How do the Roughriders’ new free agents fit in with the team?

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The Saskatchewan Roughriders have filled their final void.

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Heading into CFL free agency, the Roughriders weren’t expected to be busy given the fact that the club re-signed 17 of their potential 32 pending free agents while adding some other new faces throughout the off-season.

But the club did need to find a starting centre and short-yardage quarterback.

And when free agency officially opened on Tuesday, Riders general manager Jeremy O’Day checked one box off by signing short-yardage specialist Tommy Stevens.

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Then on Wednesday, O’Day filled the second and arguably biggest void, as the Roughriders signed former Calgary Stampeders centre Sean McEwen.

And while there weren’t any other glaring holes on Saskatchewan’s roster, the Riders added two more pieces to the puzzle this week in offensive guard Philippe Gagnon, a 2023 Grey Cup champion with the Montreal Alouettes, and running back Khalan Laborn, who spent time with the Ottawa Redblacks last season.

Sean McEwen

After locking down nearly every other starting position with contract extensions, the Roughriders had just one starting spot without an obvious candidate to fill the void.

However, those questions were answered on Wednesday when the Roughriders added McEwen, a four-time divisional all-star who is entering his ninth CFL season.

McEwen, a 2025 first-round pick, will replace Peter Godber in the middle of Saskatchewan’s offensive line in 2025 after Godber signed with the Ottawa Redblacks this week.

Philippe Gagnon

While the Roughriders already have a strong group of Canadian guards in Logan Ferland, Zack Fry, Noah Zerr and Braydon Noll under contract, the Green and White added a veteran to the group third week.

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Gagnon, 32, has spent seven of his eight CFL seasons with the Montreal Alouettes and will be in the mix for the starting left guard spot with Fry and the others, assuming Ferland is cemented at right guard.

“(Gagnon) is someone that, a few years ago, we actually tried to try to get when he was a free agent,” said O’Day. “We just like the way he plays as an offensive lineman.

“He’s someone that brings a lot of experience. He’s played multiple positions on the offensive line, both guards and he has played some centre as well, so just saw we can add a guy that’s got some value there and bring some experience and some Grey Cup pedigree to the group.”

Tommy Stevens

With Shea Patterson heading to Winnipeg in free agency, the Roughriders were in need of someone to take over short yardage duties in 2025.

So the Green and White went out and signed the strongest short-yardage quarterback in the entire CFL in Stevens, a 6-foot-4, 245-pounder who had 10 rushing touchdowns last season.

Stevens is expected to be No. 3 on the depth chart behind starter Trevor Harris and backup Jake Maier, who was acquired in a trade from Calgary earlier this off-season.

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“Going through free agency, I don’t necessarily know that we 100 per cent had targeted Tommy, but just as time went on and we talked about it more and more, it just made sense for us to bring him in,” said O’Day. “Part of it was I’m kind of tired of seeing him run against us a little bit, because he’s had a lot of success against us in short yardage.

“But you know, at the end of the day, we felt like he’s a weapon and that we could utilize him in maybe different ways.”

The one question still to be answered is what this means for Jack Coan, who served as Saskatchewan’s No. 3 quarterback last year in his rookie season.

“Another guy that we’re not giving up on,” said O’Day. “I know the natural thought is what does that mean for him? But we’re still very high on Jack Coan and he’ll have an opportunity to come and compete as well.”

The Riders also have rookie quarterback Michael Hiers under contract.

Khalan Laborn

With Americans A.J. Ouellette, Ryquell Armstead and rookie Trent Pennix — along with Canadian Thomas Bertrand-Hudon — all under contract for 2025, there wasn’t a glaring need for the Roughriders to add a running back.

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However, the Green and White added another name to the mix on Wednesday as the club signed the 5-foot-11, 212-pound Laborn.

After a stint with the Edmonton Elks in 2023, Laborn attended camp with the Toronto Argonauts in 2024 before ending up with the Ottawa Redblacks, where he rushed the ball 58 times for 310 yards and a touchdown.

“We actually explored bringing him in before Ottawa signed him last year,” said O’Day. “He’s just a different style back than what we have so wanted to create some great competition there and that’s why we signed him.”

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