Former Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback Darian Durant knows what the team needs to become contenders.
"I think the Riders need a playmaker," Durant explained to SportsCage Co-host Maz McFly. "I think they need a receiver on offence that puts the fear of God in defenders wherever he's lined up."
"I'll use Eugene Lewis -- it's 80-20 instead of 50-50 when the ball goes up. You need a guy like that who can make plays, and it'll open up the offence so much.”
One of Lewis' former quarterbacks: Trevor Harris. The two were teammates in Montreal through 2021 and 2022. During the 2022 season, Lewis recorded a career-high 1,303 receiving yards. This year, he led the league in its 10 touchdown grabs and added 1,070 yards.
3DownNation has reported Lewis is a pending free agent who could hit the open market in February. Three of the top five receivers in receiving yards this year might become available: B.C. Lions’ Justin McInnis, Ottawa Redblacks’ Justin Hardy, and Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ Steven Dunbar Jr.
McInnis is a former Roughrider who was selected by the Green and White in the 2019 CFL Draft and played for Saskatchewan through 2022. He signed with the Lions in the 2023 off-season and in 2024 led the league in receiving yards with 1,469 yards. He was tied for third in touchdowns with seven.
According to CFL statistics through Week 21, the Riders’ were seventh in net offence with 6,402 yards and eighth in first downs with 357.
Durant believes the Riders could be an attractive place for free agents.
"I would hope a lot of free agents around the league are looking at Saskatchewan as a destination," Durant said. "For a team that's up and coming and looking to win right now."
The Toronto Argonauts take on the Blue Bombers in the 111th Grey Cup on Sunday. Countdown to Kickoff begins with Dave Thomas, Justin Dunk and Wes Cates at 1 p.m. until 3 p.m. That's when TSN's pre-game show takes over. Kickoff goes at 5:30 p.m. with a post-game show to follow on the Co-operators Roughrider Radio Network.
The Riders hired Corey Mace as head coach last December and he managed to take his team that missed the playoffs in 2022 and 2023 to the postseason in 2024. Saskatchewan finished second in the West Division with a 9-8-1 record. The Roughriders would go on to host a home playoff game and beat the B.C. Lions 28-19 then fell to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the West Final 38-22.
Durant believes the Bombers' bye week was crucial to success against the Riders in the West Final.
"They had the extra time while the Riders didn't," Durant explained. "The Riders had to put all of their focus on the B.C. Lions."
