Big Blue still have work to do

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 27/12/2023 (621 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The holiday spirit has been in full effect the last couple of weeks, making it a fairly quiet time across the CFL.

Now that Christmas is in the rear-view mirror, general managers and coaches across the three-down loop will have to tighten their belts and get back to work. Free agency opens in fewer than seven weeks, on Feb. 13, and at last check, there are still dozens of pending free agents on each of the league’s nine teams.

Because of the lack of action, we’re going to do things a bit different in this festive edition of CFL Rundown. While we often touch on league-wide topics, the main focus this week is going to be on the Winnipeg Blue Bombers — the team I cover full-time and know the most about.

The Bombers, who will look to return to a fifth straight Grey Cup in 2024, made some significant moves in December. There’s still plenty of work to get done, though, with some important names still without a contract for next season.

Let’s dive deeper into these moves and what the future could hold for some areas of the roster.

1) Let’s start with the signing of DE Willie Jefferson. This one seemed inevitable given how close Jefferson is to the organization, including making Winnipeg his home year-round. He’ll be 33 by the time the 2024 season gets underway, but judging by how well he played last year — finishing with 11 sacks and a CFL-high 13 pass knockdowns — the feeling is Jefferson still has plenty left in the tank. He’s also a fan-favourite and a big part of the club’s culture.

2) Jefferson is the only starter on the club’s defensive line from 2023 currently under contract, with fellow DE Jackson Jeffcoat and interior linemen Jake Thomas and Ricky Walker all still in need of a new deal. The thought was Jeffcoat, who has battled multiple injuries in recent years, might want to call it a career. He seemed close despite signing an extension last January. That doesn’t seem to be the case anymore, as the 33-year-old Texas native made it clear at the end of this season that he has more to give. Ditto for Thomas, who also wants to come back at 33.

 

3) Not sure what the play here is with Jeffcoat, but his health and whether he can withstand another gruelling 18-game season has to at least be considered. He’s also that good that the club might be willing to take the risk. What about Thomas? You might recall the last time the Bombers tried to get rid of the cagey veteran, ahead of the 2018 season. They had to invite him back partway through training camp after 2017 No. 1 overall draft pick Faith Ekakitie fizzled out in just his second year in the league.

4) Unlike Ekakitie, the Bombers really like what they have behind Thomas in DL Cameron Lawson, who just so happened to ink a two-year extension last Friday. Lawson, who was acquired in a trade in May of 2022, has played two seasons in Winnipeg, including a 2023 campaign where he took notable steps as a rotational player on the D-line. Lawson had five sacks last year – the same number as Thomas – and also reeled in an interception. I wouldn’t be surprised if Winnipeg leans on him to have an even bigger role in 2024.

5) I’m always surprised by how little noise there is about Bombers halfback Deatrick Nichols, at least outside of Winnipeg. That’s because Nichols is easily one of, if not the best defensive back in the CFL. Getting him back for not just one, but on a two-year extension is a savvy piece of business by Bombers GM Kyle Walters. I wonder if the fact he wasn’t named a CFL all-star for the first time in his three years in the CFL — guys who don’t get thrown toward usually don’t register the kind of stats to garner votes — helped Winnipeg when negotiating a new deal? Even if it didn’t, Nichols is worth every penny.

 

6) Looking at the rest of the secondary, there’s potential for a bit of a facelift in 2024. It’s probably safe to assume veteran cornerback Winston Rose won’t be back after being listed as a healthy scratch in the playoffs, as the club went with Jamal Parker at field-side corner for the win-or-go-home games. Evan Holm, who had a breakout campaign at field-side halfback, is garnering a fair amount of interest from NFL teams, including workouts with the Minnesota Vikings and Denver Broncos. Like Holm, Demerio Houston, the CFL’s interception and takeaway leader, is also being courted by the NFL and might not be an option in 2024. That’s three starters whose futures are up in the air. It’s good news then that the Bombers have inked Redha Kramdi to a two-year extension, with Kramdi expected to remain the club’s starter at strong-side linebacker.

7) Then there’s veteran safety Brandon Alexander. Alexander has been the heart and soul of the secondary during Winnipeg’s dominant run. You can make the argument he hasn’t been the same since tearing his ACL in the 2021 Grey Cup. He bounced back nicely in 2023, playing in all but one regular season game. The Bombers have Nick Hallett, who has the added bonus of being Canadian, who they can use at safety. Although Alexander, who will be 31 in September, might just be too important to not bring back another year given the potential for several moving pieces in the secondary.

8) There’s no doubt that signing Brady Oliveira, a Winnipeg native and the West Division nominee for most outstanding player, is near the top of the to-do list. The same can be said for Dalton Schoen, who in just two seasons has become among the league’s best receivers. None of that work can happen until the Bombers figure out what’s going on with their offensive line. They need that front five clicking to protect QB Zach Collaros, give Collaros time to find his receivers and create holes for Oliveira to exploit in the run game.

 

9) Signing right guard Patrick Neufeld to a one-year extension is a strong start. Neufeld helps set the tone on the field and in the meeting rooms. While he’s getting up there in age — he turned 35 on Boxing Day — Neufeld appears to only be getting better with age. He’s also the lone starter from last year now under contract.

10) We still don’t know what the plan is for future Hall of Famer left tackle Stanley Bryant. He hasn’t informed the team he plans to retire, but he did mention during Grey Cup week he’s contemplated hanging them up each off-season since the cancelled 2020 campaign. What about right tackle Jermarcus Hardrick? He wants to play another season, and after earning his first nomination for top O-lineman in the West, might he be asking for a hefty raise? Speaking of raises, centre Chris Kolankowski is also due for a sizeable pay increase after a stellar year. Are the Bombers willing to shell out the cash when they already have Tui Eli under contract for another couple years?

11) It won’t create massive headlines but signing Tanner Cadwallader was a notable move by the Bombers. Cadwallader has evolved into one of the club’s greatest contributors on special teams, including 16 special-teams tackles in 2023 — the third-most on the Bombers, behind only Hallett (20) and Kerfalla Exume (17). With special teams guru Mike Miller missing the entire 2023 season due to injury, there’s at least a chance he could be done playing altogether, making it important the Bombers have some reliable bodies to take over in his place.

12) I’ve been hearing in recent weeks QB Chris Streveler might be readying for a return to the CFL. I made some calls and was told to pump the breaks on the idea for now, as Streveler still plans to use the next month or so get back into the NFL. That said, teams are starting to make calls on him. I’m told Calgary and Hamilton have already shown interest.

 

Jeff.Hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

X: @jeffkhamilton