Roughriders General Manager Provides Comprehensive Update Ahead of CFL Free Agency Period
The Canadian Football League's annual free agency frenzy is poised to commence, with teams across the league preparing for the critical negotiation window that opens this Sunday. Saskatchewan Roughriders General Manager Jeremy O'Day has been actively working to solidify his roster during this pivotal off-season period.
Current Roster Status and Contract Negotiations
As of Friday afternoon, the Roughriders have successfully re-signed 18 of their 44 pending free agents, demonstrating significant progress in retaining core talent. However, 22 players remain without contracts as the negotiation period approaches. The team has experienced additional roster changes with the release of receivers Dohnte Meyers and Shawn Bane Jr., along with the retirements of defensive lineman Micah Johnson and running back Ka'Deem Carey.
O'Day expressed cautious optimism about the team's current position during a virtual press conference held after his recent attendance at the East-West Shrine Bowl game in Dallas. "We've secured a fair number of our free agents," stated O'Day. "I don't think you're ever really super comfortable with the roster at this time of the year, but I think it's heading in the right direction."
Key Re-signings and Remaining Challenges
Following their Grey Cup victory last season, the Roughriders have managed to secure several crucial players in recent months:
- Quarterback Trevor Harris
- Receiver Samuel Emilus
- Offensive lineman Jermarcus Hardrick (re-signed in December)
- Receiver Kian Schaffer-Baker
- Cornerback Tevaughn Campbell (re-signed in January)
- Halfback DaMarcus Fields
- Receiver KeeSean Johnson (recent extensions)
The extension for Johnson proved particularly challenging for the front office. "Always wanted to bring him back to be honest with you," O'Day explained, "but we just kind of had to go through some of the other parts of it before we knew if we were going to be able to kind of meet his demands. And I think KeeSean, if he went out into the market, probably could have got a bit more. And I think he understood that."
Critical Free Agency Timeline and Financial Considerations
The CFL's weeklong free agency communication window opens this Sunday, allowing teams to begin contract discussions with pending free agents. This negotiation period will close next Sunday, with official signings permitted beginning February 10th when free agency officially commences.
This year brings significant financial changes as the league's salary cap increases by $218,000 from last season, reaching $6.28 million for the 2026 campaign. This additional cap space provides teams with greater flexibility in pursuing and retaining talent.
Notable Players Still Awaiting Contracts
Several key starters remain without deals as free agency approaches, including:
- Running back A.J. Ouellette
- Defensive end Malik Carney
- Linebackers A.J. Allen and C.J. Reavis
O'Day acknowledged the inherent challenges of managing numerous free agents simultaneously. "It's a challenging time when you have that many free agents to try to retain as many guys as you want," he noted. "But we feel pretty good about where we're at and still feel comfortable moving forward with what the team will look like when we're done."
The Roughriders' front office continues to work diligently through what O'Day described as a "tricky" negotiation period, balancing financial constraints with the need to maintain a competitive roster capable of defending their Grey Cup championship. With the communication window opening imminently, the coming days will prove crucial in determining the final composition of Saskatchewan's 2026 squad.
