Photo courtesy: Antonio Morano/UTSA Athletics
The Montreal Alouettes have signed American offensive lineman Jakai Moore and American tight end Oscar Cardenas to two-year contracts ahead of the opening of training camp.
Cardenas played 65 games over six seasons at the University of Texas at San Antonio. The six-foot-four, 265-pound target caught 95 passes for 1,138 yards and nine touchdowns, earning a second-team All-AAC selection in 2024, a third-team nod in 2023, and an honourable mention All-Conference USA selection in 2022. The 24-year-old attended training camp with the Arizona Cardinals as an undrafted free agent last season, but did not make the final roster.
Moore ended his collegiate career at the University of North Carolina, dressing for 12 games in 2025. The six-foot-six, 318-pound blocker played five seasons at the University of South Carolina, dressing for 44 games and making 28 starts across four different positions.
The Ottawa Redblacks were the CFL’s most active team in free agency, adding players like quarterback Jake Maier, running back Greg Bell, offensive lineman Martez Ivey, defensive lineman Habakkuk Baldonado, linebacker A.J. Allen, strong-side linebacker C.J. Reavis, and defensive back Demerio Houston. The team also had a few key departures, including quarterback Dustin Crum (Montreal Alouettes), strong-side linebacker Adarius Pickett (Toronto Argonauts), and return specialist DeVonte Dedmon (Montreal Alouettes).
In 2025, Ottawa 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.
All CFL training camps are scheduled to open on May 10. The team will play its first preseason game against the Montreal Alouettes on Friday, May 22, and its first regular-season game against the Edmonton Elks on Saturday, June 6.
