Assessing the options at quarterback
Team has five players under contract but could go the free agent route, land a trade
Interest surrounding the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ quarterback situation hasn’t cooled since Sunday’s 25-21 loss to the Toronto Argonauts in the East Division final.
Which direction Riders’ head coach and general manager Chris Jones goes with his quarterbacks will be followed intensely during the CFL off-season. With that in mind, Jones has options inside and outside the Riders’ organization.
Jones told reporters Monday that he would like to see quarterbacks Kevin Glenn and Brandon Bridge return for the 2018 season. Glenn is signed through 2018. Bridge is among eight CFL quarterbacks who can file for free agency in February.
The Riders have five quarterbacks under contract — Glenn, Bridge, Vernon Adams Jr., Marquise Williams and David Watford. Their CFL experience runs the gamut from Glenn’s 17 CFL seasons to a raw rookie in Watford.
Outside the team, Jones can go the free-agent route or trade for a quarterback.
James Franklin of the Edmonton Eskimos has been the subject of the most speculation. The Eskimos’ backup quarterback and Jones were together during the 2015 season when Edmonton won the Grey Cup. Thus, Franklin is familiar with the Riders’ coaching staff.
Jones may have to open the bank to land the 26-year-old quarterback, who is expected to draw interest from other teams. Signing Franklin as a free agent may be the prudent decision with Glenn already on the roster to provide leadership and a security blanket.
Toronto quarterback Ricky Ray is also a pending free agent and is coming off one of his best seasons. Ray is also 38 and it’s unlikely the Riders could afford his contract or be willing to add another older quarterback.
With the Ottawa Redblacks, Trevor Harris has emerged as one the league’s elite quarterbacks. The pending free agent battled through a shoulder injury this season, but still threw 30 touchdown passes — tying him with Edmonton’s Mike Reilly for the league lead.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have two quarterbacks who may draw the Riders’ interest. Jeremiah Masoli can become a free agent after taking over for the struggling Zach Collaros midway through the 2017 season. Masoli is mobile and an accurate passer and therefore may fit into the Riders’ offensive scheme.
Collaros was winless as a starter in 2017 before being replaced by Masoli. Collaros is signed through the 2018 season, during which he is to receive a reported $540,000.
The Riders would need to swing a trade to acquire Collaros and possibly renegotiate his contract to fit into the salary structure. He is tough and might fit into the Riders’ offensive schemes.
The other pending free-agent quarterbacks are Travis Lulay (British Columbia Lions), Dan LeFevour (Winnipeg Blue Bombers) and Drew Willy (Montreal Alouettes). The CFL usually publishes its list of free agents after the Grey Cup game.
Looking ahead to the off-season, here is a breakdown of the Riders’ current quarterbacks:
Kevin Glenn: Regardless of which direction the Riders go at starting quarterback, having Glenn on the roster makes sense even though he will be 39 next season. He can be a starter, but can also provide an insurance policy as a backup. He’s also great in the locker-room and embraces the mentoring of young quarterbacks.
Brandon Bridge: He showed potential in relief, but needs to be more consistent if he’s going to step up as a starter. If the CFL changes the international/national ratio to include Canadian quarterbacks, Bridge would be even more valuable.
Vernon Adams Jr.: He was used primarily as a short-yardage specialist in 2017, scoring three touchdowns in that role. The fivefoot-11, 200-pounder is elusive and could be the team’s quarterback of the future.
Marquise Williams: He dressed for eight regular-season games this season before being placed on the six-game injured list. He showed a strong arm during the pre-season and could gain from the experience of being on the sideline and meeting rooms during the 2017 season.
David Watford: The Riders signed him on Oct. 9 and he spent the rest of the season on the practice roster. In 2017, he attended training camp with the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles as a wide receiver, registering four receptions for 24 yards in three pre-season games. Versatility could add to Watford’s value.