 Desjarlais with the Ottawa Redblacks in 2023 | |
| No. 61 –Ottawa Redblacks | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Guard |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | (1997-04-24)April 24, 1997 (age 28) Belle River, Ontario, Canada |
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight: | 313 lb (142 kg) |
| Career information | |
| University: | Windsor (2015–2018) |
| CFL draft: | 2019: 1st round, 4th pick |
| Undrafted: | 2019 |
| Career history | |
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Roster status: | Active |
| CFL status: | National |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Stats atPro Football Reference | |
| Stats at CFL.ca | |
Drew Desjarlais (born April 24, 1997) is a Canadian professionalfootballguard for theOttawa Redblacks of theCanadian Football League (CFL). He playedcollege football atWindsor. He has also been a member of theWinnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL, as well as theNew England Patriots andNew Orleans Saints of theNational Football League (NFL).
Desjarlais playedCIS football for theWindsor Lancers from 2015 to 2018.[1]
Desjarlais was drafted fourth overall in the first round of the2019 CFL Draft by theWinnipeg Blue Bombers and signed with the team on May 11, 2019, despite receiving interest from theNFL.[2] He made the team's active roster following training camp and played in his first professional game on June 15, 2019, against theBC Lions.[3] He dressed as a backup for the first eight games of the season before making his first start on August 15, 2019, also against the Lions.[3] He played in all 18 regular season games and started in the last ten games of the season. He also started in all three post-season games in 2019, including in the Blue Bombers'107th Grey Cup victory over theHamilton Tiger-Cats.[4]
After the2020 CFL season was cancelled, Desjarlais did not play in 2020. He played in all 14 regular season games in a shortened2021 season.[3] Desjarlais was named a West Division All-Star at the end of the season.[5] In the post-season, he started both games as the Blue Bombers repeated asGrey Cup champions over the Tiger-Cats in the108th Grey Cup game.[3] As a pendingfree agent, Desjarlais was released in order to pursue a contract in theNational Football League.[6]
On January 27, 2022, Desjarlais signed a reserve/future contract with theNew England Patriots.[7] He was waived on August 30, 2022.[8]
On September 1, 2022, Desjarlais was signed to theNew Orleans Saints practice squad.[9] He was released off the practice squad on September 20, 2022.[10] He was re-signed on November 9.
On January 30, 2023, it was announced that Desjarlais had signed with theOttawa Redblacks to a two-year contract.[11] The deal was reported for an average annual value of $255,000, which made him the highest-paid offensive lineman in the league.[12]