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February 14, 2017

2017 Free Agency | Day 1 Recap

@EdTaitWFC

No one expected the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to duplicate the big free agent splash they made a year ago when they attacked the market with a maniacal fervour and a thick chequebook.

But on the first day of 2017 Canadian Football League free agency, the club didn’t just tepidly dip its toe into the talent pool either, adding two new faces, losing two, re-signing another and extending a key cog on the offensive line.

So much for playing the spectator on Day 1.

Here’s a breakdown of all the Bomber related activity:

The Big Addition:

The Bombers signed import defensive tackle Drake Nevis to a one-year deal. A 6-1, 301 pounder from LSU who spent last year with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, he’ll be pencilled into the starting line-up to replace Euclid Cummings.

Nevis had five sacks and 29 tackles in 14 games with the Ticats last season. His story can be found here, and he describes himself this way:

“A high-motor guy who doesn’t like to take plays off and runs the length of the field.”

Calgary Stampeder QB Bo Levi Mitchell also weighed in on the Nevis signing with a simple but telling tweet:

 

 

Asked what he is expecting this year from the Bombers, Nevis added:

“Greatness. If you were an opposing team, that’s one team you did not want to face. The kicker… the defence… the offence… total package.”

Drake Nevis

Canadian Depth:

Winnipeg added some depth to its receiving corps with the addition of Matt Coates. Now 26, Coates has appeared in 34 games over three years with the Ticats in a reserve role, pulling in nine passes over that span. He’ll be in the fight for the starting Canadian receiver job along with incumbent Julian Feoli-Gudino – who had replaced Rory Kohlert for the playoff game last year – as well as Addison Richards. He was a Canadian Junior Football League All-Canadian in 2013 with the Hamilton Hurricanes after setting a record with 13 touchdowns.

Coates has an interesting backstory, too. He was a star receiver in high school but opted to become an electrician like his father, choosing to play flag football while working on his apprenticeship in the family business.

He played with Hurricanes coach Jay Hayes who encouraged him to play junior, which he did on two occasions, sandwiched around a season with the New Mexico Military Institute Broncos.

 

 

A Renewed Commitment:

Before the free agent market opened, the Bombers announced that right guard Sukh Chungh had signed a contract extension through the 2018 season. The 6-4, 308-pound University of Calgary product started all 18 games as a rookie after being selected second overall in the 2015 CFL Draft and 16 more last year (missing two due to injury).

“When we drafted Sukh, this is the exact type of development we were hoping for and expecting, quite honestly,” said Bombers GM Kyle Walters in a statement. “He’s a hard-nosed, tough, talented lineman who plays the game on the edge and brings a feistiness to our offensive line. Sukh is a big piece of our Canadian talent and we are really glad to have him secured for another year.”

The Chungh news got thumbs up from a pair of teammates:

 

 

Heading Out

Khalil Bass is off to the Ottawa REDBLACKS. He was told before free agency that he would not be offered a contract and wasn’t on the market long before signing in Ottawa. He was the Bombers leading tackler last year, adding four sacks, two interceptions, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

The Bombers have indicated that Kyle Knox, who joined the team last year, will have a shot at replacing Bass in the middle of the linebacking corps and the scouts will also be scouring the south for more candidates.

Tony Burnett, who appeared in all 18 games last year, starting six, left for the B.C. Lions. He led the Bombers in special-teams tackles with 19 and will have a shot at replacing Adam Bighill (New Orleans) in B.C.