REGINA – After starting the off-season with 29 pending free agents, Saskatchewan Roughriders general manager Brendan Taman whittled that list down to a dozen. Weston Dressler, Tyron Brackenridge, Weldon Brown, Tearrius George, Jerome Messam and Tristan Jackson among those who will remain in green and white, while Ben Heenan has booked his ticket south to the NFL.
Among the 12 that haven’t signed yet, linebacker Brian Peters is on the list that includes Sam Hurl and a pair of homegrown talents: Dan Clark and Scott McHenry.
Peters had a breakout season in 2014, racking up 78 tackles on defense and another 20 on special teams. The 26-year-old added a pair of interceptions and three sacks.
As for the trio Sam Hurl, Dan Clark and Scott McHenry, all three are potential starters and all three are ratio breakers.
Hurl will most likely be looking for a starting gig, while Clark’s value continues to rise because of a shallow offensive line pool. Saskatoon’s Scott McHenry missed the second half of last season after suffering a neck injury against the B.C. Lions but when healthy, brings a ton of value to the field with his versatility on offence and special teams.
Across the CFL, the potential talent that could have hit the open market has taken a big hit, but impact players still remain. Saskatchewan product Brett Jones, the CFL’s top offensive lineman, is expected to be heading to the NFL from the Calgary Stampeders, while Geoff Tisdale looks to be on the brink of signing an extension in Montreal.
READ MORE: CFL’s Brett Jones a top man in the middle
That leads two-time all star offensive lineman Stanley Bryant as the top available player come Tuesday morning.
Kendial Lawrence made an impact rushing, receiving and returning in his first CFL season with the Edmonton Eskimos and will be a difference maker wherever he ends up, while 28-year-old Ernest Jackson broke out in his third CFL season with B.C. and at six-foot two and 220 pounds, presents a big target for quarterbacks.
Justin Hickman is back from a couple seasons in the NFL and can be a difference maker on the defensive line.
Finally, it could be a rough few days for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers who could lose guys like veteran offensive lineman Glenn January, hard-hitting defensive back Johnny Sears and six-foot four receiver Aaron Kelly.
The CFL’s free agent frenzy kicks off at 11 a.m. Tuesday with plenty of movement expected.
Riders’ 12 remaining free agents:
- Josh Bartel, P
- Brandon Boudreaux, DL
- Dan Clark, OL
- Dan DePalma, REC
- Diamond Ferri, LB
- Neal Hughes, FB
- Sam Hurl, LB
- Scott McHenry, REC/FB
- Brian Peters, LB
- Tino Sunseri, QB
- Keith Toston, RB
- Rod Williams, DB
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