The Saskatchewan Roughriders have followed a variety of paths to compile the Canadian content on their roster.
While the Roughriders have had more misses than hits via the CFL draft of late — only 10 of Saskatchewan’s 51 selections this decade are still with the team — the Green and White still is reaping the benefits of the lottery.
Nearly a third of the nationals currently on Saskatchewan’s roster (11 of 35 players) were chosen in the first three rounds of the draft. The Roughriders selected four of those players, bringing aboard the other seven over the years through free agency or trades.
Barring any trades, five more players will join the Roughriders on Thursday when the 2018 CFL draft is held.
Here’s a look at how the Roughriders accumulated their current crop of nationals:
Brendon LaBatte
First Round
OL Josiah St. John: Selected first overall by Saskatchewan in 2016.
LB Cameron Judge: Selected second overall by Saskatchewan in 2017.
S Mike Edem: Selected third overall by Montreal in 2013; acquired by Saskatchewan in a trade from B.C. in 2017.
WR Devon Bailey: Selected sixth overall by Edmonton in 2014; signed by Saskatchewan as a free agent in 2017.
OL Brendon LaBatte: Selected sixth overall by Winnipeg in 2008; signed by Saskatchewan as a free agent in 2012 LaBatte is the cream of this crop, having been named a West Division all-star five times and a CFL all-star four times since joining the Roughriders. He also was named the CFL’s most outstanding offensive lineman in 2013. Edem played 15 games (with eight starts at safety) with the Roughriders last season.
Second Round
WR Jake Harty: Selected 10th overall by Ottawa in 2015; signed by Saskatchewan as a free agent in 2018.
OL Dariusz Bladek: Selected 11th overall by Saskatchewan in 2017.
LB Sam Hurl: Selected 12th overall by Saskatchewan in 2012; signed by Saskatchewan as a free agent in 2018.
OL Jeremy Zver: Selected 16th overall by B.C. in 2017; signed by Saskatchewan as a free agent in 2017.
Bladek has a chance to move into a starting role this season after veteran right guard Peter Dyakowski was released. Hurl, who’s entering his second stint with the Roughriders, could be a ratio-breaking starter if he wins the job as the middle linebacker.
Third Round
DL Eddie Steele: Selected 22nd overall by Hamilton in 2010; signed by Saskatchewan as a free agent in 2017.
S Marc-Olivier Brouillette: Selected 23rd overall by Montreal in 2010; signed by Saskatchewan as a free agent in 2017.
Steele was a key component of Saskatchewan’s rotation of nationals on the defensive line in 2017. Brouillette joined the team in September and should have a bigger role in ’18.
Brandon Bridge
Fourth Round
QB Brandon Bridge: Selected 31st overall by Montreal in 2015; signed by Saskatchewan as a free agent in 2016.
LS Jorgen Hus: Selected 31st overall by Edmonton in 2013; acquired by Saskatchewan in a trade in 2015
Bridge appeared in 12 games (with one start) during the 2017 regular season and came off the bench in relief of starter Kevin Glenn in the East Division final. Hus remains one of the league’s most consistent long-snappers.
Fifth Round
WR Mitchell Picton: Selected 37th overall by Saskatchewan in 2017.
K Tyler Crapigna: Selected 40th overall by Calgary in the 2014 draft; acquired by Saskatchewan in a trade in 2015.
FB Spencer Moore: Selected 44th overall by Saskatchewan in 2013.
Moore is the longest-serving Roughrider who was drafted by the team, having played in 63 regular-season games with the Green and White. He and Crapigna have been stalwarts on special teams since joining the Roughriders.
Sixth Round
OL Danny Sprukulis: Selected 46th overall by Saskatchewan in 2017.
Denzel Radford
WR Denzel Radford: Selected 48th overall by Montreal in 2017; acquired by Saskatchewan in a trade in 2017.
Radford was easily the most productive sixth-rounder taken in the draft last season. He developed into a standout on special teams — he finished tied for fourth in the league with 24 tackles on cover teams — and even filled in at safety in one game despite a lack of training at the position.
Seventh Round
K Brett Lauther: Selected 53th overall by Hamilton in 2013; signed by Saskatchewan as a free agent in 2018.
LB Alexandre Chevrier: Selected 55th overall by Saskatchewan in 2017.
OL Emmanuel Adusei: Selected 57th overall by Saskatchewan in 2017.
DB Adam Laurensse: Selected 61st overall by Calgary in 2017; acquired by Saskatchewan in a trade in 2017.
Chevrier and Laurensse were proven defenders in the U Sports ranks, but they’ll likely have to make the Roughriders on special teams as CFL rookies.
Eighth Round
WR Joshua Stanford: Selected 62nd overall by Saskatchewan in 2016.
Stanford appeared in three regular-season games in 2017 after initially being cut in June.
Supplemental Draft
LB Kevin Francis: Selected by Saskatchewan in 2016 in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2017 draft.
LB Brandyn Bartlett: Selected by Saskatchewan in 2017 in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2018 draft.
Both players spend much of their time on special teams, but Francis also has been a spot contributor on defence.
Josh Bartel
Undrafted Free Agents
WR Rob Bagg: Signed by Saskatchewan in 2008.
RB Jerome Messam: Signed by B.C. in 2010; signed by Saskatchewan as a free agent in 2018.
P Josh Bartel: Signed by Hamilton in 2012; acquired by Saskatchewan in a trade in 2014.
LB Dillon Grondin: Signed by Saskatchewan in 2016.
DT Makana Henry: Signed by Saskatchewan in 2016.
FB Albert Awachie: Signed by Saskatchewan in 2017.
LB Alexandre Gagne: Signed by Saskatchewan in 2017.
OL Dalton Houghton: Signed by Saskatchewan in 2018.
Messam is back for his second go-round with the Roughriders. He’s a four-time 1,000-yard rusher who can be a ratio-breaker if he starts at tailback. Bagg is the Roughriders’ longest-tenured player, having played in 139 regular-season games in his career with the team.
Territorial Juniors
OL Dan Clark: Signed by Saskatchewan in 2009.
DL Zack Evans: Signed by Saskatchewan in 2012; signed by Saskatchewan as a free agent in 2018.
The former members of the PFC’s Regina Thunder have successfully made the transition from junior to the CFL. The Regina products were reunited this off-season when Evans was signed as a free agent from Ottawa.
