The way Trevor Harris sounded right after the Western Semi-Final and at his season-ending availability, the Saskatchewan Roughriders might need to start looking for a new quarterback.
Though that’s not a certainty – Harris might choose to re-sign and return for his age-41 campaign in 2027 – it’d be wise for the Riders to get thinking about contingency plans.
The thought of a new quarterback might be music to the ears to some fans who note Harris’ limited mobility and agility or that his arm strength doesn’t compare to the CFL’s best in that department. But don’t forget that Harris led the league in passing yards this season, all while missing Kian Schaffer-Baker for six games and Sam Emilus for nine contests. He’s also just a year removed from winning the Most Outstanding Player award in the 2025 Grey Cup.
Sometimes the grass isn’t greener.
The list of possible alternatives consists of in-house options, a trade candidate, those ready to hit the free agent market, and the ultimate wild card.
Let’s just say, it might not be so easy to replace Harris at the most important position in the CFL.
In-house options
Jack Coan
A pending free agent, Coan is next on the depth chart behind Harris as it stands right now. He has three years of limited work with the team under his belt.
Coan got some experience this season, some garbage-time minutes late in Saskatchewan’s third-last game and the starting assignment in the finale on a blustery day where was hard to judge his performance. He went 17-for-28 for 193 yards with an interception this season.
Coan turns 28 in December, so he’s right in his prime. Still, it’s hard to envision the Riders handing over the reins to someone with just 57 CFL pass attempts on his resume.
Tommy Stevens
A fan favourite in Riderville, Stevens was an impactful player in 2026. His 17 rushing touchdowns established a new benchmark for a quarterback, and he broke legendary Rider George Reed’s franchise mark for majors in a single season.
There were a couple games the Riders probably wouldn’t have won without him.
You might have noticed something, though. There hasn’t been any mention of his passing stats – and that’s because there isn’t anything to note.
Stevens didn’t attempt a pass this season and threw just one last season, a one-yard completion. That’s, um, not ideal for a quarterback.
The 29-year-old has repeatedly said he loves being a Rider. Perhaps his role increases next season. Becoming the starting quarterback, however, would be taking Tommy Time to the extreme.
Brayden Schager
Schager appears to have a bright future ahead of him. He’s just 24 and proved himself at the University of Hawaii.
He showed a lot of promise in the preseason and even got a little time in the fourth quarter of the season finale as he completed three of six passes for 27 yards.
But making Schager the starting quarterback in 2027 would all but signify a sudden and unexpected shift to a rebuild. Either that or the Riders had better have an established veteran at the ready in the backup role.
A trade candidate
Taylor Powell
The Riders got a first-hand glimpse of Powell on Oct. 24 as he got the start for the Edmonton Elks to give Cody Fajardo extra rest ahead of the playoffs.
Powell went 26-for-30 for 236 yards in unfavourable conditions in Regina. That was one of three appearances on the season in which he went 37-for-42 for 358 yards and two touchdowns.
Powell does have starter’s experience in the CFL from parts of the 2023 and 2024 campaigns with Hamilton. He threw for 2,705 yards with 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 16 games before a concussion derailed his career.
The 28-year-old could be expendable if the Elks re-sign Cody Fajardo or add another quarterback.
The pending free agent market
Cody Fajardo
Speaking of Fajardo, wouldn’t it be something if the Riders brought him back to Regina?
Fajardo’s first stint in Saskatchewan wasn’t exactly a smashing success as the Riders lost back-to-back West finals to Winnipeg and then missed the playoffs in his three seasons.
However, Fajardo, 34, just completed the best campaign of his CFL. He set personal bests with 4,788 passing yards and 25 touchdowns while leading the Edmonton Elks to a 13-5 record and first place in West Division.
After being one of the lowest-paid starting quarterbacks in the CFL, Fajardo has earned himself a healthy raise – especially since Argonauts’ Chad Kelly is about to start pulling in more than $1 million a year. The Riders would have to pay up to have a chance to poach him.
Jake Maier
You’re probably thinking that the quarterback from a team that started the season 0-16 and finished 1-17 is no prize. That’s not entirely unfair.
But you turn up your nose, consider that Maier, 29, has dressed in 102 CFL games, has attempted 2,016 passes, and has 68.3 completion percentage in his career. He has 78 touchdowns compared to 55 interceptions, which is, well, passable.
Maier has experience in Saskatchewan, too, as he served as Harris’ backup last season during the championship run.
Maybe he’s not first-choice material, but the Riders could do a lot worse.
Nick Arbuckle
Arbuckle shares a lot of the same credentials as Maier.
Like Maier, he’s been a starter for parts of his CFL career and enjoyed some success but has never really been considered someone that teams can truly run with.
Arbuckle, 33, has been on the sidelines or in action for 133 CFL games. He’s attempted 1,628 passes with a 69.7 completion percentage.
Arbuckle has been with Toronto for the last three season. With Chad Kelly just signing a five-year extension, though, he’s blocked from anything other than the backup role for the foreseeable future.
The wild card
Kurtis Rourke
Let’s start by being clear: It’s unlikely that the Riders can entice Rourke to play for them anytime soon, let alone in time for next season. He’s listed at the third-string quarterback for the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, he’s making a decent salary, and he’s no more than two injuries away from stepping into the big spotlight.
It’s hard to imagine him giving that up.
But money talks and playing time can also be a motivating factor.
Chad Kelly’s new deal changed the landscape for quarterback contracts in the CFL. That would surely be the starting point for a Riders’ offer to Rourke, combined with the promise of the guaranteed playing time he isn’t getting now.
The Riders have Rourke’s CFL rights since they drafted him 25th in 2025. It would be a dream for the CFL to see two star Canadian quarterbacks in the league. It would also be a dream for the Riders to see him wearing his own green and white jersey rather than his brother Nathan’s black and orange B.C. Lions threads.
https://x.com/BCLions/status/2116642410180854029
Just think about the hype of next year’s inevitable playoff game between the two teams with a pair of Rourkes involved.
What do you think? Have your say in the comments below.
