Riders have continuity in place on offence ahead of CFL free agency

The Saskatchewan Roughriders can now focus on finding the right pieces to complete the puzzle instead of trying to determine what the picture needs to look like.

In 2024, the CFL club was able to return to the playoffs for the first time in two seasons, posting a 9-7-1 record and hosting the West semifinal. The Riders emerged with a playoff win, but fell short of the Grey Cup once again, falling in the west final to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

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Plenty of work has already been done by general manager Jeremy O’Day, head coach Corey Mace and the rest of the football operations staff to keep the core of players intact.

CFL free agency begins on February 11, but teams can start negotiating with players during the communications window, which starts at 11 a.m. on Sunday and runs until 11 a.m. on Feb. 9.

The Riders kick off the regular season on June 5 against the Ottawa Redblacks.

The pending free agents is based on the official CFL free agent tracker on the league’s website. Here’s a look at the offensive side of the ball:

Quarterbacks:

Signed: Trevor Harris, Jake Maier, Jack Coan, Michael Hiers

Pending free agents: Shea Patterson

Harris will once again be the man leading the Riders on the offensive side of the football in 2025.

The Waldo, Ohio, product will be in his third season as the team’s starting quarterback. Last season, Harris dressed for 12 games and threw for 3,264 yards, 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He was named the West Division All-CFL quarterback for his performances.

But Harris will be 39 by the time the Riders’ regular season starts, and has had trouble remaining healthy in recent seasons.

Patterson handled backup and short-yardage duties in 2024, starting the six games Harris missed due to a knee injury and also playing in the regular-season finale. Patterson threw for 1,655 yards, six touchdowns and five interceptions, and also added seven rushing touchdowns.

Patterson is set to become a free agent.

The Riders went out and traded for Maier from the Calgary Stampeders. At just 27 years old, Maier has already started 45 games in the CFL. In 18 games last season, Maier threw for 3,841 yards, 22 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. He is expected to be the backup this season.

Also on the roster is Coan, who was the team’s third-string quarterback last season. Hiers was signed to the team’s practice roster in September.

Running backs:

Signed: A.J. Ouellette, Ryquell Armstead, Albert Awachie, Morgen Runge, Thomas Bertrand-Hudon, Trenton Pennix

Pending free agents: Frankie Hickson

The Riders will have two top-tier running backs they can rely on to get the attack on the round going next season.

Ouellette was one of the Riders’ big free agents back in 2024 after spending four seasons with the Toronto Argonauts, including winning the 2023 Grey Cup.

But a hip injury forced Ouellette to miss a majority of the regular season, only appearing in eight games while rushing for 550 yards and three touchdowns.

Due to his absence, the team signed Armstead, who had played 11 games with the Ottawa Redblacks before he was released.

Armstead suited up for two regular-season games with the Riders in 2024, including his debut performance where he ran for 207 yards. He also suited up for both playoff games, but wasn’t used much.

Awachie was brought back to the Riders in August after he was released by the Toronto Argonauts. He will be the team’s Canadian fullback.

Hickson, who has been with the Riders since 2022, remains without a contract. He was the starter when Ouellette was out of the lineup when Armstead was not with the team.

Running back A.J. Ouellette was one of the team’s top free agent signings in 2024. (Saskatchewan Roughriders/Submitted)

Wide receivers:

Signed: Shawn Bane Jr., KeeSean Johnson, Samuel Emilus, Kian Schaffer-Baker, Dhel Duncan-Busby, Dohnte Meyers, D’Sean Mimbs, Joe Robustelli

Pending free agents: Mario Alford, Colton Hunchak, Mitch Picton, Jerreth Sterns

The Riders will bring back most of their starting receiving group, but a couple of the team’s veterans are set to become free agents.

Bane Jr., Johnson, Meyers and Robusttelli provide a good group of American receivers for the Riders’ offence.

Canadian receivers have been a point of strength for the Riders in recent seasons. Emilus is coming off a second straight 1,000-yard receiving campaign, and added five touchdowns as well.

Schaffer-Baker was able to bounce back in 2024 after an injury-shortened 2023, recording 735 yards and four touchdowns in 2024.

Ajou Ajou and Dhel Duncan-Busby provided some great Canadian depth for the club in their first CFL seasons. That’s expected to get bolstered by D’Sean Mimbs, who was sent back to the University of Regina for 2024. The Riders released Ajou in order to let him pursue an NFL opportunity.

Alford has been the team’s primary return man since he was traded to the team in 2023, but he remains without a contract.

Picton has been one of the team’s reliable backups throughout his tenure in Saskatchewan. The versatile Regina product has the ability to play any receiver position, but the team has yet to re-sign him.

Jerreth Sterns was the team’s starting slotback to begin 2024 but was in and out of the lineup.

Offensive line:

Signed: Jacob Brammer, Logan Ferland, Zack Fry, Jermarcus Hardrick, Daniel Johnson, Nick Jones, Brandon Kemp, Braydon Noll, Trevon Tate, Noah Zerr

Pending free agents: Philip Blake, Peter Godber, Ryan Sceviour

The offensive line for the Riders faced plenty of adversity throughout the 2024 season. Due to injuries, more than 10 different players started games for the team.

A number of the starters are back for 2025, including Ferland – who started games at four of the five positions throughout the season. He was named the CFL West Division’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman.

Hardrick missed most of the season due to a quad injury. He joined the Riders during the last offseason as one of the team’s premier signings. He’s expected to come back as the team’s starting right tackle.

The team’s left tackle Trevor Reid has been released in order to pursue an opportunity with the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings.

Tate signed with the Riders during the season after requesting his release from the Calgary Stampeders. Tate has signed an extension and is expected to be a favourite to take Reid’s place at training camp.

Fry and Zerr provide some more Canadian depth in the group.

Peter Godber has been the team’s centre since joining the Riders in 2023.

Philip Blake, 39, has only appeared in eight games over the past two seasons for the team.