Bombers add former first round pick Geoff Gray

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have signed Canadian offensive lineman Geoff Gray.

Gray was selected eighth overall by the Bombers in the 2017 CFL Draft but signed a free agent deal with the Green Bay Packers before spending time with the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns where he played in three games last season. The Browns released Gray in August.

Gray, who is from Winnipeg, played at the University of Manitoba where he was the  Canada West Outstanding Down Lineman and a Canadian University first-team all-star in 2017. He was a potential first overall pick in the CFL Draft but fell to No. 8 because of NFL interest.

“We are very excited to have Geoff on board with us,” said Bombers GM Kyle Walters said in a statement. “When we selected Geoff we knew there would be a period of time, at best, where he would be exploring NFL options. We’re very glad he has chosen to return to Canada and begin his CFL career.”

The deal runs through the 2020 season.

Gray, who can play both guard and tackle, gives the Bombers another young Canadian offensive lineman to go along with Sukh Chung, Matthias Goossen and Michael Couture – all Bomber draft picks – and eight-year vet Patrick Neufeld. They also have Cody Speller and Qadr Spooner on the practice roster and selected Arnaud Gendron-Dumouchel is the fourth round of the 2018 draft (he’s currently finishing his university career at the University of Montreal.)