Monday Morning Sentimonies: Tamper Tamper

Whether you call it legal tampering, or the negotiation window, or Ed Hervey’s enduring legacy, free agency officially got underway yesterday. Though, if you truly believe that no communication had been occurring prior to the negotiation window opening then I have some oceanfront property near Davidson that you may be interested in. 

The Riders made a couple of big moves along the D-line ahead of free agency adding Shane Ray and Mike Rose. Both are guys Coach Mace knows very well. The last time Ray was in the CFL in 2022, he notched 6 sacks in 13 games. Rose has been a force in Calgary for many years and is a big add to our interior. While individually I love the new look line we are forming, there is a minor concern that 3 of our projected starters will be 30 or older come the season. 

Fortunately unlike previous years, the Riders enter free agency with relatively few holes to fill. We have some good continuity and it should lead to a quieter free agency than we have been accustomed to. 

Here’s what I see as our primary needs and some potential targets (both in-house and external) to address them. 

Canadian OL – Ferland is a flat out stud. Fry took a big step forward. Zerr proved an adequate fill in. If we had to go into 2025 with that as our interior it would be workable. But I’d prefer to be better than “workable” and we definitely need some depth. Right now that would be all on the shoulders of 2024 draft pick Daniel Johnson (if you asked who? Then you have justified my concern).

Potential targets – I would still love to get at least one of Godber or Sceviour back. If we do dip into the free agent market I doubt it will be for the big names like McEwen, Dobson, MacKellar, or Beard. That would leave guys like David Foucault, Michael Couture or Cyrille Hogan-Saindon

Cornerback – Its no secret that the primary weakness of the 2024 Riders was the secondary. Basically anything that did involve Milligan or Sayles after his first game was a curse-inducing trainwreck of a liability. 

Potential targets – I would still like to bring Sayles back but would not shed a tear if the other pending FA DBs did not return. There are a number of DBs worth a call hitting the market. Big names like Tre Roberson, Ciante Evans and DeShaun Amos all have history with Mace. A couple other names that intrigue me are Damon Webb (I thought it was a mistake for the Riders to ever let him go) and Jalen Edwards-Cooper (maybe the second time is a charm).

D-Line – Despite the addition Rose and Ray we still need at least one more body. With Rose signed, I assume Lanier and Brown are gone. 

Potential targets – I am still holding out hope that we give Micah one more season but with Ray and Rose the wrong side of 30 I would also understand adding some youth. Not a particularly strong market (other than Ceresna who we are not getting), Some names I’d be calling include Josh Banks, Jared Brinkman and Robbie Smith. I would not rule out one of Cox or Brown returning. 

Receiver American and Canadian – The loss of Ajou and the fact that Picton has yet to re-sign leaves us short a Cdn WR. With only Picton and Kiondre Smith as viable options this is something we likely address through the draft. In theory Johnson and Myers are poised to take the next step. But with that not a guarantee and Bane coming off injury, I would like to add a bit of certainty at the WR position. 

Potential targets – I doubt we can afford one of the big names guys like Lewis or Lawler but I am still making the call to see. Also, once those two sign I could see the price point or receivers dropping dramatically and there being some value to be had. Steven Dunbar, Reggie White, and Dominique Rhymes would be options.