Walter Tychnowicz/CFL.ca
OTTAWA — Adarius Pickett has officially joined the Ottawa REDBLACKS.
The team announced on Tuesday that they have signed the CFL All-Star defensive back Adarius Pickett to a one-year deal.
“We are excited to welcome Adarius to RNation,” said REDBLACKS General Manager Shawn Burke. “His talent and production, along with the passion he brings both on and off the field made it an easy decision for us to get this deal done.”
Pickett was listed No. 8 on CFL.ca’s top 30 pending free agent list and was released officially by the Argos on Tuesday morning.
RELATED
» Market Ready: The 2024 CFL Free Agent Tracker
» Costabile: 5 game-changing pending free agent defenders
» Nye: Where will Brady Oliveira land?
» Steinberg: 4 potential landing spots for Mathieu Betts
» CFL.ca’s top 30 pending free agents
» More Free Agency news, notes and analysis
I’m told Adarius Pickett is headed to #Redblacks when he becomes a free agent. #CFLPA @CFLonTSN pic.twitter.com/j5In3MrLLI
— Farhan Lalji (@FarhanLaljiTSN) February 5, 2024
“The Party Starter is in the nation’s capital, it’s about to be lit! I’m bringing high energy, physicality, and leadership. I came to Ottawa to reunite with B-Miles, he was my first DB coach in the CFL. Who better to coach me again than a CFL Hall of Famer,” said Pickett.
“Coach Dyce has always shown me major respect being on opposing sidelines, so being on the same sideline intrigued me. Ottawa is ready to win now, and I think I can help take them to that next level. God has blessed me with this opportunity and I plan to maximize it.”
Pickett had a great season in 2023, his first with the Argonauts after two years in Montreal, finishing with 105 defensive tackles, six sacks and a forced fumble on his way to being named a CFL All-Star. The versatile five-foot-11, 210-pounder also finished the year leading the Argos in special teams tackles (19).
Pickett was also the runner-up to Mathieu Betts for Most Outstanding Defensive Player as a key piece of a Double Blue defence that allowed only 83.6 rushing yards and 22 points per game.
Pickett was an Alouette in 2021 and 2022, collecting 96 tackles, 19 on special teams, five sacks, two interceptions, three forced fumbles and a touchdown through 30 career games in Montreal.
