Winnipeg Blue Bombers 2024 Pending Free Agents

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have more than 30 free agents to make decisions on as they try to get back to the Grey Cup.

Author:
Matthew Postins
Publish date:
Nov 25, 2023 8:07 PM EST

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers had a chance to be seen as a dynasty in 2023, but fell just short of their third Grey Cup in four seasons.

Winnipeg won the West Division with a 14-4 record and lost 28-24 to the Montreal Alouettes in the Grey Cup. It was a year after the Blue Bombers fell to Toronto Argonauts by a single point in the title game.

Still, the Blue Bombers have the talent to be seen as a favorite to get back to the 2024 Grey Cup, which will be held at BC Place in Vancouver.

The CFL released the free agency tracker on Friday to keep tabs on all pending free agents for each of the nine CFL teams. Winnipeg had 36 players who will be on the free-agent list.

Here is the full list of Blue Bombers players heading into free agency broken down by position and whether they are American (A), National (N) or Global (G). We also break down the top five players entering free agency for the Bombers.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers Pending Free Agents

QB – Dru Brown (A), QB Dakota Prukop (A)
RB – Johnny Augustine (N), Greg McCrae (A), Mike Miller (N), Brady Oliveira (N)
WR – Rasheed Bailey (A), Janarion Grant (A), Brendan O’Leary-Orange (N), Dalton Schoen (A), Drew Wolitarsky (N)
OL – Stanley Bryant (A), Geoff Gray (N), Jermarcus Hardrick (A), Chris Kolankowski (N), Patrick Neufeld (N)
DL – Thiadric Hansen (G), Jackson Jeffcoat (A), Willie Jefferson (A), Cameron Lawson (N), Jake Thomas (N), Ricky Walker (A)
LB – Jesse Briggs (N), Malik Clements (A), Brian Cole (A), Tanner Cadwaller (N), Shayne Gauthier (N), Redha Kramdi (N)
DB – Brandon Alexander (A), Alden Darby Jr. (A), Kerfalla Exume (N), Nick Hallett (N), Demerio Houston (A), Deatrick Nichols (A), Winston Rose (A)
K – Sergio Castillo (A)

Top Winnipeg Blue Bombers 2024 Free Agents

Top Five Blue Bombers Free Agents

RB Brady Oliveira

The Winnipeg native played his college football at North Dakota and since he was taken in the second round in 2019 by his hometown team he’s emerged as one of the best backs in the CFL. He rushed for career highs in 2023 (1,534 yards, nine touchdowns) and did the same as a pass catcher (38 receptions, 482 yards, four touchdowns). It’s the perfect time for the CFL’s 2023 Most Outstanding Canadian and rushing champion to hit the market.

WR Dalton Schoen

For opposing CFL teams that want to hurt the Blue Bombers’ passing game, stealing Schoen is a good place to start. The 27-year-old, who played his college football at Kansas State, is coming off his second straight 1,000-yard receiving season and has 26 touchdowns in his two CFL seasons. He was the 2022 CFL Most Outstanding Rookie and is a two-time All-CFL and All-CFL West Division All-Star.

DL Willie Jefferson

He’s getting up there in years (he’s 32) but he was a huge part of the Blue Bombers’ pass rush in 2023. The Stephen F. Austin product is coming off an 11-sack season and has 68 career sacks in nine CFL seasons. He’s a three-time Grey Cup champion, along with five CFL All-Star honors and six CFL West All-Star honors. Look for the Blue Bombers to do all they can to keep him.

OL Jermarcus Hardrick

The Blue Bombers have two All-CFL free agents up front, with Patrick Neufeld being the other. But Hardrick, who is a tackle, might be harder to replace. He’s been a mainstay for Winnipeg since 2016 and has earned two Grey Cup titles, two CFL All-Star selections and three CFL West All-Star selections. He’s 33, so his age is probably part of the calculation on a new contract. The same holds true for the 34-year-old Neufeld.

DB Demerio Houston

It feels like every Winnipeg free-agent was a CFL All-Star last season, and that holds true for Houston. A Blue Bomber since 2020, he made his first CFL All-Star and CFL West All-Star team in 2023 after he picked off a career-high seven passes, returning one for a touchdown. He also had 50 tackles. With seven free-agent defensive backs, Houston is likely the priority.