Montreal Alouettes Acquire DL Julian Howsare From Hamilton Tiger-Cats
The Montreal Alouettes acquired veteran defensive lineman Julian Howsare and a seventh-round selection in the 2027 CFL Draft from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in exchange for a fifth-round pick in the 2027 CFL Draft, the teams announced on Tuesday. The move comes ahead of the Canadian Football League trade deadline on Wednesday at 4:59 p.m. EDT.
Front-Office Motives and Financial Realities
For Hamilton (4-10), the transaction recoups draft capital after the franchise was eliminated from playoff contention following an overtime loss to the Edmonton Elks on Saturday. Tiger-Cats president of football operations Orlondo Steinauer acknowledged the departure of the veteran defender, stating in a release, “Julian Howsare has meant a great deal to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, both as a player and as a person. Across two stints with our organization, Julian gave us everything we asked of him and more and was a true professional in every sense of the word.”
Howsare stands as one of the CFL’s highest-paid defensive linemen. He is owed a remaining balance just over $15,000 on a hard-money salary deal worth $170,000, which also includes up to $12,500 in award incentives. Over his eight-year CFL career, including seven seasons across two stints with Hamilton and two seasons with the Calgary Stampeders, the 34-year-old Altoona, Pennsylvania native has accumulated 133 regular-season games, 277 total tackles, five forced fumbles, and 49 sacks.
Addressing Montreal’s Defensive Vulnerabilities
The Montreal Alouettes sit atop the East Division standings at 11-3 but face mounting defensive concerns entering the final stretch of the regular season. The team has surrendered 25 points or more in four consecutive contests, yielding 48 points against the BC Lions in Week 15 and 44 points against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Week 13. Alouettes general manager Danny Maciocia emphasized the strategic fit of the acquisition, stating, “We just acquired an all-star player who is capable of giving opposing offences a hard time. Julian knows the league, and we are extremely pleased to have acquired his services. This type of player will be valuable to us in the coming weeks as we enter the final stretch of the season.”
Howsare brings proven production to the front seven, having recorded 32 defensive tackles, one tackle for a loss, four sacks, and three pass knockdowns over 15 games this season. His performance follows a stellar 2025 campaign where he earned All-CFL honours, was named the East Division nominee for Most Outstanding Defensive Player, and posted 43 defensive tackles alongside 13 sacks.
Upcoming Schedule and Broadcast Information
The Montreal Alouettes return to action on Saturday, October 3, hosting the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at 7:00 p.m. EDT. The fixture will be broadcast live on TSN and RDS2 in Canada and available via CFL+ internationally, with local radio coverage on TSN 690 in English and 99.5 in French.
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