Riders’ GM explains decision to sign Fine over Dolegala

After spending the off-season evaluating their quarterback room, the Saskatchewan Roughriders ultimately decided Mason Fine would come back in 2024.

The Riders had a choice to make between Fine and Jake Dolegala — who started the final nine games of the 2023 CFL season for Saskatchewan — as to who would return to be Trevor Harris’ backup.

“We spent a lot of time watching film on our quarterbacks from last year,” general manager Jeremy O’Day said Thursday from Frisco, Texas, where he’s scouting the East-West Shrine Bowl.

“Through that process, we decided we wanted to go with Mason. And for us, it was just the fit with (offensive co-ordinator Marc Mueller’s) offence and how comfortable he would be with the quarterback.”

Fine was the first quarterback up after Harris suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 6 of the 2023 campaign.

Fine started the next four games, throwing for 896 yards with one touchdown and four interceptions during that span. He suffered a hamstring injury early in his fifth start, which opened the door for Dolegala — and Dolegala started the rest of the season despite Fine being on the active roster to end the season.

Dolegala threw for 2,431 yards with 10 touchdowns and eight touchdowns as the starter, amassing a 2-7 record.

“They both have unique skill sets and both have strengths and weaknesses,” O’Day said. “We spent a lot of time going through and evaluating which quarterback would be a better fit for us going forward. We were excited when we came to our decision and Mason is super-excited to be back and excited to take that next step moving forward.

“It was an ongoing evaluation that we had the people who would be working with him on a regular basis involved and ultimately we came to the decision we wanted to offer (a contract) to Mason.”

The Riders announced Jan. 23 the 26-year-old pivot had signed a two-year contract extension.

Saskatchewan has four quarterbacks under contract as of now – Harris and Shea Patterson were already signed for 2024, and Antonio Pipkin and Fine signed extensions this off-season.

O’Day said the Roughriders are comfortable with those four arms at camp, but could bring in someone from their negotiation list.

“We’re excited about Trevor coming back healthy, re-signing Mason and giving him an opportunity to compete for that No. 2 (job) and then also Shea Patterson who is a guy who our incoming staff is excited to work with and really just needs a bigger opportunity,” O’Day said. “We feel like we are in decent shape there.”

The Riders have re-signed 13 of their pending free agents, leaving 16 without contracts.

One of those players who signed an extension is defensive lineman Anthony Lanier II.

“We’re excited for Anthony to work with Coach (Corey) Mace and our defensive line coach,” O’Day said. “Corey is really excited to get to work with Anthony and feels like he can get a lot out of him. We’re likely going to be looking at moving him back inside where he was his first year with us and where we can get him matched up the way we want.

“We’re just excited to have him back. He brings energy to our team and when he’s on his game, he is pretty tough to block.”

The free-agent negotiation window is to open on Sunday at 11 a.m., giving teams the opportunity to reach out to other clubs’ free agents and negotiate deals.

Free agency officially begins on Feb. 13.