The Ottawa Redblacks and No. 1 receiver Jaelon Acklin have a good thing going, and each side understands the benefits of the relationship.
That’s what led to a contract extension through the 2024 season between the 27-year-old and the CFL team in the nation’s capital on May 12.
Acklin’s compensation in 2023 includes an $85,000 signing bonus, $76,200 base salary, $13,800 in housing and $5,000 in marketing money, which totals $180,000 in hard money. He nets more money after taxes compared to his originally slated compensation due to the large signing bonus, while the Redblacks saved $15,000 on this year’s salary cap.
Additionally, Acklin could collect $8,000 more in performance incentives: $1,000 if named an East Division all-star, $2,000 for earning CFL all-star status, and $5,000 for being named the league’s Most Outstanding Player.
In 2024, his contract includes a $161,200 base salary, a $60,000 training camp report-and-pass bonus, $13,800 in housing and $10,000 in marketing money, which totals $245,000 plus the same performance incentives as 2023.
Acklin originally signed with Ottawa in February 2022 after playing the first two seasons of his CFL career with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The six-foot-two, 190-pound pass catcher played in 15 games while catching 75 passes for 1,169 yards and two touchdowns in his first season with the Redblacks. He earned $176,000 last year while going over 1,000 yards for the first time since arriving in Canada.
The Mountain View, Missouri native has made 183 receptions for 2,555 yards, averaging 14 yards per catch with nine touchdowns in his three-year CFL career. He has played in two Grey Cups as a member of the Ticats and been a two-time East Division all-star in 2021 with Hamilton and last season with Ottawa.
