Quarterback Tommy Stevens signs with Saskatchewan Roughriders

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have added a few more new pieces to their 2025 puzzle.

General manager Jeremy O’Day did a lot of the heavy lifting last week, signing a number of players who were already free agents to contracts, including defensive lineman Mike Rose and defensive back Tevaughn Campbell.

Now that CFL Free Agency is open, deals that were agreed to during the communication window can become official.

Here are the players the Riders signed on free agency day:

Quarterback Tommy Stevens

Stevens will shore up the Riders’ short-yardage quarterback position.

While with the Calgary Stampeders, the six-foot-four, 245-pound quarterback has been one of the most consistent short-yardage quarterbacks in the CFL. In 52 games, Stevens has 685 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns, including 10 in 2024.

Last season, he was utilized in 31 third-and-short situations, and converted 30 of those.

He has also torched the Riders in previous seasons, recording an 89-yard touchdown run in 2022 and then a 69-yard touchdown run last season against the Green and White.

Prior to playing in the CFL, Stevens was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the seventh round (240 overall) in the 2020 NFL Draft, and was converted to a tight end. He went on to spend time with the Carolina Panthers before joining the New York Giants in 2021.

Stevens will reunite with Jake Maier in Saskatchewan. Maier was traded to the Riders, and then signed an extension.

Offensive guard Philippe Gagnon

Gagnon is coming west for the first time in his CFL career.

The offensive guard has played eight CFL seasons so far. The L’Ancienne-Lorette, Que., product has played seven of those seasons with the Montreal Alouettes and one with the Ottawa Redblacks (2019).

He was taken second overall in the 2016 CFL Draft.

The veteran lineman has played 99 CFL regular season games and made 75 starts. Gagnon has also appeared in six post-season matchups.

Gagnon was a member of the 2023 Grey Cup-winning Alouettes team.

He will shore up the Riders’ offensive line and is expected to be a starter.

Offensive guard Philippe Gagnon has signed with the Riders for the 2025 season — his ninth in the CFL. (CFL/Submitted)

Leaving in free agency

While the Riders brought in a number of new players and signed back a bulk of their 2024 team, a number will be heading to new places for 2025.

Slotback Jerreth Sterns is heading to Winnipeg to join the Bombers. The 25-year-old had 39 catches for 492 yards and two touchdowns in 2024 for the Riders.

Defensive back Amari Henderson will join the Ottawa Redblacks. He played in eight games for the Riders last season.

Centre Peter Godber has signed with Ottawa as well. Godber has been with the Riders since 2023.

Deontai Williams will go west to the B.C. Lions. The defensive back has three interceptions over the past two seasons.

Linebacker Adam Auclair also signed with the Lions.