As free agency deadline looms, Bombers have plenty of work to do

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This article was published 11/02/2019 (2783 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

WITH CFL free agency officially set to open this morning at 11 a.m., the Winnipeg Blue Bombers still have a long list of expiring contracts, with a number of players set to hit the open market.

While a handful of deals have already been taken care of by Bombers general manager Kyle Walters in recent weeks — including signing last season’s most outstanding defensive player, middle linebacker Adam Bighill, to a three-year deal; left tackle Stanley Bryant, who has won top O-linemen in back-to-back years, through the 2019 season; and defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat to a two-year pact — Winnipeg still has a number of notable names who have yet to put ink to paper.

By late Monday, the only signing the Bombers had made was inking defensive back Brandon Alexander to a two-year deal, which was first reported by TSN 1290’s Darrin Bauming. The deal will be made public by the team Tuesday morning. The Free Press reported over the weekend in its CFL free agency primer that Alexander was the only player to be in serious talks with the team about an extension.

Offensive lineman Sukh Chungh, who was named a West division all-star in 2018, looks like he will test free agency. The issue with Chungh and the Bombers isn’t the mutual interest in getting a deal done, but the cost associated with doing so. According to sources, Chungh, a Canadian, is asking for upwards of $250,000, and the belief is he has reason to think he’ll come close to that with another CFL club. The heavy favourite to sign the 26-year-old is the B.C. Lions.

Conversations with linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox and receiver Nic Demski have stalled; both have yet to receive a contract offer.

All-star safety Taylor Loffler, defensive lineman Drake Nevis, defensive end Tristan Okpalaugo and veteran receiver Weston Dressler are also without deals and, with just hours to go, it’s hard to imagine things will change before free agency begins.

Expect the Bombers and every other team in the CFL to inquire about defensive end Willie Jefferson. Jefferson still has time to sign with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, but there’s reason to think that if a deal hasn’t happened by now, it’s unlikely to. Winnipeg is considered to be in the thick of the race for Jefferson’s services, along with Toronto, Montreal, Hamilton and B.C.

If Jefferson does become a free agent, he’ll be the most sought after player outside of quarterbacks Mike Reilly, Bo Levi Mitchell and Trevor Harris. Jefferson is a game-changer, who, at 6-6 and 245 pounds, has the athletic ability and skills to change the tide of a game every play. The Bombers got a first-hand look at what the 28-year-old can do when he intercepted a Matt Nichols pass and returned it 97 yards for a touchdown in a win over Winnipeg in last season’s Banjo Bowl.

Whichever direction free agency goes for the Bombers, there will be a lot of change in the upcoming season. Expect Winnipeg to target a high-profile receiver, with Ottawa’s Greg Ellingson at the top of the list.

Winnipeg has a number of key players already in place, including running back Andrew Harris and Nichols, but how the Bombers will be judged is whether they can continue to add qualities pieces — either through free agency or by their scouting department — in areas where they can’t reach a deal with pending free agents.

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jeffkhamilton