Winnipeg Blue Bombers GM Kyle Walters Focused on 2024, Winning Grey Cup`
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers came up short of winning a Grey Cup title. After their disappointing 28-24 loss to the Montreal Alouettes, there were many questions surrounding their front office, players leaving and assistants potentially taking coaching jobs.
One solution was the Blue Bombers extending their three members of the front office including general manager Kyle Walters. Earlier this week, Walters said he was prepared and ready to attack the offseason.
“It’s looking forward to getting things moving now. The uncertainty is over,” Walters said. “We’ve got everything ready to roll now. Things are in place, and now we’re excited to get going for next year.”
Bringing back free-agent running back Brady Oliveira is a focus for the Blue Bombers.
Winnipeg has started offseason meetings regarding players and coaches. Starting with the coaches, offensive coordinator Buck Pierce was the subject of potentially landing the Saskatchewan Roughriders head coaching job. Toronto Argonauts defensive coordinator Corey Mace landed the gig.
With the coaching situation handled, the focus shifts to the players. One aspect being spoken about is the age of the team as there are 23 players that are 30 years old or older on the team. Last offseason was about putting the band back together. It could be more of the same with the future being more talked about.
“At this point last year, after the season we had, after losing a tough one to Toronto in the Grey Cup, we had a core group and said ‘Let’s try to bring as many of the guys back as we can.’ And we did,” he said. “We lost Casey Sayles (Hamilton Tiger-Cats) and Michael Couture moved on (B.C. Lions), but we had replacements in house and said, ‘This almost feels like we’ve got the core group to make another run.’
“We’re a year older now and I think this will be a more challenging offseason than in years past.”
Walters added the uncertainly of Pierce returning played a role in that being challenging. With him returning, that should make for their offseason planning easier.
Thirty-six players are pending free agents going into the offseason. Two players that could garner interest from the NFL are running back Brady Oliveira and wide receiver Dalton Schoen. Walters and his team are in negotiations with the two players.
“You put a plan together with what you think is a fair offer and every time the agents think vastly differently," Walters said. "So, it’s quite a process, particularly with the high-end guys who deserve to explore the market value and they’ve earned the right to capitalize financially on their success.”
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