The Roughriders finished in fifth place in the West Division with a 5–13 record and missed the playoffs for the second straight year.

[1] In week 16 on October 10, 2016, the Roughriders were officially eliminated from post-season contention, after the Montreal Alouettes lost to the Edmonton Eskimos.

On December 9, Jones hired John Murphy, assistant general manager of the Calgary Stampeders, as the Roughriders' new VP of player personnel.

On December 15, the Roughriders cut 19 players, including veterans Tyron Brackenridge, Weldon Brown and Taj Smith.

On January 20, the Roughriders restructured the contract of Darian Durant, a move that freed up cap space.

The Roughriders would be busy during free agency, signing receivers John Chiles, Jeremy Kelley and Shamawd Chambers, offensive lineman Andrew Jones, linebacker Greg Jones, running back Curtis Steele, returner Kendial Lawrence and defensive lineman Justin Capicciotti.