Photo: Reuben Polansky/3DownNation. All rights reserved.

Jermarcus Hardrick does not have a contract for the 2026 CFL season or beyond, but he hopes it’s not long until he signs a new deal.

“I want to be back, I want to do it again. Love coming to work, wish we can do it again. Let’s go earn it,” Hardrick said from inside the Roughriders’ locker room.

When the six-foot-four, 315-pound right tackle signed with Saskatchewan during free agency in 2024, general manager Jeremy O’Day made him the highest-paid American offensive lineman in the CFL. He earned $218,000 in 2025, on a deal that was reworked in January leading into the season, and over $230,000 in 2024.

“Have to do what’s best for the family, but I do want to be comfortable. I do enjoy coming to work every day, so I’m pretty sure we can get it done,” Hardrick, the pending free agent, said regarding a contract extension with the Green and White.

The 35-year-old sent a text to all-star centre Logan Ferland after the Riders won the 112th Grey Cup: ‘Back-to-back?’ The Melfort, Sask., native responded by saying the team should enjoy the 2025 CFL championship and consider what’s to come in the future.

Ferland is more comfortable than Hardrick because he has a contract with Saskatchewan through the 2027 season. If the CFL’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman stays in Riderville, he would like starting quarterback Trevor Harris to be with him.

“He makes my job a lot easier; he gets the ball out. He’s a great leader. He’s the MVP of the Grey Cup. I would love to have Trevor back,” Hardrick said.

“My wife… she’s already talking about coming back, so we can make it work.”

Hardrick added there were a couple times in his years in the Manitoba capital when he accepted less money than he could’ve received elsewhere to keep Winnipeg’s core group together. The Riders’ rival won back-to-back Grey Cups in 2019 and 2021 as the Blue Bombers made four straight CFL championship games prior to him leaving for Saskatchewan.

“Got a couple Grey Cups, playoff bonuses. Now that I look back, it was the right thing to do to keep the band together,” Hardrick said. “You always have to do what’s best for you, so there’s always a hard conversation to have with someone. If it works for their family, and it works for us, let’s keep the band together.”

The Batesville, Mississippi native has been in the CFL since 2014. He has won three Grey Cups, earned three CFL all-star designations and suited up in 159 games with the Riders, Bombers, and B.C. Lions.