Brady Oliveira tops the list of Blue Bombers pending free agents; photos by Cameron Bartlett
There’s a long offseason to-do list for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to attack — some of it already well underway — including solidifying Mike O’Shea’s coaching staff and the scouting department alongside GM Kyle Walters, to planning for the here and now and life beyond the 2026 Canadian Football League season.
And while getting after all that there’s also a long list of pending free agents — some 35 names in total — on which decisions will be made before the communication window opens on February 1st at 11 a.m. and runs to February 8th before the market opens on February 10th.
The Blue Bombers are at a crossroads organizationally, having cranked out nine consecutive double-digit win seasons but coming off a 10-8 season in which they finished fourth in the West Division and lost in the opening round of the Grey Cup playoffs after making five consecutive championship game appearances. It is a roster still greying around the edges but having already introduced some talented fresh faces into the lineup over the last two years.
The club’s pending free agent list is a reflection of that as it features a collection of future hall of famers, solid starters, emerging talents and, yes, some question marks.
The CFL’s entire list of pending free agents can be found here:
And let’s take a deeper dive into that list in this week’s edition of 1st & 10…
STARTERS
Canadians
Nic Demski
RB Brady Oliveira
This will likely be expensive for the Blue Bombers but is still an absolute must. He’s a hometown hero, a former CFL Most Outstanding Player, a two-time CFL Most Outstanding Canadian and a player who has rushed for 1,000 yards in four consecutive seasons. He also set a career high in receiving numbers in 2025 with 61 catches for 546 yards. Oh, at just age 28 he’s already sixth in franchise history for career rushing yards.
SB Nic Demski
Posted his third straight 1K season, despite missing two games and while working in an offence that struggled to find consistency. He’ll be 32 in December but playing the best ball of his career and it would be almost criminal to see another hometown guy in different colours.
Dime Redha Kramdi
Widely regarded as the QB on defence, Kramdi can play the difficult dime spot that requires pass coverage skills and the ability to step up and stuff the run and, also, the safety position. He’s still just 28 and an integral part of the defence.
Right guard Pat Neufeld
Still steady at 36 and one of the important leaders in the locker room. The club did draft Ethan Vibert in 2025, and he could be Neufeld’s heir apparent, but that would be categorized as ‘still TBD.’
Centre Chris Kolankowski
A grinder in the middle of the O-line who is now 33 and has had Tui Eli breathing down his neck for a few seasons. The dilemma for management is balancing the desire for continuity up front vs. the need to continually draft, develop and play Canadians along the O-line.
Defensive tackle Jake Thomas
He’s 34 now and coming off a season in which he had nine tackles and no sacks for the first time in his career since 2016. His value as a leader is unquestioned, but the club also has an emerging Canadian talent who needs more snaps behind him in Cam Lawson.
Americans
Evan Holm
DB Evan Holm
Just completed the best season of his career, one in which he was named a CFL All-Star and the Blue Bombers Most Outstanding Defensive Player
LT Stanley Bryant
The birth certificate doesn’t lie: the big man turns 40 next May. There’s also this: he was just named the team’s top O-lineman for an eighth time and selected to the CFLPA All-Star team. The scouts keep bringing in import tackles to challenge him and be ready as his replacement and yet he still mans the left flank because he’s still so freaking solid.
DB Deatrick Nichols
We’ve all come to appreciate how solid he is as a halfback over the last few years. What’s underrated is how much of a leader he has become not only on the Blue Bombers defence, but for the entire squad.
DE Willie Jefferson
His sack totals have dipped over the last three years from 11 to six to three this past season. He’s still a force in knocking down passes and those sack totals are down partly because of a defensive philosophy that often rushes just three and drops the rest into coverage. Jefferson is THE most vocal leader in the room and one of the team’s most popular players – two parts of his resumé that do have value.
LB Kyrie Wilson
Quietly steady, Wilson played a full season for the first time since 2019. He did turn 33 this month and there options already on the roster to potentially replace him in Michael Ayers and Canadian Connor Shay but the coaching staff does love his skillset.
WR Jerreth Sterns
Posted the best numbers of his three-year career this season with 48 catches for 530 yards and four TDs in 14 games and, in the process, emerged as one of the most reliable targets in the offence. At just 26, his career arrow trajectory is trending upwards.
WR Keric Wheatfall
Took a step this year with a boost to his numbers to 42 catches for 655 yards and four TDs – although he had just seven receptions in his last six games. Has played in 23 games over two years and is at a critical juncture in his CFL career to either continue to blossom or plateau.
DE James Vaughters
He was exactly as advertised in his first year with the Blue Bombers – a steady, veteran presence who tied a career high with six sacks. That said, he is 32 now and the work of Kydran Jenkins and Matt Jaworski in the regular-season finale – just a one-game sample size – does give the club intriguing options to go younger and cheaper.
DT Jamal Woods
Injuries limited him to just four games this year and two sacks. Just 26, it will be interesting to see what kind of attention he might garner if he hits the CFL free agent market.
CB Demerio Houston
He helped stabilize the secondary when he arrived with 17 tackles and two knockdowns in just five games. Still, at 29 he’s vulnerable to younger options but his experience could make him popular if he gets to market.
CB Jamal Parker, Jr.
Valuable because of his versatility, Parker, Jr. had 36 tackles, one interception and two fumble recoveries in 2025 in just 11 games.
CB Dexter Lawson
Dressed for 10 games, starting eight this season and his experience was noticeable. There will be no promises if he’s re-signed and he’ll have to fight for a gig all over again in training camp.
OTHER
Canadians
Cam Lawson
DT Cam Lawson
Mentioned above, Lawson was arguably the team’s best defensive tackle this year even if his snap count might not have reflected that. At 27, he simply needs to play more, but will that be with the Blue Bombers.
OL Tui Eli
He’s 29 and the club has been waiting for him to push for a starting gig on the OL. He could be the option at centre if Kolankowski hits the market.
LB Tanner Cadwallader
Consistent veteran presence on special teams who finished with 14 tackles on the kick cover units – third on the team to Michael Ayers (23) and Jaylen Smith (22). Five years with the club now and still only 28.
LB Shayne Gauthier
He’s 33 now and still gets it done on special teams game in and game out. The challenge for the Blue Bombers is these roster spots are also critical for younger talent and draft picks.
DB Nick Hallett
So many similarities to Gauthier – he’s trusted on special teams and can play safety in a pinch. Still, he’s now 32 and teams are always eyeballing these spots in the CFL Draft.
SB Gavin Cobb
Dressed for only four games, starting a pair, but he does offer veteran experience both as a receiver and returner.
Americans
Michael Griffin II
DB Michael Griffin II
Another defender valued for his versatility, Griffin II finished third on the Blue Bombers in total defensive plays, including 47 tackles and a sack. And at 27 he’s one of the younger defensive backs with significant experience now.
QB Chris Streveler
Say what you will about how it looked this year, but the Blue Bombers were 4-1 in games he started this year. Immensely respected in the room, he is however at a bit of a career crossroads after suffering another knee injury in the regular-season finale.
OL Eric Lofton
Played in only one game all year after starting every game at right tackle in 2024. He’s 32 and the club has settled on Kendall Randolph at the spot.
WR Dillon Mitchell
A frustrating and disappointing season for one of the team’s high-profile free agent signings this year just got worse with his arrest this week for multiple offences after a high-speed chase in Arkansas.
Specialists
Sergio Castillo
PK Sergio Castillo
He’s been so reliable over the last few years and in 2025 he connected on 85.7 percent of his field goal tries, including a club record 63-yarder. His 6-of-11 mark from distance – 50-yards plus – makes him a long-range weapon. And if popularity counts for anything, he could run for presidente in the Blue Bombers locker room.
P Jamieson Sheahan
Doesn’t get enough credit for his skill as a directional punter and his ability to pin offences rather than set them up following punt singles. That could make him potentially even more valuable with rule changes coming over the next two years.
Injured
*(Indicates Canadian)
Dalton Schoen
WR Dalton Schoen
He was simply dominant in 2022-23 with 141 receptions for 2,663 yards and 26 TDs in 34 games. Since then? Injuries have limited him to just eight games over the next two years. If he’s 100 percent healthy, this seems like a possible marriage again of risk vs. reward.
CB Terrell Bonds
Started the first eight games before a knee injury ended his season. He’s 29 now and the team has a proven track record of finding defensive backs, so…
DT Tanner Schmekel
Was just starting to flash this past season when a knee injury cut his year short. Brings high energy and good teammate vibes but is at a position that also includes Thomas and Lawson as pending free agents.
WR Kody Case
Entered ’25 as a versatile receiver/returner but an injury leaves his future with the team in question given the number of pass catchers already on the roster.
DB Enock Makonzo*
Looked to be a potentially valuable addition when he signed last year but was injured in camp. Has now gone two seasons without taking a snap.
