‘We need to be better’

Where do the Winnipeg Blue Bombers go from here?

Their starting quarterback isn’t getting any younger, the offensive line is starting to show cracks, their star running back isn’t guaranteed to return, their best receiver is recovering from another major knee injury, and around a dozen starters on defence could potentially hit free agency.

Returning to Grey Cup glory doesn’t seem so simple.

One of the key people tasked with getting the organization back to contender status is general manager Kyle Walters. He spoke to a room of reporters on Wednesday fresh off signing a three-year contract extension.

The 52-year-old from St. Thomas, Ont., has been the permanent GM of the Bombers since 2014.

“We were 10-8 this year. So, the idea that the sky is falling and we’re 0-18 and missed the playoffs, that’s not the case — we’re a double-digit win team with a good core here and a group of decision makers that have been here a while who know how to win,” said Walters.

“Just trust that we’ll get back to winning.”

Before looking ahead to 2026, the 2025 campaign must be dissected. They knew they were hosting the Grey Cup this season, and yet, the roster felt far from championship calibre.

“A 10-win season and making the playoffs is OK. But the thing that jumps out for me is we didn’t beat a Trevor Harris-led team. We didn’t beat (Calgary) when Vernon (Adams Jr.) played. Davis Alexander, we didn’t beat,” said Walters.

“You look at the good quality wins — early in the year when we beat B.C. and Nathan (Rourke) was playing and when Bo (Levi Mitchell) came out here and we beat a Hamilton team. We had two good wins, but it was just too inconsistent, even on some of those other wins when it was, ‘OK, we snuck those ones out.’ You could tell… we were grinding and we were fighting and we were working but it just wasn’t the sustained level of quality play throughout the year. That was obvious for everybody.”

It’s also obvious the team took a beating in last year’s free agency. They lost receiver Kenny Lawler, defensive back Tyrell Ford and guard Liam Dobson to big offers, and the names they brought in — defensive end James Vaughters, receivers Dillon Mitchell and Jerreth Sterns, and returner/running back Peyton Logan — didn’t move the needle.

Mitchell was paid nearly $150,000 and turned out to be a massive whiff with just 19 catches for 193 yards and a touchdown in nine games. There was a point in the year where the Bombers preferred to start fifth-round rookie Canadian Joey Corcoran over him.

“Certainly, everybody was on board when Dillon came here. The reports were great, his film was good, and he showed up and he just struggled,” said Walters.

“I don’t want to get into the specifics, but yeah, Dillon struggled. It is what it is… he struggled having the productivity, getting targets, the whole bit.”

The receiving corps used to be a strength for the club but this year it turned out to be a glaring issue. They only got five games out of Dalton Schoen — who re-tore the ACL in his left knee — and watched Lawler have a career-high year in Hamilton with 86 catches for 1,443 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Lawler told the Free Press back in September that he wanted to stay in Winnipeg, but he didn’t receive an offer from the Bombers until the day before free agency began.

According to Walters, that’s not exactly true.

“Kenny is a very emotional young man, which makes him really good on the football field. I deal with the agent on that sort of stuff. The agent and I… it wasn’t the day before free agency. We had lots of talks… and it did not work out,” said Walters.

“It’s very similar to the first time when Kenny left to Edmonton (in 2022) where we thought there was a decent number and then another team came in quite a bit over the top and it was like, ‘OK. Good for you and your family. That’s awesome.’”

Now moving ahead, what’s the plan at the quarterback position? Zach Collaros will turn 38 next season and is coming off back-to-back years with just 17 touchdown passes and 15-plus interceptions.

He’s under contract for another year at reportedly $600,000.

“We’ve never been big on renegotiating. Zach’s earned his contract. He led us to all those Grey Cups playing at a high level,” said Walters.

“We need to be better at surrounding him with better support for him. You saw it last year and again this year, he’s still a guy that can get it done out there. We just need him to surround him with better support.”

The potential future of the position could be Taylor Elgersma. They selected the Canadian passer in the second round of the 2025 CFL draft after a standout career at Wilfrid Laurier. Elgersma ended up signing with the NFL’s Green Bay Packers and fared well over the course of three pre-season games — completing 16-of-23 passes for 166 yards, one touchdown and zero picks — before being released at the end of training camp.

He’s currently a free agent.

“I saw him in Packers camp this year and he looked good. He can sling the ball,” said Walters.

“We’re still, organizationally, optimistic that we’ll see (him) but I don’t think that’s going to sort itself out until after February 1 when all those future contracts get signed. That’s their prime objective, to be honest, to hold out and try and get another NFL shot. We’ll just wait and see what happens… I am optimistic if, by February, when that futures contract window closes for opportunities for guys I do believe they would be happy to come up and start playing in the CFL.”

Then there’s Brady Oliveira, the 2024 CFL Most Outstanding Player, who made it clear he wants to be paid what he deserves and play for a winner. The 28-year-old tailback from Winnipeg totalled 1,709 yards and three touchdowns this season and needs a new deal.

“Brady’s an outstanding player, a big part of our community. And do we want him back? A hundred percent,” said Walters.

“And now it’s a matter of what does that look like and the process will start, and it probably won’t be quick. But we want Brady back.”

One thing is certain: Walters, assistant GM Danny McManus (who will remain with the team despite some interest from Hamilton) and head coach Mike O’Shea — who also signed a three-year extension — have their hands full.

“I don’t know rebuild. People use that term. But certainly we need to accept we weren’t good enough,” said Walters.

“If you want to say rebuild, make changes — we need to accept that fact. Yeah, we need to be better.”

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