Is Chad Kelly Heading to Ottawa in 2027?

Mr. Chad Kelly. One of the best players in the CFL, but also one of the most hated players in the CFL. People either love him or hate him. There are not too many people who feel kind of so-so about him. I don’t think it is just CFL fans feeling this way. I believe GMs, coaching staff, the eight other teams in the CFL, and many other players in the CFL feel this way too.

The way people feel about him is not just the drama off the field, but his play in the game as well.

Chad Kelly: One of the Best in the CFL?

In a lot of ways, he is one of the best CFL players. First in passing yards with 5,067 yards. Second in TDs with 33, just one behind Vernon Adams Jr.

However, Chad Kelly also has the most INTs in the CFL with 24 in just 15 games. He has ten more INTs than the second-most INTs in the CFL, with 14. That stat line belongs to Jake Maier in Ottawa.

Funny how that brings us into Ottawa, eh? We will come back to Ottawa in a bit.

Chad Kelly’s Contract and the Argos’ Rebuild

Chad Kelly’s contract is up at the end of this year. Right now, he is the second-highest-paid player in the CFL, just behind Nathan Rourke in B.C. Chad Kelly gets paid $625,000, including marketing money.

Chad Kelly is in the last year of his three-year contract. In the first year, Chad Kelly broke his leg in the East Final, and the Argos went on to win the Grey Cup with Nick Arbuckle in Vancouver.

The second year of Chad Kelly’s contract, he missed the whole year. The Argos went on to a 5-13 season without Chad Kelly. However, this record was not just Nick’s fault.

This year, the third year of Chad Kelly’s contract, the Argos did a big team rebuild in the offseason and now sit at a 9-7 record. This record has also got the Argos second in the East and a home playoff game.

Now the question is, with this year being better, is it because of Chad Kelly or the rebuild?

Ryan Dinwiddie’s Move to Ottawa

Another big part of this rebuild for the Argos was not just the players on the field, but the moves off the field with Ryan Dinwiddie’s departure.

The Argos look a lot better with Miller as coach and Jim Barker in the front office. Ryan Dinwiddie moved on to Ottawa as the head coach and GM. These are the roles he wanted as an Argo, but Pinball wouldn’t give Dinwiddie those roles, and I believe that is why he left the Argos and went to Ottawa.

Ryan Dinwiddie really liked working with Chad Kelly. Chad Kelly also really liked working with Ryan Dinwiddie.

Ottawa REDBLACKS Need a Huge Rebuild After Falling to 0-16

Ottawa is in the middle of an 0-16 season, breaking a CFL record as the first team to start a season at 0-16. Before this, the record was 0-14, set in the 1990s.

The REDBLACKS fell to 0-16 after losing 41-20 to the B.C. Lions on Friday night. Ottawa was able to cut the lead to just three points in the third quarter, but once again could not finish the job.

Ottawa needs to do a huge rebuild for next year and spend a lot of money. They have already started the rebuild by bringing in Jim Popp in the front office, trading Brett Lauther, and cutting Geno Lewis.

With Ottawa freeing up all this money and looking for a rebuild, they will be looking forward to spending a lot of money this offseason.

Why not spend the money on the biggest player who needs a contract, Chad Kelly?

This will be a great move for the city of Ottawa and the REDBLACKS team. It will show season ticket holders and fans that an 0-16 year is not OK with them and that they are going to be making big moves and working hard to be better next year.

This will also help sell more tickets in Ottawa.

Did Chad Kelly Hint at a Move to Ottawa?

I have no proof of this happening, but I feel that Chad Kelly and Ryan Dinwiddie are already thinking of this fit for the 2027 season.

Chad Kelly played a great game in the Hammer on Labour Day in the Labour Day Classic. The Argos beat the Ticats in Hamilton.

After the game, Chad Kelly had an interview on the field with TSN. The next week, they played Ottawa. TSN asked Chad about playing for the REDBLACKS. He said what a great coach Ryan Dinwiddie is.

I found this an odd thing to say about a team that has not won a game.

After every interview, Chad Kelly ends the interview with “Go Argos!” This has worked so well that other players in other leagues have started to end their interviews this way by saying “Go” to their teams.

Chad said in the interview in Hamilton after Labour Day, “Go Red, go Argos.”

It sounds like he was about to say “Go REDBLACKS.”

My Prediction: Chad Kelly to Ottawa in 2027

I love Chad Kelly, and I love the Argos. I hate saying this as an Argo fan and a Chad Kelly fan.

However, taking my fan glasses off, I think after this interview, Chad Kelly is going to the Ottawa REDBLACKS as a free agent for the 2027 season with Ryan Dinwiddie.

I don’t think anything wrong was done here. Chad and Ryan have a great history, Ottawa has to rebuild and has money to spend, and Chad is looking to get paid.

Could Chad be the highest-paid player in 2027 with the Ottawa REDBLACKS?

Could the Argos have Nick Arbuckle as their starting QB and Jake Maier as their backup, and bring back Wynton McManis and other key players?

A Big CFL Offseason Is Coming

Time will tell what happens this winter and offseason into 2027. All I know is that big moves will be made with star players. Chad Kelly will be one of those players.

Ottawa will have to make the most moves.

Also, with another team coming into the CFL, the REDBLACKS need to get better fast! They should be better before we get that other team into the CFL.