Ottawa Redblacks add Kenzel Lawler, brother of All-CFL receiver Kenny, to negotiation list

Photo courtesy: Montana Athletics

The Ottawa Redblacks have added a familiar surname to their exclusive negotiation list, claiming the rights to American defensive back Kenzel Lawler on Tuesday.

Kenzel is the younger brother of Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ receiver Kenny Lawler. The two-time All-CFL selection is currently the three-down league’s fourth-highest-paid pass catcher, having amassed 5,933 yards and 44 touchdowns over seven seasons with Winnipeg, Edmonton, and Hamilton.

The younger Lawler concluded his collegiate career at the University of Montana in 2025, starting all 15 games at cornerback as a senior. In 28 total appearances across two seasons with the Griz, he amassed 69 total tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 15 pass breakups, two interceptions, and a defensive touchdown.

The six-foot, 190-pound coverman spent his first four seasons at the University of Utah, playing only sparingly for the Utes. In 16 appearances, he was credited with one tackle and a pass breakup.

Lawler reportedly ran a 4.53-second 40-yard dash at his Montana pro day, while posting a 10-foot-eight-inch broad jump and a 39.5-inch vertical jump. He went unselected in the 2026 NFL Draft and subsequently attended rookie mini-camps with the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets, but was never signed.

CFL teams can claim the rights to up to 45 players via the negotiation list on a first-come, first-served basis, provided that they are not eligible for the Canadian or Global Drafts, and have never played in the league before. These players can be added, traded, or removed from the list at any time.

Being added to a negotiation list does not mean that the player has expressed interest in the CFL, and some are unaware that their rights have even been claimed. Players can only force their removal from the list if the team does not provide them with a minimum contract offer at their request.

Lawler was previously on the B.C. Lions’ negotiation list, but was removed in June.

The Ottawa Redblacks (0-7) travel to Saskatchewan to take on the Roughriders (5-2) on Friday, August 7, with kickoff scheduled for 9 p.m. EDT. The game will be broadcast on TSN and RDS2 in Canada, CBS Sports Network in the United States, and CFL+ internationally. Radio listeners can tune in on TSN 1200 in Ottawa or 620 CKRM in Regina.