The Ottawa Redblacks made significant changes to their quarterback room on Tuesday, trading Dru Brown to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and signing veteran McLeod Bethel-Thompson. Brown, according to a source, requested to be moved after losing his starting job to Jake Maier before taking a snap at training camp.
Trade Details
The Redblacks sent Brown to Winnipeg in exchange for a first-round pick in the 2027 CFL draft and a second-round pick in 2028. As part of the deal, Ottawa also included the 2027 second-round pick they acquired from the Blue Bombers in a draft-day trade two months ago.
Brown's Tenure in Ottawa
Brown, 29, from Palo Alto, California, began his CFL career in Winnipeg, serving as a backup for three seasons. The Redblacks traded for his free-agent rights and signed him in 2024. Over two seasons as Ottawa's starter, he compiled a 10-13 record while dealing with injuries.
Maier's Struggles
Through two games as the Redblacks' No. 1 quarterback, Maier has completed 47 of 77 passes for a league-low 61% completion rate and a league-low 77 passer efficiency rating. He has thrown just two touchdown passes and two interceptions. The Redblacks are winless so far this season.
Bethel-Thompson's Return
Bethel-Thompson, 37, was unemployed before signing with Ottawa. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound quarterback dressed for 15 games and started eight last season with the Montreal Alouettes, completing 155 of 243 passes (63.8%) for an 82.1 efficiency rating, with nine touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Bethel-Thompson previously played for Redblacks head coach Ryan Dinwiddie when both were with the Toronto Argonauts in 2022. He lost his starting job in Toronto to Chad Kelly, who dismantled the Redblacks in a 44-24 Argos win on Saturday.
Before his CFL career, Bethel-Thompson attended NFL camps with the San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins, and Philadelphia Eagles before joining the Argos in 2017. He also played for the New Orleans Breakers of the USFL in 2023 and started 13 games with the Edmonton Elks in 2024 before signing with Montreal in January 2025.
Other Roster Moves
On Monday, the Redblacks released Max Duggan, the 2022 Heisman Trophy runner-up, and signed 23-year-old Nicholas Vattiato, who played five seasons at Middle Tennessee State University. Ottawa's quarterback room also includes 24-year-old rookie Bryson Barnes.
The Redblacks return to practice on Wednesday and will face the Montreal Alouettes on Sunday.
