The Premier Lacrosse League announced a major move on Monday, as the California Redwoods traded long-stick midfielder Owen Grant to the Boston Cannons in exchange for the third overall pick in the 2025 College Draft and the Cannons’ fourth-round selection in 2026. 

If Grant is designated to the Holdout List before 2025 training camp, the Cannons also would receive the Redwoods' earliest 2026 draft pick outside of the top six selections.

With this deal, the Redwoods now hold the second and third overall picks in the 2025 College Draft, giving them a strong position in the upcoming draft as they begin a new chapter under recently hired general manager Joe Spallina and head coach Anthony Kelly.

Grant, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 College Draft, was a standout at the University of Delaware, where he set the program’s all-time record for caused turnovers (123) and racked up 169 ground balls over his career. Known for his physicality and disruptive presence between the lines, Grant also showed flashes in transition, scoring seven goals in his final collegiate season. However, Grant has been limited to just three professional appearances due to injury, which slowed the start of his PLL career.

That absence opened the door for Jared Conners, who was traded to the Redwoods in 2024 after spending the first part of his career with the Archers. Conners thrived in an expanded role, ultimately earning the primary LSM spot and becoming one of the team’s more consistent contributors during an otherwise difficult season. With Conners firmly in place and the Redwoods in the midst of a roster reset, the front office saw an opportunity to recoup major draft capital in exchange for a talented but still-developing player.

Now armed with back-to-back top picks, the Redwoods are well-positioned to address multiple needs in the 2025 College Draft. After finishing with just two wins last season and ranking near the bottom of the league in scoring, California is embracing a rebuild, and Spallina now has even more resources to reshape the roster and inject much-needed new faces and talent.

For the Cannons, the move adds another elite athlete to an already strong defensive core. Grant joins a unit that includes a Brodie Merrill Long-Stick Midfielder of the Year finalist in Ethan Rall, giving Boston even more versatility and physicality on the wings. While Grant’s primary value lies in his defensive play and ability to win ground balls, his transition ability also fits the Cannons’ uptempo style.

That said, the deal does represent a bit of a gamble for Boston. The Cannons don’t have any immediate, glaring needs on the roster, but parting with the third overall pick in this year’s draft is a significant price nonetheless, especially for a player with limited pro experience and injury history. Still, if Grant stays healthy and returns to form, the Cannons could be adding another difference-maker to a group already built to contend.