Official: Ottawa Redblacks sign former Edmonton Elks linebacker Michael Brodrique

Photo courtesy: Edmonton Elks

The Ottawa Redblacks have officially signed Canadian linebacker Michael Brodrique. 3DownNation reported the agreement last week.

The 27-year-old was selected by the Edmonton Elks in the first round, second overall during the 2023 CFL Draft. He spent three seasons in the Alberta capital, recording 19 special teams tackles, two defensive stops, and one sack in 38 regular-season games.

The six-foot-three, 227-pounder produced a 4.59 time in the 40-yard dash at the 2023 CFL Combine. He added a 4.28-second shuttle, 7.35-second three-cone drill, 34.5-inch vertical jump, nine-foot, nine-and-one-eighth broad jump, while also recording 17 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press. The Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, Que. native was the most athletic linebacker in his draft class.

Brodrique played his collegiate football for the University of Montreal. The two-time Quebec conference (RSEQ) all-star registered 68.5 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, two pass knockdowns, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble, and one interception in 22 games with the Carabins. He was named a second-team U Sports All-Canadian in 2021.

Pending CFL free agents were able to communicate with teams around the league from February 1 to 8, during which time contracts could be negotiated and agreed upon but not signed. Starting, Tuesday, February 10 at noon EST, players can officially change teams.

Ottawa finished fourth in the East Division standings in 2025 with a 4-14 record, missing the playoffs for the fifth time in the last six seasons. Dru Brown went 2-7 over nine starts at quarterback, throwing for 2,389 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. Dustin Crum went 2-4 over six starts, throwing for 1,771 yards, six touchdowns, and two interceptions.

The Redblacks ranked sixth in net offence, fifth in net defence, and ninth with a turnover differential of minus-16. The club’s leading rusher was William Stanback with 698 yards, leading receiver was Justin Hardy with 1,019 yards, and leading tackler was Adarius Pickett with 84 tackles. Ottawa finished eighth in attendance with average crowds of 18,136, which was a 4.2 percent decrease from the previous year.