Photo courtesy: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography

Despite being a former defensive lineman and defensive line coach, Corey Mace prioritizes team success as a head coach with the Saskatchewan Roughriders over retaining players at his favourite position.

Both starting defensive ends from the 2025 Grey Cup championship team have moved on. Malik Carney and Habakkuk Baldonado signed high-priced contracts with the Edmonton Elks and Ottawa Redblacks, respectively, in CFL free agency. Veteran NFL and CFL pass rusher Shane Ray seems to be done with professional football.

Those departures leave an open spot at one defensive end position opposite 32-year-old veteran James Vaughters, who signed a one-year contract worth $165,000 in hard money with the Riders after playing for Winnipeg in 2025. Vaughters has a relationship with Mace from their time together in Calgary with the Stampeders in 2017 and 2018.

Aaron Patrick, who dressed as Saskatchewan’s third defensive end in the 112th Grey Cup, would appear to be a front-runner to start at defensive end. However, Mace stated it’s a “very open” competition. Chico Bennett Jr. dressed in two regular-season games last year for the Green and White, while Justin Weaver, Marcus Haynes, Desmond Evans, Sundiata Anderson, Ty French and Kevin Orange Jr. are rookie CFLers.

“As far as the defensive line is concerned, some guys become stars in the league after one season, two seasons, and you didn’t know them because they were somewhere else or they’re waiting in the wings. We feel like we do have some younger guys who are ready for bigger roles, who can be outstanding players in this league,” Mace said.

“Also, having the wherewithal, the football ops side with the ability to go and find really good players, putting trust in our coaching staff to be able to get these guys to play and perform at a high level. With that being said, the comfort was there. The tutelage with Micah [Johnson] being around the game for as long as he has and myself from a defensive line background, we’re going to be fine.”

The reigning CFL Coach of the Year stated there’s no pencilled-in starter at defensive end. Mace credited Jeremy O’Day, Kyle Carson, Paul Jones and Larry Dean for finding and signing talented players. He believes the most exciting part about training camp can be unexpected players performing and earning spots on the team.

“That’s what you love about training camp, I’m guilty of it, you go into training camp thinking, ‘OK, we got this taken care of,’” Mace said. “And then somebody shows up, and you’re like, ‘This guy’s got to play for us.’ We’ve got a laundry list of really talented defensive ends. Truthfully, it’s going to be up to them who’s going to be able to take that spot.”

When training camp opens in Saskatoon on Sunday, May 10, many eyes will be focused on the competition at defensive end.