The Ottawa Redblacks’ 2024 season features a historic home record and a return to the playoffs, but to continue that success, general manager Shawn Burke will need to make the right decisions on each of his 31 pending free agents.
Since Ottawa’s season ended with a loss to the Toronto Argonauts in the East Semi-Final, Burke has been busy. They have signed Canadian fullback Marco Dubois, Canadian right tackle Zack Pelhous and US defensive end Bryce Carter to two-year extension – A key special teamer and two key starters in the trenches. Another streamlined part of the business was closing the blind side. Signing starting left tackle Dino Boyd to a one-year extension.
Here are ten more impactful players Burke should prioritize bringing back for 2025.
Rec Justin Hardy(A)
Typically, a 32-year-old American receiver wouldn’t top that list of players. Sure Get re-signed But Hardy isn’t your typical receiver. Had the Washington, N.C. native not missed the team’s final regular season game in an effort to ensure he was healthy for the playoffs, he likely would have led the league in receiving yards since Tony Gabriel in 1977. Would have been the first Ottawa player to do so. Hardy also fell just short of the Redblacks’ single-season receiving record, set by Greg Ellingson in 2017.
In 2024, Hardy was Ottawa’s best and most consistent weapon – period. As he went, so did the Redblacks’ offense as a whole. When the team needed clutch play, he came up with it. In the 16 games he played, Hardy had 97 catches for 1,343 yards and five touchdowns, while averaging 13.8 yards per reception.
RedBlack’s unanimous choice as Team MOP will simply have to return for 2025.
Sam Adarius Pickett(A)
Before suffering a season-ending Achilles injury against Hamilton in Week 15, Pickett was exactly as advertised. Upon signing with the Redblacks in the 2024 off-season, the 28-year-old declared he would be Ottawa’s party starter and that’s exactly what he did.
In 13 games, Pickett recorded 52 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, one interception and four knockdowns, not only on defense, but also on special teams, where he made 14 tackles while covering kicks. He also demonstrated his versatility by returning six kickoffs.
Following his injury, the Redblacks’ defense was never the same, surrendering more than 37 points in four of the team’s final seven games, including 58 points in their playoff loss. While there is an undeniable risk in bringing back a player coming off a season-ending Achilles injury, Pickett is the prototypical SAM linebacker and a difference-maker who should be held responsible for the opposing offense in every game. Needless to say, it looks like his recovery is going smoothly.
13 weeks post op, the party is going to happen next year, trust me! pic.twitter.com/g5IGs8sMq5
– Pickett (@Pick6ixPickett) 17 December 2024
Additionally, Pickett’s relationship with Ottawa’s new defensive coordinator, Will Fields, should not be overlooked. Fields’ was Toronto’s secondary coach in 2023, when Pickett posted career-high statistics en route to being named Most Outstanding Defensive Player in the East Division.
DE Lorenzo Mauldin IV(A) and DT Michael Wakefield(A)
I’m going to group these two American defensive linemen together because they work together to control the line of scrimmage and wreak havoc on the quarterbacks they line up against.
Both finished with eight sacks apiece, the 32-year-old Mauldin from his last spot and the 30-year-old Wakefield from between the trenches at the tackle position. Both also played all 18 matches in 2024.
Mauldin finished with 52 tackles with five losses, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. Wakefield made 30 tackles, forced three fumbles, had one knockdown and recovered one fumble.
Possibly Ottawa’s strongest (and deepest) positional group is the defensive line, and Mauldin and Wakefield are both big reasons why the unit is so impressive. Now that Bryce Carter’s tenure has been extended, it is important to ensure that these two experienced and productive veterans remain intact.
DB Damon Webb (A)
In 2024, Webb was Ottawa’s best defensive back and it wasn’t close. In 18 games, the 29-year-old had a career-high 68 tackles, two sacks, a forced fumble, seven knockdowns, five interceptions – including an unforgettable pair of pick-sixes – and eight tackles for loss.
Great, he did it twice!
Damon Webb has the second pick of the game, pick 6.
– CFL (@CFL) 7 September 2024
Webb played in the air with the ball in his hands and was excellent at coming up through the secondary to provide run support. The Redblacks’ secondary was a weak link in 2024 and will see significant changes this offseason, but it would be smart for the team to stick with Webb.
OL Darius Bledek(N) and OL Jacob Ruby (N)
Burke has proven that he believes in getting his team out of very dangerous situations and this pairing is an essential part of that. Bledek is exactly the kind of steady Canadian veteran presence that good offensive lines are made of. The 30-year-old player is experienced and at his peak. In 2024, he made 17 starts for the Redblacks at right guard.
Was there a sixth offensive lineman more valuable than Ruby this season? The 32-year-old played 17 games for the Redblacks, making seven starts. Four came at left tackle and three at right tackle – it was really plug and play. Bringing back Ruby would be an under-the-radar move that casual fans might not be able to fully appreciate, but it would go a long way toward providing significant depth at one of the most important positions in the game.
Rec Bralon Edison(A)
Despite only playing 10 games in 2024, the 31-year-old pass catcher was highly productive. Addison’s experience and familiarity with offensive coordinator Tommy Condell’s system allowed him to flourish. Addison made 41 catches, averaging 10.6 yards per reception. Although some were concerned that he would not be as aggressive after returning from injury, those fears proved unfounded as 192 of his 433 yards came after one catch. The Texas native finished the regular season with four touchdowns and added two more touchdowns in the team’s playoff loss.
How did he do that @BralonAddison2 #GCPlayoffs on CTV, TSN and RDS
– CFL (@CFL) 2 November 2024
At times, Addison was used as the Redblacks’ primary running back, making 27 carries for 151 yards and averaging 5.6 yards per carry in the regular season. Although that situation was far from ideal, his ability to do so provides Condell with an element of creativity that can threaten defenses.
de kene oneka(en)
Aidan John’s development should not make Oneka expendable. Now five seasons under his belt, the former Carlton Raven is a strong special teams performer with nine tackles in kick coverage last season and is capable of working as part of the rotation on the defensive line. In 12 games, Onyeka made 10 tackles and had one sack.
P Richie Lyon(A)
Fan favorite Lyon had a quiet but steady season for the Redblacks in 2024. He punted 99 times with an average of 48 yards per kick and an average field positional flip of 36.6 yards. Statistically, he doesn’t have the best numbers, but it’s not something to sneeze at either. Lyon also handled all of Ottawa’s kickoffs and played 57 balls for an average of 60.5 yards per kickoff.
As Lewis Ward’s field goal holder, Lyons was also a key part of Ward’s extremely impressive 2024 season. Although some may scoff at the idea of ​​listing a punter as a high-priority target due to his experience and trustworthiness, the organization should try its best to bring him back.
LB Gary Johnson Jr. (A)
No, Johnson Jr. is not the starting linebacker, but he is Is An excellent special teamer and every typical CFL team has a handful of them. He blocks well and creates atmosphere with his aggressive open-field tackles. In 2024, Johnson Jr. made 10 special teams tackles.
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