Ottawa Redblacks Re-Sign Three Starting Defenders Including Sack Leader
Waves were made around the CFL when the Ottawa Redblacks traded for Winnipeg Blue Bombers quarterback Dru Brown. With the team finalizing his deal, the Redblacks shifted their focus to their defense.
Ottawa announced Monday and Tuesday the re-signings of the following three defensive players:
Carter is returning for his third season with the Redblacks after having the best season of his career. In 2023, Carter finished second in the CFL in sacks with 12, which was also the most on the team. He added 31 defensive tackles and two forced fumbles in all 18 games. He was a CFL East All-Star selection. Carter had 10 defensive tackles and two sacks in his first year in the CFL in 2022.
Mauldin is a veteran in the CFL, entering his third season with Ottawa. He finished last season with 29 defensive tackles, five sacks and one forced fumble in 17 games.
His best season came in 2022 where he won the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player award, registering 17 sacks, 43 defensive tackles and two forced fumbles. Mauldin’s first two seasons were spent with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, playing in just 23 games racking up 25 total tackles, four sacks and one forced fumble.
Vrede was a second-round pick to the Redblacks in the 2021 CFL Global Draft. He played in four games last season (starting two) and registering 20 total tackles before being lost for the season with an injury. The Netherlands native has played in 30 career games in Ottawa, managing 42 total tackles.
Ottawa also re-signed wide receiver Bralon Addison to the team last week.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers Trade QB Dru Brown to Ottawa Redblacks for Draft Pick
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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.