Ottawa Redblacks Make Significant Moves as CFL's Communication Window Opens
The Ottawa Redblacks have wasted no time in the Canadian Football League's unofficial free agency period, reportedly securing multiple key players on the first day of what is often called the "legal tampering" window. According to sources including 3DownNation, the team has reached verbal agreements with several members of the Grey Cup-champion Saskatchewan Roughriders' defense, along with a notable quarterback addition.
Quarterback Jake Maier Joins Redblacks on One-Year Deal
The most prominent reported signing is quarterback Jake Maier, who has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Ottawa. Maier spent the 2025 season as a backup with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, but brings substantial starting experience from his previous four years with the Calgary Stampeders, where he started 45 games.
The 28-year-old native of Fullerton, California, is expected to serve as the backup to Dru Brown, whom Redblacks head coach and general manager Ryan Dinwiddie has confirmed will be the team's starter for the 2026 season. Maier and Dinwiddie share a connection through their college coach, Dan Hawkins, which may have facilitated this move.
Replacing Departing Quarterback Talent
Maier's arrival comes as last year's backup quarterback, Dustin Crum, has reportedly agreed to terms with the Montreal Alouettes. Crum started six games for Ottawa in 2025 while Brown was injured and had been with the Redblacks for three seasons, including 14 starts in 2023.
While the Redblacks lose some quarterback mobility with Crum's departure—he tied for most rushing touchdowns in the CFL last season with 11 and was the league's ninth-leading ground gainer with 429 yards—they gain significant passing experience with Maier. In 2023, Maier recorded the third-most passing yards in the league with 4,244, completing 19 touchdown passes while throwing 15 interceptions.
Multiple Defensive Additions Strengthen Roster
Beyond the quarterback position, the Redblacks have reportedly agreed to terms with several defensive players, including:
- American running back Greg Bell
- Canadian linebacker A.J. Allen
- American linebackers C.J. Reavis and Brian Cole II
- Canadian defensive back Scott Hutter
- American return specialist James Letcher Jr.
- Global defensive linemen Habakkuk Baldonado
- American receiver Ayden Eberhardt
The addition of Bell likely means the Redblacks will not re-sign free agent running back William Stanback. Despite missing three games last season, Bell finished fifth in CFL rushing with 1,038 yards on 184 carries, averaging 5.6 yards per carry—the same average as the league's leading rusher, Calgary's Dedrick Mills.
CFL Free Agency Landscape Takes Shape
While these agreements are not yet official—teams cannot formally sign free agents until February 10—the Redblacks' reported moves signal an aggressive approach to roster building. The team is addressing multiple positions of need following a season where they finished with a 4-14 record.
Elsewhere in the CFL, quarterback Taylor Powell, another free agent with game experience, is said to have reached a verbal agreement with the Edmonton Elks. This reflects the competitive nature of the CFL's communication window, where teams can negotiate with pending free agents before the official signing period begins.
For the Redblacks, Maier represents insurance at the quarterback position should Brown encounter injury issues that have affected him during his two seasons in Ottawa. With his proven passing ability and experience in critical game situations, Maier could become the team's most important player if called upon during the 2026 campaign.
