Bombers eager to see Logan run

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/02/2025 (232 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For years, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have treated CFL free agency as an opportunity to go bargain bin shopping.

When you’re a winning team like the Bombers, having made it to five consecutive Grey Cups, the focus every winter becomes trying to re-sign as many of your own players as possible. It’s only after they’ve exhausted these avenues that the Bombers start to look elsewhere, including the open market, to help fill out the roster.

While Winnipeg has made it to the championship game the last five years, they’ve lost the last three games in heartbreaking fashion. No longer satisfied with the status quo and feeling like something’s got to give, the Bombers took a much different approach to Day 1 of free agency this year.

The Blue and Gold opened the day by signing a trio of receivers, inking a pair of Americans in Jerreth Sterns and Reggie White Jr., along with Canadian Gavin Cobb, all of whom are on one-year deals.

Not done there, the Bombers added Canadian defensive back Josh Hagerty on a one-year pact, which came a short time before locking up running back Peyton Logan on a two-year deal.

The Bombers wrapped up the day by adding another piece to the defence, signing defensive lineman Brock Gowanlock to a one-year contract. While it’s impossible to predict the future, the Bombers are expected to remain active in free agency throughout the week.

Let’s break down Tuesday’s moves and see where it all fits.

1) The Bombers were unwilling to pay receiver Kenny Lawler what he wanted this season after shelling out big money to him and Dalton Schoen last year, only to see both limited by serious injuries. They managed to keep Schoen in the mix, but knew they needed to find more help for quarterback Zach Collaros, especially with the decision to move on from Drew Wolitarsky and with Ontaria Wilson currently with the NFL’s New York Jets. It should come as no surprise that this was a position area they attacked early.

2) The most intriguing addition at receiver has to be White. White, whose father played four seasons in the NFL, has spent the last four years with the Montreal Alouettes. His best season was 2022, when he reeled in 53 passes for 722 yards and two touchdowns. The 28-year-old suffered a serious knee injury at the end of that year and missed the entire 2023 campaign. White returned last season and in 12 games, caught 24 balls for 355 yards and four scores. If he can stay healthy, he might just be in line for a career year in Winnipeg.

3) If White is the most intriguing, Sterns is the sneakiest pick at receiver. He’s just 25 years old and already has 23 regular season games under his belt. Sterns put up solid numbers with the Saskatchewan Roughriders despite a crowded receiver room, finishing each of his two years in Riderville with at least 400 receiving yards and a combined three TDs. He was particularly reliable on second down.

4) Cobb was selected by the Edmonton Elks in the fourth round in 2022 and has spent the past two seasons there. He’s not going to scare any opposing defences with his combined 308 receiving yards, but he should provide some depth on special teams, including as a returner. As a receiver, he’ll play behind fellow Canadian Kevens Clercius. The 27-year-old also has a connection to the city, having played his collegiate football with the University of Manitoba.

5) Hagerty was also added to boost the special teams units. He’s a big body at 6-3, 200 pounds, finishing with 10 special teams tackles last year with the Elks. He also has a Grey Cup ring, as a member of the Toronto Argonauts team that beat the Bombers in 2022.

6) This might count as burying the lead, but Logan is definitely the pickup of the day. Logan is locked up for two years and at 26, should bring some major stability to the return game. He finished third in the CFL last year with an average of 13.5 yards per punt return and had one TD – a 104-yard scamper that was registered as the longest return of the season. Logan didn’t rank as well on kick returns, averaging just 22.7 yards per attempt, but after how miserable the return game was in Winnipeg last year, it’s still a notable upgrade.

7) Like Cobb, Gowanlock played with the U of M Bisons before turning pro. He has spent the last three years with the Alouettes, but injury limited him to just three games in 2024. He still managed to record a couple of special teams tackles, which is what he’ll be asked to do in Winnipeg, while also offering depth behind fellow Canadians Jake Thomas and Cameron Lawson on the defensive line.

8) The Bombers were reported to have signed a deal with QB Shea Patterson during the open window in the week leading up to free agency. By press time on Tuesday, though, the contract hadn’t been signed. It’s unclear what might be preventing the two sides from finalizing things, it may have something to do with the signing of Chris Streveler this past weekend.

9) While the Bombers welcomed some new faces, there were others they bid farewell to or lost to other teams. Notable departures include LB Adam Bighill (free agent), safety Brandon Alexander (free agent) and receiver Lucky Whitehead (free agent), as well as OL Liam Dobson (Hamilton) and DB Tyrell Ford (Edmonton).

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

X and Blue Sky: @jeffkhamilton