiation lists, which are regulated by CFL bylaws, teams are allowed to claim exclusive CFL rights for up to 45 players. These players can often include high-profile NFL names or budding stars from U.S. colleges.

The Bombers’ December list consists of four wide receivers, two quarterbacks, two defensive backs, one linebacker and one defensive lineman. Two players that were on August’s list are also on this list.

Here is a brief look at the five most interesting players:

 

Jake Bentley, QB, South Carolina:

Played his first four seasons with the South Carolina Gamecocks, but a serious foot injury ended his 2019 season short. The 22-year-old announced this month he would be transferring to Utah for the 2020 season.

 

River Cracraft, WR, Washington State:

A wide receiver and return specialist, Cracraft played four seasons with Washington State, where his 218 receptions is the second-most in school history. He has spent the parts of the past three seasons with the NFL’s Denver Broncos, who released the 25-year-old in September.

 

Jhavonte Dean, DB, Miami:

Dean had brief stints in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers and Cleveland Browns before signing with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in September, joining their practice roster. The 24-year-old has yet to see any CFL action.

 

Jaydon Mickens, WR, Washington:

The 25-year-old Mickens has travelled across the NFL since 2016, playing for the Oakland Raiders, Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers. Mickens was most productive with the Jaguars, twice being named the AFC special teams player of the week. He had one punt-return touchdown and two receiving touchdowns with Jacksonville in 2017, but injuries have hurt his chances to stick in the NFL.

 

Christian Ringo, DT, Louisiana Lafayette:

Drafted in the sixth round – 210th overall – by the Green Bay Packers in the 2015 NFL draft, Ringo has played for four clubs, including most recently the Cincinnati Bengals. He hasn’t played in a game since dressing for the Detroit Lions in 2017.

 

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton