Darrell Davis: Saskatchewan Roughriders have re-signed all their must-have free agents

It’s time to recruit some reinforcements

Published Feb 02, 2024 • Last updated 4 hours ago • 3 minute read

Shawn Bane Jr. was one of the Saskatchewan Roughriders potential free agents they needed to re-sign. Photo by Kevin Sousa /Kevin Sousa-CFL

So far, so good for the Saskatchewan Roughriders as they try to reassemble a competitive squad from the remnants of their horrific 2023 CFL season.

With the re-signing of promising receiver Shawn Bane Jr., the Roughriders have secured all the must-haves from their list of prospective free agents.

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Bane joins defensive lineman Anthony Lanier II, dime-backer C.J. Reavis, kicker Brett Lauther, defensive back Amari Henderson and offensive linemen Logan Ferland and Philip Blake — the Riders who needed to be re-signed before they could have become free agents Feb. 13.

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There are others worth re-signing. A few they should pursue. And there’s still the weird re-signing of quarterback Mason Fine to a two-year deal. Despite his ineffectiveness during three CFL seasons the coaches decided Fine would be a better fit than fumble-prone Jake Dolegala in new co-ordinator Marc Mueller’s offence. Dolegala, Saskatchewan’s fill-in starter at the end of last season, is expected to sign elsewhere after his current Riders contract expires in 10 days.

The Roughriders could still have four quarterbacks with starting experience in tow when they open training camp May 12.

Despite serious knee surgery that ended his 2023 campaign after after five games, Trevor Harris is the undisputed starter. The other quarterbacks — Fine, Antonio Pipkin and Shea Patterson — have never taken full control of a CFL offence. Although the Roughriders may yet add a rookie passer they can at least claim they’re extremely experienced at the game’s most important position. That’s important to football coaches, who abhor the idea of putting a newcomer in that job. And there are no free-agent QBs worth pursuing.

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Who else should the Roughriders be looking to re-sign?

Defensive tackle Micah Johnson, running back Jamal Morrow and middle linebacker Larry Dean are solid leaders who played extremely hard and remained effective during the team’s late-season swoon. They can always help, but does their experience come at a worthwhile price? Perhaps it’s time to move on, as the Roughriders rightfully decided earlier this offseason with dime-backer Derrick Moncrief.

Finding a decent American linebacker is the easiest personnel task in the CFL. The Riders may want to lure free-agent-to-be Adarius Pickett away from the Toronto Argonauts. And there are impressive defensive linemen who are pending free agents, such as Toronto’s Dewayne Hendrix and Shawn Oakman.

Argonauts running back A.J. Oullette, Winnipeg Blue Bombers all-star Brady Oliveira and William Stanback, who was recently waived by the Montreal Alouettes, are among the high-profile, potential free agents who could replace Morrow.

Despite missing the playoffs the past two seasons, Saskatchewan is again a potential landing spot for coveted free agents because of new head coach Corey Mace. A former player with the Calgary Stampeders who became an assistant coach before moving to Toronto as the Argonauts defensive co-ordinator, Mace is popular within CFL ranks.

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Roughriders general manager Jeremy O’Day agreed. When asked Thursday during an online media gathering if he believed his new coach might help the Roughriders attract free agents, O’Day had a one-word answer: “Yes.” Then he elaborated:

“I think that players who played for coach when he was a positional coach, a defensive co-ordinator, have a high, high, high, high amount of respect for him. They enjoyed playing for him.

“That’s one part of it, but I also feel like they have a close relationship with him. We’re not able to talk to the players yet, but if I had to predict I would say there are some players that would like to play for him.”

Exclusive negotiating rights end Sunday, when potential free agents can legally begin negotiating with other teams for exactly one week. By Feb. 11 any formal offers must be filed with the league office and the CFL Players’ Association. That gives a team two full days to match or improve upon the rival offer before a player can officially become a free agent at 11 a.m. on Feb. 13.

The first few hours of CFL free agency are hectic as the highly touted players get snapped up. It slows in the aftermath as GMs determine how much they can still spend under the league-imposed salary cap and what they still need. Every team needs someone but the Roughriders have at least started the process from a decent spot.

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