‘There’s going to be change’: Riders set to revamp roster during free-agency period

After a few seasons of preaching stability, the Saskatchewan Roughriders appear to be set for some big changes for 2023.

The Riders finished the 2022 CFL season with a 6-12 record, which included a seven-game losing streak to end the season.

“It’s changes that we’re excited about. I think if you look at our team the last three or four seasons, we had some success early on and I think we’ve slowly regressed a little bit,” general manager Jeremy O’Day said during a media availability last week.

“Last year was a big regression with not making the playoffs. Anytime that happens, there’s going to be change and the team is going to look different the next season.

“I don’t think we’re going to take the approach of we just had a bad year or had so many things that didn’t go our way. We took the approach that we’ve got to make change and we’re hoping the change is for the better.”

The CFL club has 22 players expected to head to free agency Tuesday, including quarterback Cody Fajardo, centre Dan Clark, and linebacker Darnell Sankey.

With the CFL negotiation window open from Feb. 5 through Sunday, reports are the Riders could see some new faces at key positions.

Quarterbacks

Signed: Mason Fine, Jake Dolegala, Levi Lewis, Zerrick Cooper, Shea Patterson

Pending free agents: Cody Fajardo

Possible free-agent targets: Trevor Harris, Caleb Evans, Dakota Prukop, Michael O’Connor

After offensive struggles in 2022, the Riders look like they will be turning to a new pivot in 2023.

The team is set to move on from quarterback Cody Fajardo, who has been the Green and White’s starter since 2019. In three seasons, Fajardo threw for 10,632 yards, with 48 touchdowns and 32 interceptions.

Fajardo, who suffered an MCL sprain in Week 2 of the 2022 season, was under pressure most of the season as the Riders gave up a CFL-high 77 sacks. Fajardo was the starter for the majority of the season, missing one game due to COVID, but was relegated to the backup role for the final two games of the season.

Reports during the negotiation period indicate the team will sign Trevor Harris when contracts can be filed on Tuesday.

Harris is reportedly set to leave the Montreal Alouettes with recent ownership uncertainty playing a role in the decision.

The 36-year-old Harris is an 11-year CFL veteran who has thrown for 28,610 yards, with 154 touchdowns and 71 interceptions in his career.

With Harris expected to sign a deal with the Riders, reports are Fajardo will sign with the Alouettes. Jason Maas, who was the Riders’ offensive co-ordinator for 2021 and ’22, was named Montreal’s new head coach this offseason.

The only other quarterback with ample starting experience who may be available is Dane Evans, who is under contract with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He’s expected to get traded or released after the team inked Bo Levi Mitchell to a contract.

The Roughriders will bring back Mason Fine and Jake Dolegala. Fine started the final two games of the season for Saskatchewan and Dolegala started a game against the Toronto Argonauts after a COVID outbreak in the Riders’ locker room.

Running backs

Signed: Jamal Morrow, Frankie Hickson, BJ Emmons, Javian Hawkins, Kienan LaFrance, Bruno Labelle, Albert Awachie

Pending free agents: Shaq Cooper, James Tuck

Possible free-agent targets: Wes Hills, Walter Fletcher

The running back spot will be the one position group where the Riders will be bringing back all of their starters from 2022.

Jamal Morrow signed a contract extension in February to keep him in green and white for another season. The 28-year-old was the primary ball carrier for the Riders when healthy, recording 666 yards on the ground and three touchdowns. Morrow also added 43 receptions for 366 yards and a touchdown.

Frankie Hickson will also return for 2023. He and Morrow were used as a 1-2 punch for the Riders’ offence, with Hickson racking up 533 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Kienan LaFrance is also set to return to Saskatchewan for another season. The Winnipeg product is a seven-season CFL veteran and provides a national option for the Riders.

BJ Emmons and Javian Hawkins provide more depth at the position with Bruno LaBelle and Albert Awachie the fullbacks signed.

With the Riders bringing back Morrow and Hickson, there’s not much of a need to dip into free agency.

One free-agent option are Ti-Cats runner Wes Hills.

Receivers

Signed: Mario Alford, Riley Boersma, Keith Corbin III, Sam Emilus, Tevin Jones, Brayden Lenius, Jake Parker, Mitchell Picton, Kian Schaffer-Baker, Tabashi Thomas, Kendall Watson, Jester Weah

Pending free agents: Shaq Evans, Justin McInnis, Kyran Moore, Duke Williams, Jake Harty, Wesley Lewis

Possible free-agent targets: Greg Ellingson, Jake Wieneke, Derel Walker

Three of the five expected starters in the receiver group for the Riders in 2022 don’t appear to be back for 2023.

Shaq Evans, Duke Williams and Kyran Moore all remain without contracts with Saskatchewan. Moore is reportedly set to join Edmonton and Elks head coach Chris Jones. Moore played in seven games with the Riders in 2022 after suffering a torn ACL late in the 2021 campaign. He finished the year with 295 yards and zero touchdowns.

Evans and Williams also dealt with their own injury issues in 2022. Evans played in 10 games while Williams played in eight.

Evans caught 32 passes for 487 yards and two touchdowns. Reports are he will sign with the Ottawa Redblacks.

Williams, who was the Riders’ prized acquisition in 2021 and then signed to a big contract in 2022, only recorded 487 yards and two touchdowns last season. Reports indicate Williams is expected to sign with the Ti-Cats.

Kian Schaffer-Baker, the Riders’ leading receiver last season with 960 yards and five touchdowns, is reportedly trying out for NFL teams but has yet to sign a contract with one.

Brayden Lenius joined the Riders in September after being cut by the Atlanta Falcons in the preseason and is expected to be a starter in 2023. Lenius, Schaffer-Baker, Sam Emilus and Mitch Picton provide some Canadian depth. University of Regina Rams receiver Riley Boersma had a solid camp with the Riders in 2022.

Mario Alford’s role on offence could increase with the departures. Alford returned four kicks for touchdowns in 2022 and was named the CFL’s most outstanding special-teams player.

Tevin Jones and Jester Weah were with the Riders at 2022 training camp. Jones was with the team for the full season, dressing for 14 games. Weah was cut after camp but signed to a contract in July.

Als receiver Jake Wieneke is expected to hit the free-agent market and reports indicate he will sign a contract with the Riders once free agency begins. The 28-year-old recorded 589 yards and two touchdowns in 2022. He enjoyed a breakout season in 2021, catching 11 touchdowns.

Other options for the Riders include Greg Ellingson. The 34-year-old spent 2022 with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Ellingson played five seasons with Harris and the familiarity there could play a role.

The Elks have reportedly spent a lot of money at the position in free agency, which means Derel Walker could hit the market.

Offensive line

Signed: Diego Alatorre Montoya, Logan Bandy, Logan Ferland, Zack Fry, Jerald Hawkins, Evan Johnson, Eric Lofton, Jeremiah Poutasi, Kooper Richardson, Jordan Tucker
Pending free agents: Dan Clark, Jamal Campbell, Josiah St. John, Terran Vaughn, Andrew Lauderdale

Possible free-agent targets: Darius Ciraco, Joel Figueroa, Peter Godber

The group that fans have placed under a microscope this offseason has been the offensive line.

After the line gave up a CFL-high 77 sacks last season, O’Day has made some signings to increase the depth and more could be on the way during free agency.

Longtime centre Dan Clark appears to be heading to the open market. Clark has dressed for 131 games for Saskatchewan and was a part of the 2013 Grey Cup-winning team. He missed most of 2022 after suffering a broken leg in the second game of the season. Clark was able to return in September.

In his absence, Logan Bandy stepped in and played 11 games in Clark’s absence.

Logan Ferland and Evan Johnson are set to return after starting in the group at left and right guard.

Terran Vaughn, who was the 2022 left tackle, is reportedly set to join the Redblacks. Kooper Richardson started the final six games for the Riders at left tackle and will be back.
The team signed Eric Lofton last week. Lofton has dressed for seven CFL games since 2017, including one with the Blue Bombers last season.

The Riders could also see what they have in Zack Fry this season. The team selected him in the second round of the 2022 CFL draft but he went back to school to play with the Western Mustangs.
Diago Alatorre Montoya was on the Riders’ practice roster in 2022. He was taken in the third round of the 2022 draft.

National offensive lineman Jamal Campbell was signed by the Riders for the 2022 season but hasn’t been re-signed.

Josiah St. John also remains unsigned. He was often used as the team’s sixth offensive lineman. St. John, who was the first overall pick by the Riders in the 2016 draft, has dressed for 47 games since then, all of them with the Riders.

With many of the top offensive line free agents re-signing with their teams, not many remain available for the Riders in free agency.

One could be 26-year-old Darius Ciraco, who has played in 62 CFL games; he spent last year with the Redblacks.

Peter Godber, who has been with the B.C. Lions for his entire four-season CFL career, is also set to hit the market.

Defensive line

Signed: David Kenney, Christian Albright, Demarcus Christmas, Charbel Dabire, Nicholas Dheilly, Weston Kramer, Anthony Lanier II, Pete Robertson, Cody Roscoe, Miles Brown
Released: A.C. Leonard

Pending free agents: Charleston Hughes

Possible free-agent targets: Stefan Banks, Micah Johnson, Shawn Lemon

While a large portion of the defensive line returns, a couple big names could be off to new homes.

Defensive end A.C. Leonard was released by the Riders after only recording three sacks in 13 games in 2022. He was reportedly set to become the highest-paid defensive lineman in the CFL in 2023.

Leonard was quickly signed by Edmonton, reuniting him with Chris Jones.

Charleston Hughes also remains unsigned by the Riders. Hughes, a 14-season CFL veteran, recorded four sacks in 12 games as a rotational player for the Riders in 2022. He has 136 career sacks.
The Riders signed Anthony Lanier II and Pete Robertson to contract extensions last week. Lanier II is reportedly now the highest-paid American defensive player in the CFL. Lanier II had eight sacks in 11 games for the Riders last season.

Robertson will be back in green and white for 2023. He had seven sacks in four games and was leading the CFL at that point. In the Riders’ fifth game of the season against Ottawa, Robertson suffered a foot injury.

After missing six weeks, Robertson returned to the lineup, but only recorded two sacks in his final nine games. Despite missing four games, Robertson finished the season ranked fourth in the league in sacks.

The Riders otherwise bring back a majority of their players from last season.

With Hughes unsigned and Leonard released, the defensive end spot opposite of Robertson could be an open competition.

Reports are the Riders are set to sign 25-year-old Stefan Banks, who had eight sacks in 23 games over two seasons with the Calgary Stampeders.

Another report indicates Micah Johnson will be rejoining the Riders for a third stint. He had seven sacks with the Tiger-Cats in 2022.

Another Stamps defender who could be on the move is Shawn Lemon. The 34-year-old defensive end was second in the CFL with 14 sacks last season. He still has not signed an extension with Calgary.

Linebackers

Signed: AJ Allen, Tommy Bringi, Alvin Jones Jr., Derrick Moncrief, Justin Rice, Micah Teitz, Larry Dean

Pending free agents: Darnell Sankey, Nigel Harris, Justin Herdman-Reed, Jordan Herdman-Reed, Gary Johnson Jr.

Possible free-agent targets: Jovan Santos-Knox, Fraser Sopik, Deon Lacey

The Riders will bring back two of their three starting linebackers for 2022 and welcome back their 2021 most outstanding Canadian.

Larry Dean signed a contract extension last week, keeping him in green and white for another season.

Despite not playing football since 2019 due to the cancelled 2020 season and then a torn Achilles prior to 2021 training camp, he returned in a big way in 2022. The 34-year-old had 101 tackles, three sacks and two interceptions last season.

Derrick Moncrief is back for another season at SAM linebacker. Moncrief, who would sometimes line up in coverage against opposing teams’ top receivers, had four interceptions and was the Riders’ only divisional all-star last season.

Darnell Sankey hasn’t signed a contract extension with the Riders. Sankey was the CFL’s leading tackler in 2022 with 120. He was the Riders’ most outstanding player and most outstanding defensive player.

If Sankey leaves in free agency, Dean could move back to his natural position of middle linebacker and Micah Teitz could see a return to the weak-side spot.

Teitz, who had hip surgery during training camp, missed the entire 2022 campaign. The Calgary product had 64 tackles and three sacks in 2021.

Defensive backs

Signed: Jordan Beaulieu, Jeremy Clark, Rodney Clemons, Jayden Dalke, Tristan Fleury, Amari Henderson, Devin Jones, Austin Joyner, Nelson Lokombo, Nick Marshall, Rolan Milligan, Kosi Onyeka, C.J. Reavis, La’Andre Thomas, Kendarius Webster, Deontai Williams, Leon O’Neal Jr.

Pending free agents: Mike Edem, Blace Brown, Godfrey Onyeka

Possible free-agent targets: Jumal Rolle, Delvin Breaux

The Riders will have consistency in their defensive backfield but appear to be moving on from one veteran.

Mike Edem didn’t sign a contract with the Riders. Edem has been with the Riders since 2017. He appeared in 17 games at safety for the team in 2022, recording 57 tackles, two sacks and one interception.

Ahead of free agency, the Riders brought back Nick Marshall, Jeremy Clark and Rolan Milligan with contract extensions.

Marshall had four interceptions in 2022, Clark had 30 tackles and Milligan had 71 tackles and one interception last year.

Amari Henderson, Blace Brown and Godfrey Onyeka found their way into the starting lineup at various times during the season.

With Edem, a national player, going to free agency, it could be a training camp battle between Nelson Lokombo and Jayden Dalke for who takes over as starting safety. Lokombo was the second overall pick in the 2021 CFL draft but missed the season due to a torn Achilles tendon prior to training camp.

Dalke was taken in the sixth round of the 2022 draft.

CFL veterans Jumal Rolle and Delvin Breaux could bring some more veteran leadership to the group as possible free agents.

Rolle has spent four seasons with the Ti-Cats, including 16 games last season when he finished with two interceptions.

Breaux has played five CFL seasons, with the 33-year-old returning to the CFL in 2022 with the Lions.

Special teams

Signed: Kaare Vedvik, Brett Lauther, David Solle, Jorgen Hus

Pending free agents: Henry Nell

Possible free-agent targets: Michael Domagala, Tanner Doll

The 2023 Riders kicking crew will look the same from the previous season.

Punter Kaare Vedvik, kicker Brett Lauther and long-snapper Jorgen Hus all are signed for the season.

Hus has provided a reliable presence as the team’s long-snapper the past seven seasons.

Lauther returns after another season that saw him hit over 80 per cent of his field goals. Lauther has been the Riders’ starting kicker since 2019.

Vedvik played in all 18 games for the Riders in 2022 after starting four games for the Riders in 2021.