Ottawa Redblacks add two all-conference quarterbacks to negotiation list

Photo courtesy: Gavin Bethel/Delaware Athletics

The Ottawa Redblacks have added two American quarterbacks to their negotiation list, Brad Jackson and Nick Minicucci.

Jackson is entering his redshirt sophomore season at Texas State University. The six-foot, 197-pound pivot has appeared in 16 games for the Bobcats, completing 259-of-367 passes (71 percent) for 3,342 yards, 22 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, while rushing 196 times for 908 yards and 21 majors. He was named third-team All-Sun Belt in 2025 and took home the MVP of the Armed Forces Bowl.

Minicucci is a senior at the University of Delaware. The six-foot-two, 215-pound passer has dressed for 28 games and made 18 starts, connecting on 450-of-717 passes (63 percent) for 4,982 yards, 38 touchdowns, and 15 interceptions, while rushing 190 times for 532 yards and 13 scores. He was named second-team All-Conference USA in 2025.

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.

The Ottawa Redblacks opened training camp on May 10 and played their first preseason game on Friday, May 22, a 27-12 victory over the Montreal Alouettes. The teams will face each other again for their second preseason game on Friday, May 29. Final roster cuts are due on Saturday, May 30, after which the team will play its first regular-season game against the Edmonton Elks on Saturday, June 6.

Ottawa recently selected Purdue offensive lineman Giordano Vaccaro with their first-round pick in the 2026 CFL Draft, and it appears he could be a day-one starter. The team’s other major offseason additions include quarterback Jake Maier, running back Greg Bell, linebacker A.J. Allen, and strong-side linebacker C.J. Reavis.

In 2025, the Redblacks finished fourth in the East Division standings with a 4-14 record, missing the playoffs for the fifth time in the last six seasons. Ryan Dinwiddie was hired as the team’s head coach and general manager after the firing of Bob Dyce.