Riders retain most of offence, big defensive names on the move as CFL free agency nears

The Saskatchewan Roughriders will continue to put together the pieces as they try to win a Grey Cup at home in 2022.

CFL free agency gets underway Tuesday at 11 a.m.

The Riders come into the day with 26 pending free agents. In the time leading up to free agency, Riders general manager Jeremy O’Day has managed to lock up a few key members of the 2021 team, including CFL sack leader defensive end A.C. Leonard and slotback Duke Williams, who had 285 yards and a touchdown in four games.

But since the CFL negotiation window opened on Jan. 30, it appears some big names will be playing in different provinces, including the Riders’ most outstanding defensive player in 2021, defensive back Loucheiz Purifoy.

Quarterbacks

Signed for 2022: Cody Fajardo, Mason Fine, Paxton Lynch.
Pending free agents: Isaac Harker.
Other pending free agents around the league: Trevor Harris, Matt Nichols, Sean McGuire.

The Riders come into 2022 with Cody Fajardo as the team’s primary pivot and Mason Fine and Paxton Lynch in backup roles. After a breakout 2019 season, Fajardo faced a lot of criticism in 2021 as the Riders’ offence struggled for most of the season. Fajardo completed 281 passes during the regular season for 2,970 yards and 14 touchdowns. The 29-year-old added 468 yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

Fine joined the team in 2021 and appeared to earn the backup job after appearing in a Nov. 20 game against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats where he went 5-for-9 for 64 yards. He was Fajardo’s backup in both playoff games. Lynch, meanwhile, was sent home early due to being unvaccinated and being unable to travel at the end of the season.

Harker, who was the team’s backup in 2019 and for most of 2021, remains without a contract. Harker has thrown for 706 yards, no touchdowns and five interceptions in his two-season CFL career.

There are a few CFL veteran quarterbacks who still are not signed to a contract with a team. Trevor Harris split time between Edmonton and Montreal in 2021. Winnipeg Blue Bombers backup Sean McGuire also remains without a contract and he scored eight rushing touchdowns as the Bombers saw a second straight campaign end in a Grey Cup title.

Running backs and fullbacks

Signed for 2022: Jamal Morrow, Kienan LaFrance. Albert Awachie, Jonathan Femi-Cole, Shamar Moreland.
Pending free agents: William Powell.
Other pending free agents around the league: Andrew Harris, Timothy Flanders, John White.

After two seasons with William Powell as the team’s primary running back, those duties are set to fall to someone new in 2022. Powell, who has rushed for 1,826 yards in 31 games for the Riders, posted on Twitter he will be going back to Ottawa to play with the Redblacks — a team with which he spent four CFL seasons.

Surprise!!! 😱 #CFL pic.twitter.com/0V7AxNeyfd

— WIlly P! (@WilliamPowell33) February 6, 2022

With Powell set to join Ottawa, the Riders could turn to Jamal Morrow and Kienan LaFrance to fill the hole left by his departure.

Morrow was one of the team’s primary returners in 2021 after spending 2019 on the practice roster. The 27-year-old dressed for eight games and both playoff games. Morrow returned a punt 69 yards for a touchdown in the Riders’ 33-30 West semifinal win over the Calgary Stampeders.

Morrow started the regular-season finale against the Tiger-Cats, rushing for 41 yards on nine carries while adding three catches for 41 yards.

LaFrance is a six-season CFL veteran who has spent the past two seasons — and three in total — with the Riders. LaFrance offers some ratio flexibility as he is a Winnipeg product. In his career, LaFrance has carried the ball 156 times for 642 yards and caught 44 passes for 333 yards.

Albert Awachie has signed an extension to be the team’s fullback for a fifth season.

One of the most intriguing names in the entire CFL who’s still a pending free agent is Andrew Harris. The 34-year-old has been one of the league’s best rushers for most of his 11 CFL seasons. Harris was also an integral part of the Bombers’ two recent Grey Cup wins but only played in seven games and two playoff games in 2021. In those post-season games, Harris rushed for 216 yards.

He has been a thorn in the side of the Riders for years and has put himself in the thick of the rivalry between the two West Division teams.

Wide receivers and slotbacks

Signed for 2022: Shaq Evans, Jake Harty, Justin McInnis, Paul McRoberts, Kyran Moore, Mitch Picton, Duke Williams, Ricardo Louis, Terrell Jana, Kian Schaffer-Baker, Darvin Kidsy, Jester Weah.
Pending free agents: Jordan Williams-Lambert.
Other pending free agents around the league: Greg Ellingson, BJ Cunningham, Brandon Banks.

The Riders are bringing back a majority of their 2021 receiving group. Duke Williams was the last of Saskatchewan’s receivers to sign a contract, doing so this past Saturday. He has reportedly signed for $260,000, making him the highest-paid receiver in the league heading into free agency.

Williams caught 26 passes for 448 yards and two touchdowns in six games, including the playoffs. He averaged 17.1 yards per catch.

He will be joined by Shaq Evans and Kyran Moore, who are entering their fourth seasons with the Riders. Evans and Moore both dealt with injuries in 2021. Evans suffered a broken foot in Saskatchewan’s Week 2 game against Hamilton. In seven games last season, Evans had 25 catches for 224 yards with zero touchdowns.

Moore suffered a torn ACL late in the season and his status for the start of 2022 is up in the air. He finished 2021 with a team-leading 585 yards and three touchdowns in 11 games.

Kian Schaffer-Baker is looking to improve on an impressive rookie season that saw the Ontario product catch 47 passes for 563 yards and two touchdowns.

Justin McInnis could see his role increase as another Canadian option, since slotback Brayden Lenius signed with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons.

There is a lot of depth and experience for the Riders at the position with Paul McRoberts, Ricardo Louis, Mitch Picton and Jake Harty all providing some level of CFL experience as well.

The Riders probably won’t need to address the wide receiver and slotback positions in free agency with so many signed, but there are a number of veterans out there, including Greg Ellingson. Ellingson has spent nine seasons in the CFL.

Offensive live

Signed for 2022: Dan Clark, Logan Ferland, Evan Johnson, Terran Vaughn, Andrew Lauderdale, Logan Bandy, Ka’John Armstrong, Mattland Riley, Na’Ty Rodgers.
Pending free agents: Brett Boyko, Cam Jefferson, Josiah St. John, Takoby Cofield.
Other pending free agents around the league: Justin Renfrow, Nolan MacMillan, Ryker Mathews.

The offensive line faced a lot of criticism throughout most of the 2021 season, with defences able to pressure Fajardo for much of the season. But a majority of the 2021 group is back in 2022. Dan Clark, who has been with the Riders in some capacity since 2009, is joined by Logan Ferland and Evan Johnson at the two guard spots. Terran Vaughn missed all of the 2021 season due to a shoulder injury and is set to be one of the team’s starting tackles.

The other tackle spot could be where the Riders look for someone else. Andrew Lauderdale played a number of games at the position in 2021. The Riders also have younger Canadians in Logan Bandy and Mattland Riley who could step into a more prominent role in 2022. The team has also added two new Americans in Ka’John Armstrong and Na’ty Rodgers.

Justin Renfrow has played in 26 games during a four-year CFL career and is an option in free agency. Ryker Mathews missed all but one game in 2021 due to a concussion but was an East Division all-star in 2019.

Defensive line

Signed for 2022: Charbel Dabire, A.C. Leonard, Pete Robertson, Keion Adams, Anthony Lanier, Alain Cimankinda, Nick Dheilly, Kevin Francis, Garrett Marino, Tim Williams.
Pending free agents: Freddie Bishop, Makana Henry, Micah Johnson, Jordan Reaves.
Other pending free agents around the league: Ja’Gared Davis, Steven Richardson, Ted Laurent.

The Riders’ defensive line was once again one of the big strengths for the team in 2021, with Saskatchewan having 47 sacks during the season — second-most in the CFL.

The team has signed 2021 sack leader A.C. Leonard to an extension. Leonard had 11 sacks in 11 games. But there is now a spot opposite to him along the defensive line, with Jonathan Woodard being released to pursue NFL opportunities. Woodard had 10 sacks in his lone season with the Riders.

One of the bigger names who appears to be leaving Saskatchewan is defensive tackle Micah Johnson. Johnson led the league with eight tackles for a loss in 2021 and forces opposing offences to account for him. Reports are that Johnson will be heading to Hamilton for the 2022 season.

Makana Henry is another name that remains without a contract with the Riders. Henry has been with the Riders since 2016 and recorded two sacks in 2021.

Pete Robertson recently signed a contract and had five sacks in 10 games during his first CFL season. Anthony Lanier also appeared in 10 games for the Riders, adding a sack and 13 tackles.

Lanier, Garrett Marino and Canadian Charbel Dabire look to anchor the Riders’ interior of the defensive line.

On the market, there are a few big names available including Hamilton defensive end Ja’Gared Davis. Reports are Davis will sign with the Toronto Argonauts, but a deal hasn’t been reached yet. Davis has racked up 42 sacks in five CFL seasons, including six in 2021.

Hamilton defensive tackle Ted Laurent is also set to become a free agent. While he is 34 and didn’t have a sack in 2021, he is still someone defences need to account for.

Linebackers

Signed for 2022: Micah Teitz, Larry Dean, A.J. Allen, DeMarquis Gates, Nigel Harris, Gary Johnson Jr., Alvin Jones, Michael Pinckney.
Pending free agents: Deon Lacey, Jordan Herdman-Reed, Justin Herdman-Reed, Nakas Onyeka, AJ Hendy.
Other pending free agents around the league: Derrick Moncrief, Darnell Sankey, Micah Awe.

The Riders could lose one of their leaders on defence in linebacker Deon Lacey but are bringing back a player they had high hopes for in 2021.

Lacey became the team’s middle linebacker in 2021, recording 54 tackles and four quarterback sacks in his first season with the Riders. But the 31-year-old remains without a contract.

The team re-signed Micah Teitz and Larry Dean to contract extensions. Teitz was the team’s nominee for most outstanding Canadian after a season that saw him record a team-high 64 tackles. Teitz also added three sacks.

Dean, who signed with the team for the 2021 season, didn’t take the field for the Riders after suffering a torn Achilles before training camp started. Dean has recorded 365 tackles and six sacks in four CFL seasons. He will assume the role as the team’s middle linebacker.

The strong-side linebacker spot saw a number of players rotate through it due to injuries, including AJ Hendy, Jay Dearborn and Godfrey Onyeka.

The Riders could go to the market to fill that strong-side linebacker role if O’Day doesn’t feel like the answer is in house.

A name Rider fans are familiar with is Derrick Moncrief. He was with the Riders in 2019 and recorded 69 tackles and four sacks as the team’s SAM linebacker. He was let go to make his way in the NFL, where he was signed by the Las Vegas Raiders and then the Los Angeles Rams.

Moncrief came back to the CFL and signed with the Edmonton Elks in 2021. He appeared in nine games and had 23 tackles and four sacks. He was named the team’s nominee for most outstanding defensive player.

Darnell Sankey was the CFL’s tackle leader in 2021, with 98 in his rookie season as the Stampeders’ middle linebacker. He’s not expected to re-sign with Calgary and will draw a lot of interest from teams.

Defensive backs

Signed for 2022: Mike Edem, Nick Marshall, Godfrey Onyeka, Nelson Lokombo, Damon Webb, Jeremy Clark, Blace Brown, Brian Cole II, Vincent Dethier, Amari Henderson, Rolan Milligan, Will Sunderland, Matt Watson.
Pending free agents: Elie Bouka, Jay Dearborn, Christian Campbell, Ed Gainey, Loucheiz Purifoy.
Other pending free agents around the league: Trumaine Washington, DaShaun Amos, Don Unamba.

A couple key parts of the Riders’ secondary appear to be moving to different teams for 2022.

Loucheiz Purifoy, the team’s most outstanding defensive player nominee, has posted on Twitter he is heading west to play with the B.C. Lions, a team with which he played the first two years of his six-season CFL career.

Purifoy was used in a variety of positions as the Riders dealt with a bevy of injuries in 2021. He recorded 39 tackles and two interceptions.

Also set to leave is Ed Gainey, who is not being offered a contract by the Riders. Gainey is a nine-season CFL veteran and has been with the Riders since 2016. Gainey recorded three interceptions during the regular season and then added three interceptions in two playoff games.

Gainey is reported to be heading to Edmonton to join head coach Chris Jones, who was in charge when Gainey first joined the Riders.

Mike Edem is set to return as the Canadian safety plays a ninth CFL season. Edem joined the Riders back in 2017. His season in 2021 came to an end when he suffered a broken wrist in the Banjo Bowl against the Blue Bombers.

Nick Marshall is back for another season in Saskatchewan. Marshall was named a West Division all-star in 2021, registering three interceptions.

Damon Webb and Jeremy Clark were called upon to play halfback and cornerback respectively after numerous injuries in the secondary. Both fared well in their limited playing time and could be starters to begin 2022.

Nelson Lokombo is also expected to return to the team after suffering a torn Achilles before training camp in 2021. Lokombo was the second overall pick in the 2021 CFL draft.

Jay Dearborn is also without a contract, but he is currently in Beijing, China, competing in the Olympics on the men’s bobsleigh team.

Don Unamba is set to hit the open market. Unamba had 47 tackles for the Redblacks in 2021.

There’s also DaShaun Amos, who fell out of the starting lineup in Calgary.

Special teams

Signed for 2022: Kaare Vedvik, Brett Lauther, Jorgen Hus, Henry Nell.
Pending free agents: Jon Ryan.
Other pending free agents around the league: Sean Whyte, Sergio Castillo.

The Riders appear to be moving on from Regina product Jon Ryan.

Ryan, who was injured in a game against the Montreal Alouettes on Oct. 30, missed the remainder of the year due to a crack in a bone in his ankle. Ryan joined the Riders in 2019 after a successful NFL career.

In his absence, the team turned to Norwegian punter Kaare Vedvik, who handled the duties to end the year.

Ryan remains without a contract heading into free agency.

Brett Lauther signed a two-year extension with the team. Lauther hit 40 of 47 field-goal attempts in 2021.