Givens is still on his rookie deal for next year. He's likely the #4 international receiver on the depth chart, IMO. He'll be in the mix for sure for a spot, maybe even a starting spot. Lots of talk that Coates will be a starter, but I could see them using Chorney/Ekakatie as a rotating starting pair (Ekakatie at DT for running downs, Chorney at DE for passing downs) and running just Demski as a starting WR (leaving Bowman, Adams, Dressler, Givens as the WR starters for internationals).
So if we’re piecing together the offensive depth chart:
QB: Nichols
Durant
Some young guy (Straughan?)
RB: Harris
Flanders
LaFrance (I know a lot of guys on the bombers forum were pissed off at this signing but he helps with the ratio and is adequate)
WR: Adams, Bowman and Dressler should be out every down. Coates and Demski are the Canadian receivers. Agree Givens is likely the 4th WR. That’s some pretty stellar receiving corps, assuming guys like Bowman, Adams and Dressler aren’t on a serious decline. Hope this spells the end of Lankford and Washington’s time in Winnipeg. Not sure how many Canadian receivers we typically keep on roster, but adding another one as a depth piece wouldn’t be a bad idea. Maybe JFG? (Edit: JFG gone to Ottawa.)
O-Line: Bryant, Neufeld, Goossen, Chungh and Hardrick. Foketi as a backup. Pretty good O-Line. Neufeld is the weak link obviously but hopefully they can hold it together. Need another Canadian backup, whether it’s Spooner or Couture or someone else.
How do we think the defense shapes out? Pretty hard to tell right now. I’d think Randle, Fenner, Loffler, Leggett are the definite starters. Then I guess we go with different combinations of Santos-Knox, Gaitor, Wild, Jeffcoat, Okpaulago, Poop and Nevis? I’m not sure exactly what position everyone in the secondary plays. Probably need another linebacker or defensive lineman (need a good pass rusher). Problem is, only Loffler is a Canadian there.
Looks like our non-imports are coming together now. We need 7? I guess they go Harris/Neufeld/Goossen/Chungh/Coates/Demski/Loffler. That’s seven.