Schoen due for a big raise

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This article was published 21/11/2023 (657 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Dalton Schoen is undoubtedly the most underpaid player in the CFL.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers receiver earned near the league minimum of $70,000 during the 2023 season. But the 27-year-old from Overland Park, Kan., can finally cash in during the off-season.

Schoen, who likely would have led the league in receiving yardage for a second consecutive season if he hadn’t missed the final two regular-season games with an ankle injury, is a pending free agent.

“Those are conversations to be had in the future with my agent, my family, and everyone that’s involved with that. But obviously, I have had two great years here on the field, and off the field more specifically. I really enjoy being around the guys in this locker room and getting to play with that guy right there,” Schoen said Tuesday. He was pointing toward quarterback Zach Collaros, who was clearing out his locker nearby.

The Bombers held a media availability at IG Field — less than 48 hours after losing 28-24 to the Montreal Alouettes on Grey Cup Sunday.

“This is a special place. I think you look around around a lot of professional facilities on both sides of the border and you’re not going to find a ton of places like this. Obviously, this is a place where I want to be, so hopefully we can make that happen moving forward. But there’s a lot of things to look at and gotta look at every opportunity.”

Schoen played 16 regular-season games for Winnipeg this season, pulling down 71 receptions for 1,222 yards —just 47 behind league-leader Tim White of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The Bombers receiver lead all pass-catchers with 10 TDs.

In 2022, he had a blazing start to his CFL career, registering 1,441 receiving yards and 16 touchdowns as a rookie to lead all receivers in those categories.

After the 2022 season, Schoen worked out for six NFL teams but couldn’t find a taker. He was under contract with the Los Angeles Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Washington Commanders before coming up north last season, so, he’s no secret to the top professional league.

He will most likely continue his pro football career in Canada.

The highest paid non-quarterback in the CFL is receiver Eugene Lewis, who signed a two-year deal with the Edmonton Elks worth $320,000 per season in February. Schoen has better numbers than Lewis, so expect him to be in that price range.

Unless the Bombers move on from some expensive veterans and/or have some retirements, it’ll be a tall task to match the highest bidder.

“I respect the boundaries of the whole thing because I understand it’s about money a lot of the time. For him, he’s kind of starting that nest egg to have a family and all those different things, buy a house, or whatever that looks like for each individual,” said Collaros.

“But Dalton knows how I feel about him… a lot of success I’ve been afforded the last two seasons since he’s been here are a direct result of time, effort, and work together with him… I just respect the hell out of the guy and hope he’s back obviously.”

Bombers No.2 quarterback Dru Brown, 26, is also in line for a pay raise. The third-year pro has shown enough to earn a starting gig somewhere and a significant bump up from the approximately $83,000 he made in 2023.

He’s arguably the best quarterback the franchise has developed in years, but with Collaros signed through 2025 it’s difficult to see Brown returning to Winnipeg.

“If I’m being honest, I have so much other sh— going on outside of this that I need to go handle, with my family and things that have happened this year. So, I haven’t given a ton of thought to what the next steps are,” said Brown. His father, who was only in his late 50s, died unexpectedly in July.

“When that time comes, I’ll handle that. But my family is 100 per cent my first priority over my profession.”

Brown, a Californian, played lights out this year. He started two games and spotted in a few other times, connecting on 62 of 89 pass attempts and finishing with 983 passing yards, nine touchdowns and zero interceptions.

“I don’t pretend to know (my value). I haven’t been around long enough to understand that. We don’t really talk about that in here,” said Brown. “I’m sure there will be (opportunities), maybe, but again, you never really know. I know that I got better this year and that’s what I want to do every year.”

Collaros thinks the sky’s the limit for his backup.

“Under the right leadership, coaching and play calling, he could be one of the best — if not the best — guy in the league,” said Collaros.

taylor.allen@freepress.mb.ca

X: @taylorallen31