The Detroit Lions are adding some international flavor to their offseason ranks, adding one of the top players from the Canadian Football League to their roster.
According to the Detroit Free Press , the Lions have signed pass rusher Mathieu Betts of the B.C. Lions to a contract. Betts was voted the CFL’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the 2023 season following a dominating campaign with 18 sacks in 18 games.
Speaking to the Free Press, Betts’ agent Sash Ghavami said that he had “offers in both leagues” but ultimately fit the Lions most.
“He had offers in both leagues and ultimately the fit in Detroit, they’ve had continued interest in him ever since he worked out for them,” Betts agent, Sasha Ghavami, told the Free Press. “There’s a really good fit. I think he fits the type of player they look for in terms of high-energy, high-motor, going to give it his all. And I think for him it was another opportunity to go in the NFL and make your way through it. He’s confident in his abilities and I think he just wants the opportunity.”
Born in Montreal, Mathieu Betts played college football at Laval University in Quebec. He went undrafted by the NFL in 2019 but got a three-year contract with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent. However, he was released at final roster cuts before his rookie NFL season.
Betts then signed for Edmonton, where he played for three years but didn’t exactly rise to national prominence in the league.
After a year like the one he just had though, it seems pretty clear that he’s capable of big things.
Can he replicate that success in the NFL though?