Riders agree to terms with LB Auclair, DB Edwards-Cooper: Reports

The Saskatchewan Roughriders continue to dip their toes into the pool of potential CFL free agents.

According to 3DownNation’s Justin Dunk — who’s also The Green Zone’s CFL insider — the Roughriders have agreed to terms with Canadian linebacker Adam Auclair and American cornerback Jalon Edwards-Cooper.

The agreements were reached during the CFL’s free-agent negotiation window, which opened Sunday. It allows teams to negotiate with other clubs’ free agents over a seven-day period before free agency opens. That’s to happen Tuesday.

Auclair, a 27-year-old product of Saint-Georges, Que., spent the past three seasons with the Ottawa Redblacks. Ottawa selected him in the first round (sixth overall) of the 2020 CFL draft out of Université Laval.

In his three seasons in Ottawa, the 6-foot-2, 223-pounder recorded 119 tackles, 30 special-teams stops, two sacks, one interception and two forced fumbles in 42 regular-season games.

Last season, Auclair had 63 tackles, 14 special-teams tackles, one sack, one pick and one forced fumble in 18 regular-season games. He started seven games for the Redblacks in 2023.

In Saskatchewan, Auclair could fill the starting weak-side linebacker spot held previously by fellow Canadian Micah Teitz, who’s eligible to become a free agent Tuesday.

Teitz is one of 15 players who were with the Roughriders last season who can hit the market Tuesday. Saskatchewan has signed contract extensions with 14 of its pending free agents this off-season and released one.

Edwards-Cooper, 26, played 30 games over the past three seasons with the B.C. Lions. The 5-foot-11, 175-pounder out of Spring, Texas, recorded 36 tackles, one special-teams stop, one interception and one forced fumble in 14 games with the Lions last season.

Reports say the Roughriders have agreed with three other players during the negotiation period — running back A.J. Ouellette, linebacker Jameer Thurman and offensive tackle Jermarcus Hardrick.