The destination was logical: the Alouettes settled the matter of veteran quarterback Cody Fajardo by trading him to the Edmonton Elks on Tuesday.
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Edmonton does not come as a big surprise for those who were closely following the thorny issue as the eight other teams in the Canadian Football League, including the Alouettes, seemed to have already identified their number one quarterback for the next season. By sending him to Edmonton, general manager Danny Maciocia above all avoids having to release him for financial reasons.
“I thank Cody for his two years in Montreal, he was a true leader both in the room and on the field,” general manager Danny Maciocia briefly commented in a press release on Tuesday. I wish him the best of luck in Edmonton.”
All the way to Alexander!
Fajardo’s departure had been considered since Davis Alexander was awarded a generous three-year contract in November. The agreement thus made Alexander the new number one quarterback of the Alouettes.
“We are going to do what is best for Cody Fajardo and his family in the coming days and weeks because I have a lot of respect for him,” Maciocia said at the time, given the difficult circumstances. He won a Gray Cup for us [en 2023] and in that match, he was the most valuable player. I will always be grateful to Cody and that’s why I will do everything to help him.”
In return for Fajardo, the Alouettes acquired another American quarterback, McLeod Bethel-Thompson, but he could become a free agent on February 11.
“McLeod is a veteran in the CFL, he could be an excellent insurance policy for our team,” said Maciocia, knowing only too well that a jackpot will not be offered to the aging Bethel-Thompson either. so that he stays.
A fight with Tre Ford
In Edmonton, Fajardo joins the young Ontarian Tre Ford and a fight is announced for the number one quarterback position at the next Elks training camp. After leading the Alouettes to the Gray Cup in 2023, Fajardo did quite well during the Montreal club’s most recent season. In 14 games, he completed 73.6% of the passes he attempted for gains of 3,105 yards and 16 touchdowns.
“We believe Cody can help this team and push Tre Ford to be as successful as possible at quarterback,” commented Elks general manager Ed Hervey.
Beyond Bethel-Thompson, who is 36 years old, Alexander is already counting on American James Morgan among the candidates to support him in Montreal in 2025. It should be noted that the Alouettes also have two American quarterbacks currently on their roster. negotiation list, namely Brett Gabbert, Blaine’s little brother, as well as the promising Seth Henigan, a former teammate of Quebecer Geoffrey Cantin-Arku with the University of Memphis Tigers.
