Trevor Harris (A)-Signed
Jake Maier (A) Tommy Stevens (A)-Signed
Running backs
Albert Awachie (N)
Thomas Bertrand-Hudon (N)
Ka’Deem Carey (A)
A.J. Ouellette (A)
Receivers
Shawn Bane Jr. (A)
Samuel Emilus (N)
KeeSean Johnson (A)
Dohnte Meyers (A)
Tommy Nield (N)
Mitch Picton (N)
Joe Robustelli (A)
Kian Schaffer-Baker (N)
Offensive lineman
Jacob Brammer (A)
Philippe Gagnon (N)
Jermarcus Hardrick (A)
Sean McEwen (N)
Braydon Noll (N)
Trevon Tate (A)
Noah Zerr (N)
Defensive linemen
A.J. Allen (N)
C.J. Avery (A)
Habakkuk Baldonado (G)
Malik Carney (A)
Charbel Dabire (N)
Micah Johnson (A)
Lake Korte-Moore (N)
Benoit Marion (N)
Aubrey Miller Jr. (A)
Shane Ray (A)
Mike Rose (A)
Caleb Sanders (A)
Defensive backs
Tevaughn Campbell (N)
Jayden Dalke (N)
Kerfalla Exume (N)
DaMarcus Fields (A)
Jaxon Ford (N)
Nelson Lokombo (N)
C.J. Reavis (A)
Specialists
Mario Alford (A)
Jorgen Hus (N)
Added
NI DB Gideon Agyei
NI OL Erik Andersen
A WR Collin Brunstein
NI DL Liam Hoskins
NI LB Seth Hundeby
NI WR Daniel Wiebe
It should be noted that players who finish the season on the practice roster automatically become free agents. That means running back (Marcus Major Jr. (A)-signed) receivers Siaosi Mariner (A) and (D’Sean Mimbs (N)-signed ), offensive linemen Caleb Barajas (A), James Lucio (A), and (Darius Washington (A)-signed), defensive linemen Sylvain Yondjouen (G), (Chico Bennett Jr. (A)-signed ), (Kendy Charles (A-Signed), and Deshawn Stevens (N), linebackers Tuasivi Nomura (A), Alphonzo Tuputala (A), and Kenten Effa (N), kicker Michael Hughes (A), and punter Joe Couch (G) are free to join any other team.”
Have some work to do. Wonder how many of these guys we can retain and stay within the cap.
I’m thinking a handful are taken as is often the case from the Grey Cup champs. But like Toronto and Peg as recent double winning type champs of the recent era - I think the Riders are well set to handle a storm of losses as teams poach the Oline perhaps.
I see Emilus getting an nfl window look and sticking down south. And if not offered huge bucks to sign in Montreal. And Baker quite possibly being stolen back to his eastern routes?
Plus 2 of the four American olineman being taken. Riders have a tough call to make. Do you pay Hardrick the same big contract and lose Collins? I offer Hardrick less (as it’s a fat contract) and let him choose and pay up on Collins.
I suspect the Riders might lose both Baker and Emilus. But Weibe is coming to make a contribution next year, and Ajouajou will rise, and Neild is a steal. Busby proved he’s got enough to be Of value and still is rising. Looking legit in his role. I’d still Sign Picton yet again for insurance. Cuz if KSB does leave for bigger money thrown his way and Emilus too… And they already got Mimbs signed for insurance. It’s all Good.
Then to weather the loss of the National receivers that I project they lose, I resign the ALL four free agent imports receivers to contracts (yes Bane too - all Of them) with three getting raises and only Bane receiving a shave from his pretty solid contract he last signed. They can get all of their Import receivers back for a pretty fair dollar rate I suspect, and compared to what Emilus will get on the open market if he’s not south, for peanuts on the dollar comparatively. I think Harris gets most of his receivers back for another year. All that said, if Emilus doesn’t go south - i would throw the bank at him. I personally think he’s the best receiver in the league -‘when healthy that’s the troublesome part
Ultimately, everything goes back to more even N versus A distributions by let the A oline FA go chase fatter contracts and lean back on to Mackewan, Johnson, and Ferland. Plus Collins and brammer or Tate. It’s all good.
On D ? I kinda think everyone will come back for similar if not the same contracts. No one was overly outstanding. Arguably Sayles. Milligan was avoided by teams this year and still made a dent. No one will be offered more. They all earned their current contracts though. Which is super rare. By far the best money spent on players earning their keep and being paid appropriately. That’s great for O’Day. Who I have always liked since day one. And he just gets better and better. Spending and assessment of value can not be underestimated. Totally well paid dollars. I expect no one leaves except perhaps Dalke who has seen himself fade on the depth chart. I think he looks elsewhere. To be honest. Otherwise same same. Oh, Ray may look elsewhere as Baldonado has arrived and will get bigger dollars. Plus Micah J is or should retire. He won’t be back
I can’t imagine the timeless big man, Johnson, coming back yet again to play in the middle Especially with Sanders as a FA and wanting more playing time. it’s one other other at this point I think. Rose also has a year left in the food tank don’t you think? Johnson should retire - great way to go
Finally, I’d consider offering RB ouellette less money and let him choose. He was average. A good average. But average in the league full of quality starting rbs. Nring him back but only at less, he anctuslky did not earn his contract. Let him explore
Bring back all the QBs for exactly the same cash. let them decide as well.
That’s a whole lotta signings. I know it’s impossible but if it wasn’t, there isn’t a thing I’d change with this roster. Maybe the majority will consider some amount of discount to stay with the band as they’ve been saying themselves.
Where were you all season Dreegking? Still beating your head against the wall in that place that won’t be named?
What concerns me about losing Oline starters is the truth that it takes time to get a unit to gel to the point that they are at their best. Colins, Tate, Hardwick and Brammer are all exceptional. Harris wasn’t even touched in the GC. Reid could be back as well and he is a legit stud going forward. Add these guys to our NI pool and we are loaded. Not sure how we can work this unless some try out down south so that we can hide them for a spell. Not just about the cap, there isn’t the roster space either.
Emilus might be too old now to get another legit look down south. Will be 29 next year. He and Baker are exceptional in that they both are solid route runners, excellent hands and can block with the best of them. They are just all around smart ball players.
Ajou has all the tools if he gets his head right. Think it’s just an age thing and he’ll only get better with experience. Neild is way more than i expected. He and Harris have chemistry for sure. Then there’s the utility knife Picton, Busby, Mimbs, and Weibe. Now we have to also deal with the imports. SMH
Dline will be interesting. Baldonado is a global and is rising fast. We need him to go with Saad. NI starters without depth options is bad voodoo.
Micah Johnson survived much better than i expected. Figured he’d slow a bunch in the final third. We load managed him well and could do so again. Could be the same for Rose. Ray has a history of injury. Great player if he plays but doesn’t seem like we can count on it. Really hope we hang on to Sanders. Big upside with him.
The secondary needs depth as well as potential starters. Would love to be a fly on that DB wall just to see if my perception of that group meets the smell test. I think that Fields is normally the one targeted but can’t prove it. He does seem to get focused on specific things and lose track of the big picture.
Wish we could keep Hughes.
Harris needs more regular downtime next year. It will pay off in the playoffs (fresh is a good thing) and our backups will develop better.
O’Day has his work cut out for him. Would like to ‘keep’em all’ - but know that other teams will try and steal some. Some will stay just based on what Harris will do.
Mace already turned down an interview with Toronto.
No big signings yet but Oday is sure targeting young draft picks. Like securing the future but hope we can find some money for today as well lol.
Should say draft picks and true FA’s from the PR. The pending FA’s seem to be taking a back seat for now. Should see some movement there in the next month unless we are up against it in the cap. Those types of deals usually come with a signing bonus.
