Four months from today, the Saskatchewan Roughriders will take the field for the first time in 2023 when they begin their exhibition schedule against the BC Lions at Mosaic Stadium. With 120 days remaining before their initial action this season, there is plenty of work for the Saskatchewan Roughriders to finish before the end of May.
Free Agency
Three weeks left until free agency begins in the Canadian Football League, and time is running out for the Roughriders to take care of retaining their free agents.
Earlier this week, the green and white announced the signing of defensive back Jeremy Clark to a one-year contract extension. Along with Clark, Rolan Milligan and Nick Marshall are a pair of veteran players in the secondary the Roughriders signed to new deals this winter.
Running back is another position Saskatchewan has been active in this offseason. They worked out a new deal with Jamal Morrow in December. Frankie Hickson is also set to return after an impressive rookie year.
There are still plenty of questions about several other positions for the Roughriders including quarterback, wide receiver, offensive line, defensive line and linebacker.
Players’ contracts set to expire next month include Cody Fajardo, Darnell Sankey, Anthony Lanier II, Pete Robertson, Larry Dean, Shaq Evans and “Duke” Williams.
Combines
The team will take a look towards the future with a pair of combine events hosted by the league.
On March 3, the CFL Invitational Combine takes place with the University of Waterloo’s Feridun Hamdullahpur Field hosting the event.
Commonwealth Stadium in Edmonton will be the site for the CFL Combine from March 22-26. The five-day event will include medical testing and measurements, traditional on- and off-field testing, individual drills and one-on-ones.
Drafts
May will kick off a busy time across the league. Just before rookie and training camps, the Global and CFL Drafts will go on May 2.
Last season in the Global Draft, the Riders selected Sweden-native linebacker Jordan Genmark-Heath with the first round selection.
Some players who the Riders took in the CFL Draft last season that spent time on their roster include wide receiver Samuel Emilus, offensive lineman Diego Altorre-Montoya, linebacker Tommy Bringi and defensive back Jayden Dalke.
Saskatchewan will have the third overall selection in the CFL draft. They will have the second choice of the second round since Edmonton forfeited their selection after using a pick in the 2022 Supplemental draft.
The only pick the Roughriders have already traded away is their fifth-round selection. Saskatchewan sent the pick in a trade last summer for returner, Mario Alford.
Camps/Roster Deadlines
Before main camps begin, players who the Riders select in the CFL Draft and other first-year players will attend rookie camp on May 10.
The first roster deadline is May 13 with teams required to be under 85 players before training camp begins the following day.
After a couple of days in camp, teams will trim their rosters to at least 75 players before May 16.
Pre-season
On Victoria Day, the CFL will begin the preseason with an all-Alberta contest as the Edmonton Elks meeting the Calgary Stampeders.
Saskatchewan begins its preseason schedule four months from today as they welcome the BC Lions to Mosaic Stadium.
