Top WR Justin Hardy Signs Contract Extension with Ottawa Redblacks
The Ottawa Redblacks are ensuring they don’t let their top players walk as they continue to stay active in the offseason. In a social post Monday, the Redblacks announced that wide receiver Justin Hardy is returning on a one-year contract extension.
Hardy is coming off his best season of his short two-year CFL career, catching 85 passes for 1,009 yards and three touchdowns. His performance in 2023 earned him a CFL East All-Star selection. In his first season with Ottawa in 2022, Hardy had 44 receptions for 416 yards in seven games.
The 32-year-old pass catcher had a five-year NFL career, all spent with the Atlanta Falcons after being selected in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. His NFL stats include 95 receptions for 946 yards and nine touchdowns from 2015-19.
Source: Us
— Ottawa REDBLACKS (@REDBLACKS) February 5, 2024
We've re-signed 🇺🇸 WR Justin Hardy (@FreakMagic2) to a one-year deal‼️ #ALLIN | 📝: https://t.co/ZwZS54VBE1 pic.twitter.com/h5wlBRr06i
Hardy was a critical piece to the passing game for Ottawa last season, leading the team in receptions, yards and touchdowns. He was ranked as the 23rd-best pending free agent in the CFL according to CFL.ca.
The Redblacks’ third leading receiver, Shaq Evans, is still a pending free agent as well as Siaosi Mariner and Tevaun Smith. Ottawa also announced the release of wide receiver Nate Behar after a 334-yard and one-score performance in 2023.
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Anthony Miller has been covering professional spring football since 2019 including XFL, USFL, and CFL. He was a local news reporter in Texas before transitioning to sports. Other sites he writes for includes College Football Network and NTZ Network.