Riders make most of head start on free-agent period
Team has been busy re-signing many players, leaving only a few holes to fill
For the most part, the Saskatchewan Roughriders have taken care of business ahead of Tuesday’s CFL free-agent deadline.
The Riders had 22 pending free agents when the CFL released its list Nov. 30. Chris Jones, the Riders’ head coach and general manager, had whittled the list down to 10 as of Sunday by releasing some of the players ahead of Tuesday’s 11 a.m. deadline and working out contract extensions with others.
Jones addressed one of the team’s offensive concerns by trading a second-round draft pick (10th overall) in 2018 to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for quarterback Zach Collaros.
The Riders then acquired defensive end Charleston Hughes from the Tiger-Cats for quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. Hughes had been traded to Hamilton by the Calgary Stampeders earlier in the day.
On the Riders’ front, Jones resigned defensive end Willie Jefferson, backup quarterback Brandon Bridge, wide receiver/defensive back Duron Carter, receiver Devon Bailey, defensive backs Crezdon Butler and Jovon Johnson, returner Christion Jones and offensive lineman Thaddeus Coleman, all of whom were pending free agents.
“We won’t be overly aggressive in free agency,’’ Jones said. “We’ve established a pretty good football team and we believe in the guys that we do have in our room. We’ll be more in-house than we will be outside.’’
That approach may be due as much to circumstances as to maintaining continuity. The pool of pending free agents has been reduced by several re-signings across the league.
The moves conducted by Jones mean the Riders have fewer positions to address in free agency.
Jones addressed defensive end by signing Jefferson and trading for Hughes.
Defensive tackle is a position that needs upgrading, especially if nationals Eddie Steele and Ese Mrabure are allowed to test the free-agent market. Mrabure can also play defensive end, which increases his value.
National defensive tackle Ted Laurent (Hamilton) may draw the most interest if he becomes a free agent. He is only 30 and would provide immediate relief in terms of the national/international ratio.
Regina product Zack Evans (Ottawa Redblacks) may be a more affordable alternative at defensive tackle. He is durable, having missed only two games in four seasons while recording 21 sacks over the same time frame.
The offensive line remains in flux, even with the re-signing of Coleman, the return of guard Brendon LaBatte, and the continued development of Dariusz Bladek.
In 2017, the Riders had issues protecting Kevin Glenn, which contributed to Jones often replacing his starting quarterback with the more-mobile Bridge.
With the amount of money the Riders have invested in Collaros, they would be wise to spend some of their funds on a left tackle to protect a $400,000-plus investment.
In 2017, they made a major freeagent move by signing Derek Dennis, who was named the CFL’s most outstanding lineman the previous season while playing for Calgary.
Dennis had mixed results at left tackle last season. He eventually moved to left guard with the emergence of Bruce Campbell at left tackle.
Campbell, a pending free agent, faces a two-game suspension at the start of the 2018 season after a positive drug test. It remains to be seen if the Riders will gamble on Campbell.
Centre Dan Clark is a pending free agent whose return would provide stability.
The free-agent pool is relatively shallow at offensive line, with the best options being left tackle Joel Figueroa (Edmonton Eskimos) and guard Kirby Fabien (B.C. Lions).
The departure of Kacy Rodgers II for the NFL creates an opening at cornerback, and defensive backs are among the deepest positions in the free-agent pool. Ronnie Yell (B.C.) and Tommie Campbell (Calgary) are two solid options.
Chandler Fenner (B.C.) is the type of linebacker/defensive back hybrid that Jones favours on defence. Fenner had 76 defensive tackles and 27 special-teams tackles in 18 games in 2017.
The Riders’ other pending free agents are linebacker Otha Foster III, defensive end A.C. Leonard, fullback Spencer Moore, kicker/ punter Quinn Van Gylswyk, running back Greg Morris and receiver/returner Nic Demski.
The Riders may be interested in re-signing Moore and Morris, both of whom can also contribute on special teams.
The re-signing of Bailey and the signing of 2017 draftee Mitchell Picton creates the kind of depth at receiver that could allow the Riders to let Demski depart. If that takes place, national Anthony Parker (Calgary) could be an option.