It’s a lengthy list of free agents facing the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
According to a list released Thursday by the CFL, the Roughriders have 32 players who could hit the open market Feb. 11.
A few of the names that highlight Saskatchewan’s list are CFL all-star centre Dan Clark, linebacker Solomon Elimimian, wide receiver Shaq Evans, defensive back Ed Gainey, linebacker Cameron Judge, slotback Naaman Roosevelt and punter Jon Ryan.
Judge enjoyed his best pro season in 2019 en route to being nominated for the league award as most outstanding Canadian. The linebacker was the runner-up to Henoc Muamba of the Montreal Alouettes.
Judge recorded 61 defensive tackles, five sacks and two interceptions, including a game-clinching pick-six on Nov. 2 against the Edmonton Eskimos. The Roughriders won the game 23-13 to clinch first place in the West Division.
Evans became a favourite target for first-year starting quarterback Cody Fajardo. Evans hauled in 72 passes for 1, 334 yards and five touchdowns during the regular season.
Clark, a Regina product, is one of the longest-serving members of the Roughriders, having joined the team in 2009.
While the Roughriders’ list of potential free agents seems lengthy, most of the other CFL teams find themselves in similar territory.
The Eskimos (36), Ottawa Redblacks (35), Toronto Argonauts (32), B.C. Lions (31), Hamilton Tiger-Cats (31), Calgary Stampeders (30), Alouettes (28) and Winnipeg Blue Bombers (24) also have lengthy lists.
The CFL’s most outstanding defensive player, defensive end Willie Jefferson, is one of the Bombers’ pending free agents. So is quarterback Zach Collaros, who helped Winnipeg win the Grey Cup.
Montreal running back William Stanback, Hamilton defensive end Ja’Gared Davis and Calgary wide receiver Reggie Begelton also are among those who could be free agents.
The CFL’s list of free agents can be found here. The Roughriders’ list of potential free agents comprises:
- SB Emmanuel Arcenaux
- FB Albert Awachie
- LB Brandyn Bartlett
- OL Dariusz Bladek
- OL Philip Blake
- DB Elie Bouka
- C Dan Clark
- OT Takoby Cofield
- OT Thaddeus Coleman
- LB DyShawn Davis
- DE Lavar Edwards
- LB Solomon Elimimian
- WR Shaq Evans
- LB Alexandre Gagne
- DB Ed Gainey
- DE Chad Geter
- DT Makana Henry
- LB Sam Hurl
- LS Jorgen Hus
- DT Micah Johnson
- LB Cameron Judge
- RB Kienan LaFrance
- DE A.C. Leonard
- DB Nick Marshall
- LB Derrick Moncrief
- DB Denzel Radford
- DE Jordan Reaves
- SB Naaman Roosevelt
- P Jon Ryan
- RB Marcus Thigpen
- SB Cory Watson
- OL Jeremy Zver
Notes: The Roughriders announced the signings of five players Thursday. Offensive lineman Logan Ferland, running back Jamal Morrow and receiver Max Zimmermann were signed off the practice roster, while two 2019 draft picks — linebacker Jacob Janke and offensive lineman Vincent Roy — were signed. Ferland is a former member of the PFC’s Regina Thunder. Zimmermann, who was Saskatchewan’s first-round pick (sixth overall) in the 2019 European Draft, dressed for one game in the 2019 season. Janke (fourth round, 35th overall out of York University) and Roy (sixth round, 53rd overall out of the University of Sherbrooke) spent the 2019 with their respective U Sports teams.