Bombers sign Broxton and Ceresna

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have landed two of the biggest free agents on the market.

The Free Press was first to report early Sunday the Bombers agreed to terms with standout tackle Jarell Broxton on a two-year contract worth $250,000 annually that will make him the highest paid American offensive lineman in the CFL.

Two hours later, the Blue and Gold made another massive splash with the addition of defensive lineman Jake Ceresna on a two-year deal that will pay him $235,000 in 2026 (including a $120,000 signing bonus) and $255,000 in 2027.

The CFL’s legal tampering window opened Sunday at 11 a.m. CT. Pending free agents can agree to terms on contracts with new teams during this time before officially signing on Feb. 10.

Broxton, a 32-year-old from Maryland, was a CFL all-star at left tackle with the B.C. Lions last season, where he surrendered just 15 pressures in 16 games. The six-foot-five, 325-pounder owned the best pressure rate in the three-down circuit at 2.4 per cent.

The Baylor University product signed with the Bombers back in 2020 after a stint in the Arena Football League but never played a down for the Blue and Gold because of the cancelled season owing to the pandemic. Broxton then joined the Lions in 2021 and became a full-time starter in 2023.

Ceresna, a 31-year-old from Connecticut, was limited to 11 games with the Edmonton Elks last season after undergoing season-ending knee surgery. The two-time CFL all-star has 46 career sacks dating back to 2017 with 30 of those coming between 2022-24. Ceresna, who starred at Div. III program Cortland before turning pro, won a Grey Cup with the Toronto Argonauts in 2024 and has experience at both defensive end and defensive tackle.

BOMBERS SIGN RIDERS HERO AND A FORMER ALL-STAR

The Bombers aren’t messing around this free agency.

The club also agreed to terms on a two-year deal with Saskatchewan Roughriders receiver Tommy Nield and a one-year deal with Hamilton Tiger-Cats defensive back Jonathan Moxey.

Nield, 26, caught the game-winning touchdown for the Riders in last season’s West Final en route to their Grey Cup victory. The Guelph, Ont., native had 42 catches for 535 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games in 2025.

Moxey, 31, started 18 games at corner last season where he had three interceptions to go along with 40 defensive tackles and one forced fumble. He broke into the league in 2019 with the Calgary Stampeders and was a West Division all-star in 2022.

STERNS TO MONTREAL

Bombers receiver Jerreth Sterns is taking his talents to the Montreal Alouettes on a one-year deal.

The 26-year-old from Texas had 48 catches for 530 yards and four touchdowns in 14 games during his lone season in Winnipeg. Sterns signed with the Bombers as a free agent last off-season after two years in Saskatchewan.

HOUSTON HEADED EAST

The writing was on the wall for pending free agent corner Demerio Houston once the Bombers signed veteran corner Jonathan Moxey early Sunday.

Houston, 29, agreed to terms on a deal with B.C. earlier in the day only for the team to rescind their offer. He wasn’t without work for long as he quickly pivoted to the Ottawa Redblacks for a new contract.

The veteran defender played five games for Winnipeg last season after signing with the club in August. Months earlier, he was released by Calgary following a domestic violence charge that was later dropped.

Houston has 14 interceptions and 175 tackles in 50 career CFL games.

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