It’s a question which normally isn’t posed until the service records are longer. And it’s a debate that often doesn’t have any traction until a player has hinted at retirement or has strapped on his helmet and shoulder pads for a final time.

Yet, let’s throw this out there right now because the statistics are so compelling: are we all now in agreement that Zach Collaros already has a spot among the pantheon of Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterbacks?

Consider these morsels of info, as we close out our final installment of our 2024 Positional Preview series in advance of the opening of training camp in less than two weeks with a look at the quarterbacks:

• Collaros is 39-8 in the regular season as the Blue Bombers starter – the 39 wins tying him with Matt Nichols for fifth-most in franchise history behind only Kenny Ploen (82), Dieter Brock (71), Khari Jones (44) and Tom Clements (41). His 82.9 winning percentage, it should be pointed out, is by far the best in club history.
• With just 47 starts – the equivalent of less than three seasons – he is already eighth in franchise history with 11,841 passing yards and with 3,136 more yards this year would move into the Top 5 behind Brock (29,623), Jones (20,175), Glenn (18,116) and Ploen (16,470).
• His 92 passing touchdowns ranks seventh and with 13 more he’d move past Clements (102), Glenn (103), Jacobs (104) into fourth place, behind only Brock (187), Jones (139) and Ploen (119).
• And, of course, he was the starting QB in two Grey Cup championships in 2019 and 2021 and has helped guide the team to four straight title games. Only Ploen, who appeared in six Grey Cup games and was a part of four championships, has more.

Collaros already has a place among Blue Bomber QB greats

All these numbers are to say that the Blue Bombers are in very, very capable hands with camp about to open – rookies on May 8^th; vets on May 12^th – and with Collaros under contract through the 2025 season.

What makes the Blue Bombers QB position so intriguing are the names now listed behind him on the depth chart with Dru Brown having been traded to the Ottawa RedBlacks for a draft pick prior to him hitting the free agent market, and Dakota Prukop having signed with the B.C. Lions after the addition of Chris Streveler.

The return of Streveler – who signed a one-year deal in late January –not only gives the club a quality, veteran arm out of the bullpen, but one of the most intriguing skillsets at the QB position in the Canadian Football League. He spent the last four years in the National Football League honing his passing game with the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals, but also with looks from the Chicago Bears, Baltimore Ravens and Miami Dolphins. What he brings to the short-yardage game and the potential of special packages designed for him by offensive coordinator Buck Pierce will be one of the juicy subplots to monitor this season.

As of this writing the Blue Bombers have two other QBs on their depth chart:

-Terry Wilson – Attended Dallas Cowboys mini-camp in 2022 and was with the Houston Gamblers for a spell until last year. Had a six-year college career (Oregon, Garden City Community College, Kentucky and New Mexico) and in 31 starts he threw for 4,494 yards with a 63.3 completions percentage and 27 touchdowns while rushing for 1,047 yards and 11 more scores.

-Eric Barriere – Former Eastern Washington star who has since bounced around the pro game with the Denver Broncos (2022), Michigan Panthers (2022) and New Jersey Generals before coming north (more on him below).

All of this is to say the Blue Bombers not only have a future hall of famer behind centre in Collaros – already a franchise legend – they have experienced depth behind him and a couple of prospects worth studying in camp.

That, in short, is exactly what every team in football wants at the most important position on the field.

Chris Streveler returns to the Blue Bombers after four years in the NFL

POSITIONAL PREVIEW ‘24

Quarterbacks

The Returnees:

Starters: Zach Collaros

Returning vets: Chris Streveler (last with the team in 2019 before NFL).

Newcomers: Eric Barriere, Terry Wilson

Departed: Dru Brown (Ottawa), Dakota Prukop (B.C.

Keep an eye on:

#12 Eric Barriere

Barriere’s college credentials are impressive – he appeared in 51 games and completed 62 percent of his passes for 13,809 yards, 121 touchdowns against 29 interceptions while rushing for 1,585 yards and 22 more. He also won the Walter Payton Award as the top offensive player in the NCAA Division 1 Football Championship Subdivision in 2021, a year after being the runner-up for the same award.

What’s interesting is Eastern Washington’s track record for sending QBs to the CFL, including current stars Bo Levi Mitchell and Vernon Adams, Jr. and former Blue Bomber Matt Nichols. Beau Baldwin, the former EWU coach credited for developing so many, is the new QB assistant with Calgary.

Said Nichols of Barriere in an interview with The Spokesman Review last month: “I think there is a big future for him in the CFL – especially with the equity EWU has in the league. I think he could go up there and be great.”

Did you know?

Including his days with Toronto, Hamilton, Saskatchewan, and Winnipeg, Collaros has a career QB efficiency rating of 101.6 – third highest in CFL history behind Dave Dickenson (110.2) and Trevor Harris (102.5)

Notable Number:

Collaros has thrown for 92 TDs against 35 interceptions as a Blue Bomber, for a +57 differential. Only Brock (+58) has a better ratio among Blue Bombers QBs in franchise history.