The Ottawa Redblacks have signed American defensive lineman Lorenzo Mauldin IV to a one-year contract extension, tying him to the team through 2024. He was set to become a free agent next month.
The 31-year-old recorded 29 tackles, five sacks, and one forced fumble over 17 games this past season, his fourth in the CFL and second as a member of the Redblacks. He was the second-highest-paid defensive end in the league this past year.
The six-foot-four, 259-pound edge rusher was named the Most Outstanding Defensive Player in the CFL in 2022 after making 43 tackles, 17 sacks, and two forced fumbles over 18 games.
“The truth of the matter is Ottawa embraced me and my family, and that’s what Ottawa is to me: family,” said Mauldin in a statement. “It’s only right to fight for, and with mine. Mr. Inevitable is back in the red and black!”
The native of Sacramento, Calif. has made 85 tackles, 26 sacks, and four forced fumbles over 58 games since entering the league as a member of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 2019. He was originally a third-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft and spent three seasons with the New York Jets prior to suffering a long-term back injury.
CFL free agency is set to get underway on Tuesday, Feb. 13 at noon EST.
