The Saskatchewan Roughriders aren’t easing into the 2026 off-season — they’re stepping directly into the teeth of it.
With the CFL’s free-agent negotiation window opening Sunday, Vice President of Football Operations and General Manager Jeremy O’Day knows exactly what’s coming: hard decisions, open bidding, emotional conversations, and the unavoidable truth that the full cast of the 2025 Grey Cup champions will not be intact when training camp opens.
“We’d love to have everyone back,” O’Day said during a media availability ahead of the window. “But I’ll tell you we’re not going to get all of our guys back that are free agents. There’s only so much room you have on your cap.”
The Riders have 22 pending free agents remaining, including foundational pieces such as Mario Alford, Malik Carney, A.J. Ouellette, Joe Robustelli, Mike Rose, Mitchell Picton, and Jake Maier. With so many players hitting the market at the same time, the organization has been preparing for a juggling act unlike any other in recent years.
O’Day stated the Riders feel “pretty good” about the work done so far, but comfort in early February is a relative term.
“You’re never really super comfortable with the roster at this time of year. It’s a challenging time when you have that many free agents, and you’re trying to retain as many guys as you want.”
The club has already secured several core players, including quarterback Trevor Harris, whose early extension created stability and momentum.
“Getting Trevor done early was important for us,” O’Day said. “He’s awesome through free agency. He’ll call our guys, reach out, and make sure they know they’re wanted. That’s really valuable.”
Still, the Riders enter the negotiation window knowing that other teams will come calling and offering.
“You’ve got to be prepared that you might not even have another conversation with a guy once he goes into the window,” O’Day said. “Other teams recruit them, and they’re going to tell them everything they need to hear."
The second-most scrutinized position in Saskatchewan — after QB1 — will again be the backup quarterback role behind Harris. Both Jake Maier and Jack Coan were in the Riders’ plans last season, but that picture is shifting. When asked whether fans should read into Coan re-signing while Maier remains a pending free agent, O’Day replied:
“I’d say it’s accurate what you said; you can read into it. Everyone’s in a different position in their career.”
Last season, Maier joined the Riders at a time when Harris had suffered mid-season injuries in consecutive years. But in 2025, Harris stayed healthy wire-to-wire, and Maier’s opportunities were limited.
“For Jake, he’s got to evaluate where he’s at in his career and where the best opportunity is. Last year, the best opportunity for him was with us. Things change.”
Coan’s return, at the very least, provides continuity and someone the staff believes can grow within the system.
Among the Riders 22 remaining pending free agents, several are expected to draw heavy interest league-wide. O’Day was candid regarding the realities of negotiating with players like A.J. Allen and Malik Carney, two who have anchored the defence.
“Nothing’s really changed,” O’Day said of discussions with Carney, echoing the same comments he made on Allen. “Other teams see their value too.”
Some players, such as Ouellette and Alford have had positive or ongoing discussions. Others will hit the window and see what the league has in store before circling back.
“Sometimes guys come back, and the market wasn’t what they expected. Sometimes it’s more. That’s the nature of it.”
Some younger players will be due meaningful raises. Some veterans may be willing to return for slightly less. But as O’Day notes, “You can’t fault players for wanting to capitalize on a championship season.”
O’Day praised the work of the Riders’ personnel staff, Kyle Carson, Paul Jones, Larry Dean, and Jordan Greenlee, especially in scouting and bringing in players who have already filled meaningful roles. He pointed to last year’s example:
“Two years ago, we signed Dohnte Meyers and KeeSean Johnson, and everyone wondered about our receiving core,” he said. “Then those guys became huge pieces for us.”
On the defensive side, depth at safety and strong-side linebacker with Jaxon Ford, Nelson Lokombo, and Antoine Brooks Jr. creates difficult but welcome decisions.
“Ratio is going to impact where players fit, including guys like C.J. Reavis. We have to balance who we want on the field with who we can afford.”
Here is the Riders current list of 2026 pending free agents:
Mario Alford (A, REC, West Virginia)
A.J. Allen (N, LB, Guelph)
C.J. Avery (A, LB, Louisville)
Habakkuk Baldonado (G, DL, Pittsburgh)
Malik Carney (A, DL, North Carolina)
Charbel Dabire (N, DL, Wagner College)
Philippe Gagnon (N, OL, Laval)
Jorgen Hus (N, LS, Regina)
Jake Maier (A, QB, UC Davis)
Benoît Marion (N, DL, Montreal)
Sean McEwen (N, OL, Calgary)
Aubrey Miller Jr. (A, LB, Jackson State)
Tommy Nield (N, REC, McMaster)
Braydon Noll (N, OL, Laurier)
A.J. Ouellette (A, RB, Ohio)
Mitchell Picton (N, REC, Regina)
Shane Ray (A, DL, Missouri)
C.J. Reavis (A, DB, Marshall)
Joe Robustelli (A, REC, Tusculum)
Mike Rose (A, DL, NC State)
Trevon Tate (A, OL, Memphis)
Noah Zerr (N, OL, Saskatchewan)
Once the CFL’s free-agent negotiation window opens on Sunday, Riders fans should brace for a whirlwind.
Some favourites will return. Some will get offers they simply can’t pass up. Some positions, like defensive end, Canadian offensive line depth, and returner could look very different by mid-February. The team will be measured in its approach.
“We’re not going to be super active in free agency,” O’Day said. “Our priority is keeping our core together.”
But keeping the core together isn’t the same as keeping everyone.
“We’d love to have every guy back, but that’s not the reality. Our job is to put it back together.”
Starting Sunday, the Riders will discover how much of their championship foundation can be kept for another run.
