Personnel people in the CFL believe Canadian receiver Samuel Emilus could command around $250,000 if he hits the open market in February, but should Trevor Harris return to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, his free agent decision would be tilted.
The 112th Grey Cup Most Valuable Canadian responded emphatically when asked how much, on a scale of one to 10, Harris’ possible choice to re-sign with the Riders would encourage him to sign a contract extension with the Green and White.
“20 — 20 out of 10,” Emilus said. “Trevor’s great. He’s got a decision to make, if he wants to keep playing and come back. Whatever decision he makes, I’m going to support him because he’s my friend first, then my teammate. From there, I support him, and whatever decision he makes, I support him.”
The 39-year-old Harris will never tell anyone who his favourite target is on a given team, but it’s clear he and Emilus have a next-level rapport when the pair are on the field together. The 28-year-old posted 1,000-yard seasons in 2023 and 2024, then notched 588 yards in seven regular-season games during the 2025 campaign.
“You would like to retain everybody on this team. It’s been proven that it’s a championship team. You would like to keep everybody, but we all also know the business aspect of it, which guys deserve to be paid, rightfully so. It’s for (general manager Jeremy O’Day) to figure that out,” Emilus said.
The 28-year-old does not feel added uncertainty regarding his football future because he’s a pending free agent. Perhaps his performance in the CFL championship game — 10 receptions for 108 yards — has given him added confidence entering a key offseason during which he could cash in.
“I know I’m going to be playing in the league. I’m going to talk to my agent, see what’s on the table, have a good talk with him, and we’re going to go from there,” Emilus said.
“We all know that every year, it’s a different year, but it’s for the upper management to keep the same core — or at least try to keep the same core — keep the same mentality and leadership.”
The Roughriders selected Emilus in the first round, seventh overall, during the 2022 CFL Draft, and he’s paid dividends for Saskatchewan. He earned $168,200 in 2025, but it’ll take more money than that to keep him in Green and White for 2026 and possibly beyond.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders finished first in the West Division standings in 2025 with a 12-6 record, finishing first in the West Division for the first time since 2019. The team went on to defeat the Montreal Alouettes in the 112th Grey Cup in Winnipeg, marking the team’s first championship in 12 years. Trevor Harris went 11-5 as a starter, throwing for 4,549 yards, 24 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.
The Roughriders ranked second in net offence, second in net defence, and tied for third with a turnover differential of plus-eight. The club’s leading rusher was A.J. Ouellette with 1,222 yards, leading receiver was KeeSean Johnson with 1,159 yards, and leading tackler was A.J. Allen with 91 tackles. Saskatchewan finished second in attendance with average crowds of 28,427, which was a 2.7 percent increase from the previous year.
