One QB in, one QB out: Ottawa Redblacks add Bethel-Thompson, send Brown to Winnipeg

McLeod Bethel-Thompson while playing for the Montreal Alouettes in June 2025. Photo by Greg Southam /Postmedia

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Gone, at his request, is Dru Brown.

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On his way to the capital is McLeod Bethel-Thompson, who played for head coach Ryan Dinwiddie when both were with the Toronto Argos in 2022.

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Brown was sent to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in exchange for a first-round pick in the 2027 CFL draft and a second in 2028.

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In the trade, the Redblacks included the 2027 second-round pick they acquired from the Blue Bombers in a draft-day deal two months ago.

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Brown, according to a source, asked to be moved after he lost his starting job to Jake Maier before even taking a snap at training camp.

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The 29-year-old from Palo Alto, Calif., began his CFL career in Winnipeg, where he served as the backup quarterback for three seasons.

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The Redblacks traded for his free agent rights, then signed him in 2024.

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Over two seasons as Ottawa’s starter, Brown compiled a 10-13 record while dealing with injuries.

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Through two games as the Redblacks’ No. 1 signal caller, Maier has connected on 47 of 77 passes for a league-low 61 per cent completion rate and a league-low 77 passer efficiency rating.

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He has thrown just two touchdown passes along with two interceptions.

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Dru Brown takes part in drills during the Ottawa Redblacks’ annual Fan Fest at TD Place in May 2026. Photo by Ashley Fraser /Postmedia

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Bethel-Thompson, 37, was unemployed before signing with Ottawa.

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The 6-foot-3, 230-pounder dressed for 15 games, and started eight, last season with the Montreal Alouettes.

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He completed 155 of 243 passes (63.8 per cent) for a 82.1 efficiency rating, with nine TD passes and nine picks.

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Bethel-Thompson was at NFL camps in San Francisco, Minnesota, Miami and Philadelphia before joining the Argos in 2017.

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Bethel-Thompson played for the New Orleans Breakers of the USFL in 2023 before returning to Canada, where he started 13 games with Edmonton Elks the next season.

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He was signed by Montreal in January 2025.

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On Monday, the Redblacks released Max Duggan, the 2022 Heisman Trophy runner-up to now Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, and signed 23-year-old Nicholas Vattiato, who played five seasons at Middle Tennessee State University.

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Still in Ottawa’s QB room is 24-year-old rookie Bryson Barnes.

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The Redblacks, who return to practice on Wednesday, will be in Montreal on Sunday to face the Alouettes.

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