RECEIVERS WITH CFL EXPERIENCE TOP RIDERS' FREE AGENT WISH LIST
Thankfully QB Fajardo is under contract but he needs somebody to throw the ball to
If the Saskatchewan Roughriders are to boast a powerful passing attack in 2021, key completions will be required before the season begins.
General manager Jeremy O'day is facing negotiations with a number of prospective free agents — including receivers Shaq Evans, Kyran Moore, Kenny Stafford and Jordan Williams-lambert.
Evans was a CFL all-star in 2019, when he caught 72 passes for 1,334 yards. Moore added
996 yards while leading the Roughriders in receptions (78) and touchdown catches (six). Stafford was expected to replace Naaman Roosevelt, who caught 77 passes. Williams-lambert was the West Division's rookie of the year in 2018.
Members of the aforementioned quartet are among 28
Roughriders players whose contracts are set to expire on Feb. 9 when free agency begins.
The good news for the Riders is that quarterback Cody Fajardo is under contract through next season — although signing him to an extension should be a high priority.
It's also imperative that the Roughriders field a reputable receiving corps. Of the team's
382 receptions in 2019, only 14 of them were made by players who are under contract for 2021 (see: Justin Mcinnis 10, Albert Awachie 2, Brayden Lenius 2).
Also locked up for 2021 are established players such as offensive linemen Dan Clark, Brendon Labatte and Takoby Cofield, quarterback Isaac Harker, defensive tackles Zack Evans and Makana Henry, defensive linemen A.C. Leonard and Chad Geter, defensive halfback Loucheiz Purifoy and ... uh, that's it.
Let's compare that list to the scroll of Saskatchewan players who can become free agents:
Quarterback: James Franklin.
Running back: William Powell.
Fullback: Patrick Lavoie.
Receivers: Moore, Stafford,
Williams-lambert, Evans, Jake Harty, Carlos Henderson.
Offensive linemen: Terran Vaughn, Braden Schram, Josiah St. John, Rene Brassea.
Defensive linemen: Charleston Hughes, Jordan Reaves, Charbel Dabire, Jeremy Faulk.
Linebackers: Solomon Elimimian, Otha Foster III, Alexandre Chevrier, Nakas Onyeka, Micah Teitz.
Defensive backs: Mike Edem, Ed Gainey, Nick Marshall, L.J. Mccray, Blace Brown.
Long snapper: Jorgen Hus.
Excluded are familiar names including linebacker Cameron Judge, punter Jon Ryan and kicker Brett Lauther, all of whom opted out of one-year contracts to pursue NFL options after COVID-19 wiped out the 2020 CFL season.
Another opt-out, guard Dakoda Shepley, had signed with Saskatchewan through 2022. He's on the San Francisco 49ers' practice squad.
Although the Roughriders' list of 28 possible free agents seems lengthy, it's actually the league's second-smallest such compilation.
Toronto Argonauts: 22 (including notables K Boris Bede, REC Juwan Brescacin, LB Bo Lokombo, DL Drake Nevis).
Hamilton Tiger-cats: 33 (REC Brandon Banks, LB Larry Dean, RB Don Jackson, LB Simoni Lawrence, DB Patrick Levels, QB Jeremiah Masoli, OL Brandon Revenberg, OL Chris Van Zeyl, DB-RET Frankie Williams).
Winnipeg Blue Bombers: 33 (DB Brandon Alexander, OL Stanley Bryant, REC Nic Demski, OL Jermarcus Hardrick, RB Andrew Harris, DL Jackson Jeffcoat, K Justin Medlock, OL Patrick Neufeld).
Calgary Stampeders: 35 (OL Shane Bergman, DL Cordarro Law, DB Richard Leonard, K Rene Paredes, REC Eric Rogers, DB Jamar Wall).
B.C. Lions: 38 (REC Bryan Burnham, OL Joel Figueroa, DL Micah Johnson, REC Dominique Rhymes, RB John White).
Ottawa Redblacks: 45 (DB Don Unamba, K Lewis Ward).
Edmonton: 47 (REC James Ellingson, OL Sirvincent Rogers, OL Matthew O'donnell, DL Almondo Sewell).
Montreal Alouettes: 48 (Roosevelt, DL John Bowman, REC B.J. Cunningham, REC Eugene Lewis, LB Henoc Muamba, DB Greg Reid, OL Tony Washington, REC Jake Wieneke).
Salary-cap parameters to be determined.