The Saskatchewan Roughriders have signed Canadian wide receiver Samuel Emilus to a two-year contract extension through the 2027 CFL season. He was scheduled to become a free agent in February.
Emilus was named Most Valuable Canadian at the 112th Gray Cup when the Riders beat the Montreal Alouettes 25-17 on Sunday, Nov. 16, in Winnipeg. He recorded 10 receptions for 108 yards in the CFL championship game, including an impressive 31-yard strike midway through the fourth quarter.
The 6-foot, 200-pound pass catcher has developed into one of the top receivers in the CFL. Saskatchewan offensive coordinator Mark Muller called him “the best player in the league” after the Green and White lifted the Gray Cup and confetti fell at Princess Auto Stadium.
Emilus was selected in the first round, seventh overall, in the 2022 CFL Draft. After registering 10 catches for 165 yards in his rookie year, the Montreal native has 70 receptions for 1,097 yards with eight touchdowns in 2023. He followed that up with 87 catches for 1,064 yards and five majors in 2024, earning Western Division All-Star honors.
During the 2025 regular season, Emilus was limited to seven games due to foot and knee injuries, making 37 receptions for 588 yards with two touchdowns. He maintained his best numbers in the CFL playoffs, nine catches for 100 yards in the 24–21 West final win over the BC Lions, and his aforementioned performance. Performance Gray Cup MVC.
In 57 career CFL games, Emilus has recorded 204 receptions for 2,914 yards, including 999 after the catch, 13 touchdowns with a 14.3 per-catch average.
General manager Jeremy O'Day has been busy since the Roughriders parade in Regina. working to re-sign pending free agents. Its football operations department was named Gray Cup MVP. Trevor Harrisshort yardage QB Tommy StevensCanadian running back Thomas Bertrand-HudonCanadian defender Albert AvachiMost Outstanding Lineman Jermarcus HardrickAmerican defender Caleb SandersWorld Defender Sylvain YonjuanCanadian midfielder/defender Jayden Dalk and Canadian defender Jackson Ford. This leaves Saskatchewan has 36 pending agents on its list..
The Riders finished first in the West Division for the first time since 2019 with a 12-6 record in 2025. The Green and White defeated the Montreal Alouettes in the 112th Gray Cup at Princess Auto Stadium.which was the team's first title in 12 years. Trevor Harris went 11-5 as a starter, throwing for 4,549 yards, 24 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 16 regular-season starts.
The Roughriders ranked second in net offense, second in net defense and third in turnover differential of plus eight. The team's leading rusher was AJ Ouellette with 1,222 yards, the leading receiver was KeeSean Johnson with 1,159 yards, and the leading tackler was AJ Allen with 91 tackles. Saskatchewan ranked second in attendance with an average attendance of 28,427, up 2.7 per cent from the previous year.
