The Toronto Argonauts have released three veteran defensive backs, including Darrius Bratton, Branden Dozier, and Willie Drew Jr. Dozier was a pending free agent, but Bratton and Drew Jr. were under contract for 2026.
Bratton played 16 regular-season games with the Argonauts in 2025, recording 37 defensive tackles. He started primarily at field-side halfback, but he became a healthy scratch late for the club’s last two regular-season games.
The 28-year-old spent the first two seasons of his CFL career with the Edmonton Elks, recording 88 defensive tackles and five interceptions over 35 regular-season games. He signed with Toronto in February 2025.
Dozier recorded 32 defensive tackles, four special teams tackles, and five sacks over nine regular-season games with the Argonauts in 2025. He joined the team following his release from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at strong-side linebacker.
The 32-year-old native of Topeka, Kan. has played 113 regular-season games over eight seasons with the Montreal Alouettes, B.C. Lions, Calgary Stampeders, Tiger-Cats, and Argonauts, making 448 defensive tackles, 79 special teams tackles, 10 sacks, eight interceptions, three forced fumbles, and one touchdown.
Drew Jr. joined the Argonauts in August for a second stint with the team. He dressed for seven regular-season games and made 14 defensive tackles and one interception.
The six-foot, 185-pound native of Smithfield, Va. helped the DC Defenders win a UFL championship in 2025, recording four total tackles, two pass knockdowns, and one interception over seven games. He was on Toronto’s practice roster when the team won the Grey Cup in 2024.
The Toronto Argonauts finished third in the East Division standings in 2025 with a 5-13 record, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2019. Franchise quarterback Chad Kelly was unable to play all season due to a fractured leg he suffered in the East Final the previous year, giving way to Nick Arbuckle, who threw for 4,370 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions to be named the team’s candidate for Most Outstanding Player.
The Argonauts ranked seventh in net offence, sixth in net defence, and seventh with a turnover differential of minus-eight. The club’s leading rusher was Spencer Brown with 314 yards, leading receiver was Dejon Brissett with 907 yards, and leading tackler was Cameron Judge with 79 tackles. Toronto ranked ninth in attendance with average crowds of 15,109, which was a 0.1 percent decrease from the previous year.
