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Riders No. 1 pick willing to hold out until regular season

by
Justin Dunk
May 29, 2016

The first overall pick in the 2016 CFL Draft, offensive lineman Josiah St. John, is willing to hold out until the first game of the Saskatchewan Roughriders regular season, per sources.

The six-foot-six, 309-pound blocker was not able to reach a deal with the Riders in advance of CFL training camps opening across the league on Sunday.

Saskatchewan made offers, but they were rejected. The new CFL collective bargaining agreement was designed in part to help avoid contract impasses.

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Sources say the ball is in St. John’s court and that the sides are “miles apart” in contract negotiations.

Every 2016 CFL pick that isn’t currently under contract with an NFL team has signed a deal with the franchise that drafted them in the three-down league.

Justin Dunk

Football insider, reporter and analyst.