CFL teams needing a strong-side linebacker will have to pay top dollar come free agency if by far the best one becomes available on the open market: Adarius Pickett.
The five-foot-eleven, 215-pound defender produced a monster season for the Toronto Argonauts last year, helping his team set a new regular-season franchise win total at 16-2. He posted 105 tackles, 19 special teams tackles, five tackles for loss, six sacks, recovered two fumbles, and forced one on his way to being voted a CFL all-star.
Pickett’s elite-level play saw him named the Most Outstanding Defensive Player in the East Division, making him the Most Outstanding Defensive Player for two different teams in back-to-back seasons. In 2022, he made 73 defensive tackles, seven special teams tackles, four sacks, two forced fumbles, one interception, and one touchdown over 16 starts with the Montreal Alouettes.
The native of Berkeley, Calif earned a raise following his breakout season in La Belle Province, collecting $140,500 this past year including all-star incentives. The 27-year-old is in the prime of his career and the market should help him capitalize on his work over the past two seasons.
Titus Wall re-signed with the Calgary Stampeders, taking the only other proven strong-side linebacker off the market. Branden Dozier, Chris Edwards, and Alden Darby remain pending free agents, although those players are not on the same level as Pickett.
Dozier has primarily played safety in Calgary and made 83 defensive tackles over the past two seasons. Edwards has turned yet another team off with his disciplinary issues, while Darby was benched in favour of Canadian Redha Kramdi this past season with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Only six defensive players in the CFL earned more than $200,000 in 2023 and the Argonauts recently made two-time CFL all-star Wynton McManis the top-paid linebacker, again, in the three-down league. He earned $188,800 in 2023 and secured a raise on his extension for 2024 with Toronto worth around $205,000.
If the Argos can’t afford to keep Pickett around, he’s expected to be one of this year’s highest earners in free agency for the strong level of his play, the premium nature of his position and the lack of available alternates.
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