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.

Stevens to Saskatchewan?

It hasn’t been official yet, but TSN and 3DownNation reported last week during the negotiation window that American quarterback Tommy Stevens is expected to sign in Saskatchewan.

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 52 career games, the 28-year-old has run the ball 160 times for 685 yards and 25 touchdowns. In 18 games last season, he had 237 yards and 10 touchdowns on 60 attempts. In his career, he has thrown 11 passes for 82 yards and a touchdown.

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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.

Gagnon to Saskatchewan?

3DownNation is also reporting that offensive lineman Philippe Gagnon is set to join the Green and White after playing with the Montreal Alouettes last season.

The 32-year-old has spent the last four seasons in Montreal, which included a Grey Cup championship in 2023. Last season, the 6-foot-3, 322-pound Quebec native started 17 games at right guard for Montreal. He was originally a first-round pick by the Als in 2016 and has suited up for 99 career games, including 75 starts.

Sterns to Winnipeg

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers announced the signing of former Roughriders 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.

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Roughriders’ free agents:

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

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