Bombers acquire QB Dru Brown

[kkc60]

Now I have heard it all

Necessary for succession planning
Necessary for insurance
Necessary to give our young stud at QB time
Necessary for long term organizational stability at QB
Good trade
Yes we will loose a good Canadian player 100%
But we just got a good American vet
We can sign him cheap 1 yr deal non issue handled internally

Maybe trade for a draft pick as assets allow or sign a guy pluck a cdn off pr lots ways to shore up cdns which is always a concern

so then why did we spend a 2nd round pick on Elgersma? You're assuming Brown is cool with signing a one year deal, and assuming Elgersma is cool not having a shot to be the starter. He didn't even want to come here over the UFL for that exact reason.

Sure, it is nice having the depth and it very well could be a very big trade that pays off. But I think it's also a huge risk and replacing the potential impact of a first round pick with a "PR player" or trading another draft pick for a canadian (which seldom happens, and when it does it's for depth players mostly) is downplaying the cost

[TBURGESS]

Seems strange to me. Ottawa lost it's backup QB for a couple of draft picks? We added a big salary 2nd string QB on a 1 year contract. How is that future planning?

Is Collaros hurt? One of the backup QB's? Where did we get the SMS room?

Best thing is we don't have to worry about our back QB now.

[M.O.A.B.]

Oh MBT it is
https://3downnation.com/2026/06/23/ottawa-redblacks-to-sign-qb-mcleod-bethel-thompson-report/

[Sir Blue and Gold]

It's a bit weird. How are we going to fit another $320,000 on the roster? What is happening to Perkins and Elgersma and the roster now? Is Zach okay? Why now instead of the off-season? The cost is less than I first thought. We gave up a first, but got our own second rounder back. That's not terrible. Wonder what the Bombers know that we don't. Elgersma happy? Not happy? What's the condition on the other 2028 pick? If he re-signs?

[Blueforlife]

so then why did we spend a 2nd round pick on Elgersma? You're assuming Brown is cool with signing a one year deal, and assuming Elgersma is cool not having a shot to be the starter. He didn't even want to come here over the UFL for that exact reason.

Sure, it is nice having the depth and it very well could be a very big trade that pays off. But I think it's also a huge risk and replacing the potential impact of a first round pick with a "PR player" or trading another draft pick for a canadian (which seldom happens, and when it does it's for depth players mostly) is downplaying the cost

So why not keep both
1. Godfather Zach
2. Father Dru
3. Son Elgersma

Qb solidified for 15 years in dream scenario

That's organizational long term planning

That's vision

That's good biz

That's keeping butts in stands

Sorry this is a good news as there is

LETS GO BOMBERS!!!!

Management just hit an in the park HR

[kkc60]

So why not keep both
1. Godfather Zach
2. Father Dru
3. Son Elgersma

Qb solidified for 15 years in dream scenario

That's organizational long term planning

That's vision

That's good biz

That's keeping butts in stands

Sorry this is a good news as there is

LETS GO BOMBERS!!!!

Management just hit an in the park HR

cool you missed all my points. yay management!!

[tlf]

cool you missed all my points. yay management!!

Do we have ANY guarantee Elgersma won't get hurt or like it here or be any good?  He sure took his time getting here, and since I work in HR heck I'd have a backup plan to him too.

[Jesse]

It's a bit weird. How are we going to fit another $320,000 on the roster? What is happening to Perkins and Elgersma and the roster now? Is Zach okay? Why now instead of the off-season? The cost is less than I first thought. We gave up a first, but got our own second rounder back. That's not terrible. Wonder what the Bombers know that we don't. Elgersma happy? Not happy? What's the condition on the other 2028 pick? If he re-signs?

If he re-signs and plays a certain amount of games (haven't seen the specific number yet).

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

so then why did we spend a 2nd round pick on Elgersma? You're assuming Brown is cool with signing a one year deal, and assuming Elgersma is cool not having a shot to be the starter. He didn't even want to come here over the UFL for that exact reason.

Sure, it is nice having the depth and it very well could be a very big trade that pays off. But I think it's also a huge risk and replacing the potential impact of a first round pick with a "PR player" or trading another draft pick for a canadian (which seldom happens, and when it does it's for depth players mostly) is downplaying the cost

Tricky situation, don't want to see them blow it with Elgersma, they have to convince him he will become the starting QB within 2 years. Brown had his shot and is rehabbing his career, I take it he wanted to bale from Ottawa and accepts whatever comes his way. Zach is going to be ecstatic having him back in the QB room, he mentions their friendship often.

[Tecno]

It's a bit weird. How are we going to fit another $320,000 on the roster? What is happening to Perkins and Elgersma and the roster now?

Ya, the main concern now is SMS implications.  Especially if he never sees the field if Zach stays upright.

Are we sure it's $320k?  I thought OTT anointed him starter when he signed?  That would mean starter-but-somewhat-unproven salary.  I guess $320k sounds right, but seems a little low for the guy many thought was the Next Big Thing.

Either way, we went from a very affordable QB room to now one of the most expensive.  This will hamstring late-season roster upgrades.

For those not understanding... a trade means we must honor the deal OTT had with him.  We cannot renegotiate down, unless Dru is willing (why would he?).

Why now instead of the off-season?

Because Dinwiddie didn't know how bad he was until he got to work with him through a full camp.  Dinwiddie likely thought he was their starter.  What he saw was so bad that he decided to go with Maier and throw away every game until they got a real QB.  Now, this might mean Dru is bad for Dinwiddie, not that he's objectively bad.  They might just not mesh.

[Blueforlife]

cool you missed all my points. yay management!!

Cool so missed all my counter pts

Yay to unnecessary worry

Your points were fear based worry not worth countering

Digging deeper is harder than seeing the light provided by another party imo

Elgersma is part of the equation, has a good shot at starter and almost guarantee at backup.  A 2nd rounder was extreme value.

This might accelerate his development as no pressure to do it from the start but can when ready, I like to slow roast my prospect, especially QBs, just like goalies

No risk, no cost other than one good cdn

Most will love this deal

Embrace it, its gold

[bunker]

It's a bit weird. How are we going to fit another $320,000 on the roster? What is happening to Perkins and Elgersma and the roster now? Is Zach okay? Why now instead of the off-season? The cost is less than I first thought. We gave up a first, but got our own second rounder back. That's not terrible. Wonder what the Bombers know that we don't. Elgersma happy? Not happy? What's the condition on the other 2028 pick? If he re-signs?

My understanding is that Brown already received 150,000 signing bonus in January to restructure his contract so the hit is more like 171,000. He also had an additional 54,000 in playtime incentives, but likley won't collect much of that, unless Zach is out for a lot of games, in which case we could 6 game Zach to recoup the money. Plus he's already played 2 games, which takes another 20,000 off the cost of his salary. Small price to pay for what we got in terms of salary IMO.

[M.O.A.B.]

so then why did we spend a 2nd round pick on Elgersma? You're assuming Brown is cool with signing a one year deal, and assuming Elgersma is cool not having a shot to be the starter. He didn't even want to come here over the UFL for that exact reason.

Sure, it is nice having the depth and it very well could be a very big trade that pays off. But I think it's also a huge risk and replacing the potential impact of a first round pick with a "PR player" or trading another draft pick for a canadian (which seldom happens, and when it does it's for depth players mostly) is downplaying the cost

Dinwiddie was not the RedBlack's GM when we drafted Elgersma (2025). Dru (probably) was not available for trade at that time.

[Tecno]

Seems strange to me. Ottawa lost it's backup QB for a couple of draft picks? We added a big salary 2nd string QB on a 1 year contract. How is that future planning?

Ya, the MBT signing means we got r***d on this deal.  OTT would have been willing to accept FAR less for Dru because their only goal was shedding him to make way for a QB they actually wanted.  Heck, they may have just outright cut Dru had no team taken the bait.

OTT didn't want/need assets for Dru, they just wanted to shed the SMS!

KW will be kicking himself that he gave away a 1RDP when OTT would have probably taken a 3RDP, because their alternative was taking NOTHING.  Only if another team out there was desperate for an iffy/unproven backup would we have been outbid.

As usual, Mafia is not cut-throat, greedy, or nasty enough.  We play it so boy scout, and the vultures out there take advantage.

[Jesse]

My understanding is that Brown already received 150,000 signing bonus in January to restructure his contract so the hit is more like 171,000. He also had an additional 54,000 in playtime incentives, but likley won't collect much of that, unless Zach is out for a lot of games, in which case we could 6 game Zach to recoup the money. Plus he's already played 2 games, which takes another 20,000 off the cost of his salary. Small price to pay for what we got in terms of salary IMO.

This may be as low as 116k

9) Dru Brown, Ottawa Redblacks (A)

Hard money: $321,000
Maximum value: $387,000

Browns's 2026 compensation comes from a $150,000 signing bonus, $131,000 base salary, $15,000 in marketing money, $15,000 in housing, and a $10,000 travel allowance. He has an additional $66,000 available in playtime, statistical, all-star and award incentives.

https://3downnation.com/2026/05/04/highest-paid-quarterbacks-for-2026-canadian-football-league-season/