Darian Durant is going to be a Rider in 2017... Guaranteed... Maybe...

Yesterday on Roughrider “clean out” day, QB Darian Durant reluctantly held court in the locker room and confirmed that contract talks between him and the team have hit a stand still. Today was Chris Jones’ turn to reiterate to the local media that the team wants Darian to return to open the new stadium.

While there is much hand-wringing going on in Rider Nation over the future of the franchise quarterback, the more you look at it the more it seems a no brainer that Durant will be back in Rider green next year.

1)Who’s got a spot for Durant to start?

Look at the league, where is there room for Durant to start?

BC – Jon Jennings

Edmonton –  Mike Reilly

Calgary – Bo Levi Mitchell

Winnipeg – Matt Nichols

Hamilton – Zach Collaros

Toronto – Drew Willy or Ricky Ray

Ottawa – Trevor Harris or Henry Burris

Montreal – Vernon Adams

Every team is essentially set at their starter, except for possibly the Als, Argos and Bombers.

However, both the Als and the Argos traded their 2017 first-round picks for their quarterbacks of the future, in Vernon Adams and Drew Willy respectively. Will the regime change in Montreal and a rumoured shuffling in the Toronto front office change the plans and make room for Durant?

Als probably want to see what Adams can do with a full season considering how well he has looked with his handful of starts. With both Willy and Ray under contract until the end of next season, they are in no need to force a decision this offseason.

Nichols is set to be a free agent this offseason but the Bombers chose to trade Willy after making Nichols the starter. Would the Bombers shaft the guy that lead them to a winning season and into the playoffs for the first time since 2011 for Durant? Logic says no, but football is anything but logical.

2) Why would Durant leave Saskatchewan to be a backup elsewhere?

There are several quarterbacks hitting the market this offseason, but they are the more established backup variety. Drew Tate, Rakeem Cato, Jonathon Crompton, and Kevin Glenn are all due to hit the market leaving their backup role open. But why would Durant leave just to hold a clipboard and take a steep pay cut for another franchise?

One could argue that Nichols might not have the season he had this season and a stumble there could cause opportunities in Winnipeg and reunite Durant with his favourite receiver and friend in Weston Dressler. Montreal doesn’t know what they have in Adams, and who knows how much leash the new regime may give him.

3) Who the hell is going to play QB for the Riders?

The Riders used the last two games to take a peek at the four young QBs they have on the roster: Brandon Bridge, Mitchell Gale, GJ Kinne, and Jake Waters.

Kinne and Waters never seemed to get out of first gear when they got the ball in their hands and didn’t impress in the few drives they got.

Out of the four, Gale has seen the most on-field time this season getting a couple of starts early in the season. However, like Durant, he is scheduled to be a free agent this offseason unless he and the Riders can come to a deal.

While Bridge hasn’t had as much time to impress as Gale, he sparked the offence in the few shots he’s had over the course of the season. However, without a bigger sample size, it's hard to anoint "Air Canada" as the next starting QB for Canada’s team.

So, if Durant doesn’t sign chances are the next franchise QB isn’t on the roster yet, but as mentioned already the possible free agents available aren’t the future.

Then where do you get your next franchise QB? Well if you believe the rumours Jones has his eye on a former player of his in Edmonton, James Franklin. However, Franklin is under contract to Edmonton until the end of next season. I could see a scenario where the Riders trade their second overall in a package to the Eskimos for Franklin. The Argos and the Alouettes set the price at a first-round pick for a young QB and unless the Riders see a game changer sitting at second overall, the deal makes sense.

4) So what the hell is going to happen?

Honestly, no idea. However, if you look at it the best-case scenario for Durant if he walks is a team offers him a chance to come into camp and compete for the number one spot and oust the starter. Maybe Winnipeg, maybe Montreal, or maybe Toronto if Ray or Willy gets jettisoned in the offseason.

Jones also doesn’t need the backlash of another offseason with another bitter departure of a fan favourite. Plus, Rider brass can’t afford to go into 2017 into a new stadium with higher ticket prices and treat it like an 18-game training camp like they did in 2016. They need to have an established roster, an established QB and veteran leadership.

Sure, there seems to be hurt feelings now, but at the end of the day, the Riders and Durant need each other. He is second on most of the Rider QB records. He is one of four Rider Starting QBs to hoist the Grey Cup. He has been a professional from the minute he signed his first contract with the Riders. Frankly, he is the best shot Jones has right now of turning this team around next year.

Make it happen.