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Weston Dressler’s anticipated return to the CFL may create a bidding war for his services
CFL teams might be able to make a big difference in their future this week by opening up their chequebooks for a small guy. Weston Dressler is only 5'8'' and 179 pounds, but the 29-year-old North Dakota product has proven to be a great CFL receiver. He spent this offseason trying to make the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs, though, and after being cut by them Monday, he passed through NFL waivers unclaimed Tuesday. That means he could sign with any team in that league or in the CFL. It's not a certainty he'll return north of the border, but if he does, the particular set of circumstances unfolding this year could lead to a bidding war that sees Dressler land a massive contract by CFL standards.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders (where Dressler played from 2008-2013), Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Ottawa Redblacks are all believed to be in on the Dressler sweepstakes if he does elect to return to the CFL, and they may not be the only teams pursuing him. Passing offences across the league are struggling this year, and one big issue has been poor receiver production. As we near the midway point of the season, only two receivers (Edmonton's Adarius Bowman and Winnipeg's Clarence Denmark) currently have over 500 receiving yards. Just about every team could use a capable slotback, and Dressler certainly fits that bill. He recorded over 1,000 receiving yards in five of his six CFL seasons (with 941 in the other), earned four divisional all-star nods in that time and also picked up league all-star recognition in 2012 and 2013. Dressler also found some success as a returner, which could add further value.
Moreover, while there's a flood of NFL cuts available, slotback is a much harder position to fill with someone new to the CFL. Slotbacks usually start in motion, a big change from playing wide receiver in the NFL, and facing a 12-man defence means there are significantly different coverages to try and recognize. Thus, Dressler's considerably more attractive than your average NFL cut, and his potential is for more than just this season. At 29, he should have several good years left. That explains why it's not just GMs trying to pitch him: former teammates Keith Shologan and Zach Evans are amongst the players trying to lure him to Ottawa:
"We need players like Weston to help us get over the hump," said defensive tackle Keith Shologan. "He'd be an amazing pickup just because he brings the mentality and the attitude you want on a football team ... always going, always sprinting, always trying to make a play. Whether he's on the wide side, not even getting looked at, or right in the middle of the action, he's always going 110%. That's what you need, especially in a build-up program like this."
"He's a helluva player and a helluva guy," said defensive tackle Zack Evans. "He is a tiny guy. When you see him, you don't think he's a football player. But as soon as he gets on the football field, he's unstoppable. He's just like a Saskatchewan kid. We're tough. He has that mentality to never quit. He catches anything that comes his way.
"He's a friend. I'm going to stay out of it. But I would love for him to come here."
Both players say Ottawa has been amazing.
"Hopefully, somebody does tell him about the facilities," said Shologan. "I know I've tried. I've talked to some of his really close friends to tell him about this. This is the place that if I had to pick somewhere, this is where it would be. It's a beautiful city, with a small-town atmosphere."
It won't be easy for the Redblacks to land Dressler, though, as the price is likely to be high. The numbers of struggling offences are one factor that could drive up the bidding, but another is the parity within divisions. In the West, there are two 7-1 teams (Calgary and Edmonton), a 6-2 team (Saskatchewan), a 6-3 one (Winnipeg) and a 5-4 one (B.C.). In the East, the 3-6 Toronto Argonauts are the only team that doesn't have just a single win. Every team is conceivably in the playoff hunt, but no team is safe, and the tightly-packed divisions may put more pressure on general managers to make a big splash. Signing a free agent like Dressler could do just that, which will raise his price substantially. The current pressure to improve offences and lack of other options also may boost what Dressler gets beyond what he would have as a CFL free agent if he'd hit that market in February; back then there were plenty of CFL-experienced, promising receivers available, but now it's mostly just him, creating a scarcity that could work in his favour. (Of course, even the $200,000 to $250,000 numbers floating around out there are puny when compared to even the current NFL minimum of $420,000, but they're big money by CFL standards.)
There's a limit to how much any one player can do, of course, especially a receiver. In order for a receiver to catch a pass, he needs the line to give the quarterback time, the quarterback to deliver an accurate throw and the other receivers to run strong decoy routes. Thus, signing Dressler is no guarantee of wins. Still, just about every team is in search of a boost of some kind. Landing the diminutive Dressler might be a big one.
