Answering questions readers have about the Saskatchewan Roughriders as the team enters the off-season
While the team fell one win short of advancing to their first Grey Cup since 2013, the Green and White took several steps forward in 2024 under first-year head coach Corey Mace.
However, as the Roughriders enter the off-season, there are still many questions readers have about the CFL club heading into 2025.
- Will Trevor Harris be back next season? Who will be the quarterback? From Dale via email
After the season Trevor Harris had last year, he deserves to be back with the Roughriders next year.
Harris got the team off to a roaring start last year before missing six games with a knee injury. After getting back into rhythm in the second half of the season, he was among the CFL’s best quarterbacks entering the playoffs.
Continuity is important and although he didn’t have his best game in the Western final loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Harris still gives the team the best chance to win in 2025 in what would be his second year alongside offensive coordinator Marc Mueller.
- Will the board press O’Day on what the QB succession plan is? Whether Harris is brought back or not, a definite successor needs to be placed on the roster and given legit playing time starting next season. From Don via email
- Do the Riders have a plan to continue to develop players from within (Patterson, Coan, Ajou) or look elsewhere via trade (Adams) or via free agency? From @loyal_north on X
While there’s always an eye on the future through drafting players or signing younger free agents, coaches and general managers must put the best players on the field to give them a chance to win that week.
In the CFL, there are new successors that emerge every off-season like QBs Dru Brown or Davis Alexander. If Saskatchewan has a QB1 on the roster (Harris), then there is no need/no room to get a second starter. Instead, having players with potential (Patterson, Coan) is the answer to the succession plan as the team has determined they are the next-best players available.
- Will the Riders see the need to have Amari Henderson and Nelson Lokombo replaced at their positions next season? To have your safety with zero interceptions in the regular season should not be acceptable. Remember Henderson was a healthy scratch for a number of games after returning from injury earlier in the season. His play never matched up to being named a starting corner. From Don via email
After jumping ahead of Deontai Williams on the depth chart, Henderson certainly didn’t play his best game when it mattered most and I think for that, the Roughriders will be looking for a new cornerback next season.
Henderson, Williams and Marcus Sayles are all pending free agents. Sayles should be re-signed, and then the Roughriders should see who is available in free agency.
As for the safety position, Lokombo won the starting job over Jayden Dalke and continued to develop as the year went on. As a first-year starter, there was some good and some bad but he continued to play better as he season went along.
Lokombo, who the Riders drafted second overall in 2021, is a pending free agent but the wise decision would be to bring him back for 2025. That’s called development.
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