The BC Lions have signed Canadian defenseman Riley Pickett to a two-year contract that will keep him with the team until 2027.
The six-foot-three, 250-pound special teams player collected 11 tackles in 18 regular-season games last season, adding four more in the playoffs. He also saw his role in the offense grow, as he collected seven receptions for 56 yards and added six yards on three carries.
“Riley embodies the toughness and toughness we are looking for as we continue to build this roster,” general manager Ryan Rigmaiden said in a statement.
“I love his story of developing from a U-Sports defensive end to one of the best defensive backs and special teams players in the league. He will continue to get better on the field and continue to be a leader in the locker room. We are fortunate to have him on our team.”
Pickett was originally selected by the Lions with the 41st overall pick in the fifth round of the 2022 CFL Draft as a defensive back. He developed into a long snapper in his second season, then added guard duties in his third year and moved to full-time offense in 2025. In total, he appeared in 64 regular season and five playoff games for BC.
The Saskatoon, Sask., native played 30 games for the Saskatchewan Huskies from 2018 to 2021, recording 108 tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 14 sacks, six pass knockdowns, two forced fumbles and a pair of fumble recoveries. In addition to helping the Huskies capture the Hardy Cup in 2018 and compete in the Vanier Cup in 2021, Pickett was a Canadian All-Star in his senior season.
The BC Lions finished second in the West Division standings in 2025 with an 11-7 record and beat the Calgary Stampeders in the West Semi-Finals before losing to the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the West Final. Nathan Rourke threw for 5,290 yards, 31 touchdowns and 16 interceptions in 16 regular-season starts, posting an 11-5 record. He was also named the CFL's Most Outstanding Player.
The Lions ranked first in net offense, fourth in net defense and sixth with a minus-four turnover margin. James Butler rushed for 1,213 yards, Keon Hatcher led the CFL with 1,688 receiving yards and Micah Awe led the league with 117 tackles. British Columbia ranked third in attendance with an average attendance of 27,124, up 0.9 percent from the previous year.
