The Ottawa Redblacks acquired the rights to quarterback Dru Brown from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers for a 2024 fifth-round draft pick and re-signed wide receiver Bralon Addison to a one-year contract extension through the 2024 season on Thursday.
Dru Brown is five foot eleven and weighs 191 pounds. The 26-year-old completed 62 of 89 passes (70%) for 983 yards, 9 touchdowns, 11 carries for 30 yards, and 2 touchdowns in 18 games, of which he appeared in 8 games and started three of them. In his three starts for the Blue Bombers, Brown completed 47 of 68 passes (69.1%) for 756 yards, 8 touchdowns, and 2 carries for 13 yards.
The Blue Bombers signed Brown as a free agent on March 11, 2020, but the season was canceled. Brown concluded his third season in Winnipeg completing 102 of 153 passes (67%) for 1,484 yards, 14 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, 37 carries for 113 yards, and 5 touchdowns in 38 games. He is a member of the 2021 Winnipeg Blue Bombers Grey Cup championship team.
Collegiately, Brown played one season at San Mateo in 2015 completing 104 of 194 passes (53.6%) for 1,879 yards, 21 touchdowns 8 interceptions, 63 carries for 188 yards, and 6 touchdowns in 11 games for the Bulldogs.
Next, Brown transferred to Hawaii (2016-17) completing 463 of 747 passes (62%) for 5,273 yards, 37 touchdowns, 15 interceptions, 146 carries for 313 yards, and 6 touchdowns in 25 games for the Rainbow Warriors. During his time in Hawaii, Brown was named Hawaii Bowl MVP in 2016 after leading the Rainbow Warriors to a 52-35 win over Middle Tennessee State.
Then, Brown transferred to Oklahoma State (2018-19) completing 72 of 107 passes (67.3%) for 810 yards, 7 touchdowns, 1 interception, 23 carries for 6 yards, and 1 touchdown in 8 games for the Cowboys.
Bralon Addison is five foot nine and weighs 197 pounds. The 30-year-old from Missouri City, Texas, made 26 catches for 272 yards, and two touchdowns in eight games for the Redblacks in 2023. In 2022, Addison caught 43 passes for 433 yards, 12 carries for 67 yards, and three punt returns for 32 yards in eight games for the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Before Hamilton, Addison signed with the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2016. He later signed with the Chicago Bears and Toronto Argonauts. On September 1st, 2018, Addison signed with the Ticats.
He played four seasons in two stints in Hamilton (2018-19, 2021-22) with 164 catches for 2,013 yards, eight touchdowns, 53 carries for 298 yards, one touchdown, 24 punt returns for 195 yards, and five kick returns for 80 yards in 31 games. Addison was named a CFL East All-Star and All-Star in 2019.
Collegiately, Addison played three seasons at Oregon (2012-13, 2015) with 146 catches for 1,937 yards, 20 touchdowns, 21 carries for 103 yards, two touchdowns, 11 kick returns for 217 yards, 36 punt returns for 451 yards, and three touchdowns in 39 games for the Ducks. He missed the 2014 season due to injury and earned Second Team All-Pac 12 in 2015.
