Brady Oliveira's three-year contract extension with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers includes guaranteed money through 2028, he told media on Tuesday. According to the star runner, without this he would not have signed a new contract.
“(The guaranteed money) was one of the non-negotiables for me. If I wanted to sign a three-year contract and show my loyalty and commitment to this organization, I want them to give that back to me. From top to bottom, this organization has shown me nothing but love and respect through the negotiation process. For me, it just made me feel really good,” Oliveira said at Princess Auto Stadium.
“Your lifespan as a professional athlete is short and I think all players need to be protected. I think adding guaranteed money to your contract will help you, especially signing a long-term contract. You don't know what direction the club wants to go in. If another coaching staff comes in, God forbid, and they want to make some decisions and move pieces around, that will protect you.”
The lack of long-term contracts in the CFL may still be a problem, although it used to be much worse. Because teams had the ability to release players at the end of multi-year contracts without penalty, players and agents often sought to protect themselves by signing only one-year contracts. The situation has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has left the league in an uncertain financial position, forcing most of the league's veterans to restructure their contracts for 2021.
“The way (the collective bargaining agreement) is structured now, it’s difficult for people to sign long-term deals,” Zach Collaros said shortly after the 2021 season.when he was the league's Most Outstanding Player twice. “I think the players would like it, but to be honest I don't think it's in our best interest.”
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A few months later, the CFL and the CFL Players Association (CFLPA) ratified a new CBA that allowed players to enter into partially guaranteed contracts. There were a few caveats—guarantees had to come in the final year of a multi-year contract, couldn't exceed half the salary, and could only be given by the player's current team—but it was still a groundbreaking achievement for the league.
Since then, we've seen more players sign long-term extensions, resulting in less instability in the CFL. Having previously spoken out about why players don't sign long-term contracts, Collaros signed a three-year deal with the Blue Bombers towards the end of the 2022 season. including guaranteed money.
Other CFL teams may have been too loose with guaranteed money, at least in the first year it was available.
3DownNation reported that Taylor Cornelius and Jake Mayer were the first two CFL players to sign contract extensions that included guarantees, and neither player emerged as a long-term defensive end. Edmonton cut Cornelius in 2024 despite his guarantee, costing them $100,000 over the salary cap, while the Stampeders kept Mayer through the 2024 season when they might have otherwise chosen to move on.
Guarantees are still relatively rare, according to multiple league sources, but they have certainly led to some notable players signing long-term extensions. Players with active guarantees include Montreal wide receiver Tyson Philpot, Saskatchewan offensive lineman Logan Ferland and Montreal offensive lineman Pierre-Olivier Lestage.
As for Oliveira, he didn't want to sign a contract extension that didn't come with guaranteed money. With a resume that includes four 1,000-yard seasons, two All-CFL selections, two CFL titles, two Most Outstanding Canadian Player awards and one Most Outstanding Player award, he and his team probably had no problem getting a guarantee from their hometown team. As first reported 3DownNationThe contract value in 2026 will be $290,000, increasing to $300,000 in 2027 and 2028.
“(The CFLPA) fought hard for this. Now that she's in our union, why not try to get guaranteed money?” – he said. “They fought for it and now it's here. Obviously not every guy can get it, but if you can, why not try to do it?”
