The Montreal Alouettes have signed veteran receiver Naaman Roosevelt to a one-year contract for the 2021 season.
The 32-year-old Roosevelt spent the past five seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, recording 301 receptions for 4,134 yards and 20 touchdowns in 67 games. He produced two 1,000-yard seasons and nearly a third last year when the Buffalo native caught 77 balls for 946 yards and one major.
He led the green and white with 24 grabs on second down as a key target who moved the chains and helped keep the offence on the field. According to 3DownNation insider Justin Dunk, the Riders did not even offer a contract to Roosevelt last February. Roosevelt was beloved in the Regina community, however, Saskatchewan decided to move on from the six-foot-one, 195-pound pass catcher.
The University of Buffalo graduate made 268 catches for 3,551 yards and 28 touchdowns through four years and 49 games with the Bulls. Roosevelt’s best season in Western New York came during his junior year in 2008 when he hauled in 104 passes for 1,402 yards and 13 touchdowns.
Former CFL quarterback Drew Willy was Roosevelt’s quarterback that season as the two helped Buffalo win a Mid-American Conference Championship. Roosevelt was a first-team All-MAC selection at receiver.
After going unselected in the 2010 NFL draft, Roosevelt signed an undrafted free agent contract with his hometown Bills. He spent two seasons in Buffalo playing 16 games and notched 25 receptions for 396 yards and one touchdown. Following stints with the Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions and second time with the Bills, Roosevelt made his way north of the border for the 2015 season.
Montreal is in the process of gathering as much information as possible to make a definitive decision as soon as possible on receiver Quan Bray following his arrest. Roosevelt provides insurance in the event the team releases Bray and boosts the receiving corps overall.
