Free agent tracker: Following the Roughriders on Day 1 of free agency

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CFL free agency officially opened on Tuesday morning as rosters continue to take shape for the 2025 season.

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Following the league’s weeklong free agent negotiation window, which closed on Sunday, teams could officially register contracts on Tuesday as dozens of players from across the league hit the open market.

While the Saskatchewan Roughriders had 32 pending free agents heading into the off-season, the Green and White were able to re-sign 17 of them before they became free agents.

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Those players included quarterback Trevor Harris, linebacker Jameer Thurman, defensive back Marcus Sayles, offensive tackle Trevon Tate, defensive end Malik Carney, defensive tackle Micah Johnson and returner Mario Alford. The team also acquired and signed backup quarterback Jake Maier.

With the addition of other players who were already free agents including defensive tackle Mike Rose, defensive end Shane Ray and cornerback Tevaughn Campbell, Saskatchewan didn’t have to be overly busy on Day 1 of free agency with most of their core pieces intact for the 2025 CFL season.

Roughriders sign Stevens

After rumblings of his signing in Saskatchewan surfaced during the negotiation window, Saskatchewan officially signed American quarterback and short-yardage specialist Tommy Stevens on Tuesday.

The 6-foot-4, 245-pound Stevens has played the last three years with the Calgary Stampeders, primarily as the team’s short-yardage quarterback.

In 18 games last season, he had 237 yards and 10 touchdowns on 60 attempts. He also converted 30 of 31 attempts on third-and-short.

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In 52 career games, while the 28-year-old has completed 11 passes for 82 yards and a touchdown, he has run the ball 160 times for 685 yards and 25 touchdowns. He has gained a first down on 60 of 62 attempts in third-down sneaks in his career while being successful on 122 of 132 quarterback sneaks all-time.

Stevens is expected to be the third QB on Saskatchewan’s depth chart alongside starter Harris and backup Maier. Jack Coan and Michael Hiers are also under contract.

Roughriders sign Gagnon

Canadian offensive lineman Philippe Gagnon also signed with Saskatchewan on Tuesday after spending the last four years with the Montreal Alouettes.

The 32-year-old Quebec native, who was Montreal’s first-round pick, second overall in the 2016 CFL Draft, has suited up for 99 career games in his CFL career which includes 75 starts. After helping the Alouettes win a Grey Cup in 2023 as the starting left guard, the 6-foot-3, 320-pound Gagnon started 17 games at right guard last season for the Alouettes before losing in the Eastern final.

Godber, Henderson to Ottawa

The Roughriders will have a new starting centre in 2025 as Canadian offensive lineman Peter Godber has signed a two-year deal with the Ottawa Redblacks.

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Godber, 30, has spent the last two years in Saskatchewan after signing as a free agent in 2023. He has started 27 games at centre with the Green and White but missed six games last year due to injury. Prior to becoming a Roughrider, the 6-foot-3, 300-pounder played four years in B.C.

The Redblacks also signed American defensive back Amari Henderson, who has spent the last three years with Saskatchewan.

Last season, the 27-year-old had 33 tackles and two forced fumbles in eight games while splitting playing time at cornerback with Deontai Williams.

Sterns to Winnipeg

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers announced the signing of former Roughriders American receiver Jerreth Sterns in the opening 30 minutes of free agency.

Last season, the 25-year-old Sterns had 39 catches for 492 yards and two touchdowns in 12 games in what was his second season with the Green and White. In 2023, the 5-foot-9, 175-pounder had 44 catches for 449 yards after signing with the Roughriders in July of that season.

Auclair, Williams to B.C.

The B.C. Lions signed a pair of former Roughrider defenders as Canadian linebacker Adam Auclair and American defensive back Deontai Williams signed with the team on Tuesday.

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The 28-year-old Williams, who signed a two-year deal with the Lions, played 27 games over the last two seasons in Saskatchewan where he had 90 tackles and three interceptions.

Meanwhile Auclair, who joined Saskatchewan in free agency last year following thee years in Ottawa, played 15 games for the Roughriders in 2024, notching 37 tackles, three interceptions and a sack.

IN:

• QB Tommy Stevens*
• OL Philippe Gagnon

OUT:

• QB Shea Patterson* (reportedly signing with Winnipeg)
• RB Frankie Hickson* (free agent)
• WR Colton Hunchak (free agent)
• WR Jerreth Sterns* (officially signed with Winnipeg)
• OL Philip Blake (free agent)
• OL Peter Godber (officially signed with Ottawa)
• OL Ryan Sceviour (free agent)
• DT Miles Brown* (free agent)
• DE Bryan Cox Jr.* (free agent)
• DE Anthony Lanier II* (free agent)
• DE Christian Albright* (free agent)
• LB Adam Auclair (officially signed with B.C.)
• DB Deontai Williams* (officially signed with B.C.)
• DB Amari Henderson* (officially signed with Ottawa)
• DB Godfrey Onyeka (reportedly signing with Calgary)

*denotes American

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