CFL Defensive Player of Year Could Set Off Free Agency Frenzy
The BC Lions may have a problem on their hands in free agency — keeping Mathieu Betts.
The Montreal-born defensive end emerged from his fourth CFL season in 2023 as the CFL's Most Outstanding Defensive Player, and for good reason. His 18 sacks set a new single-season record for sacks among Canadian-born players.
The 6-foot-3, 250-pound end was also named a West Division All-Star and a CFL All-Star, both for the first time.
With that, Betts might be able to push the envelope on his contract and make himself the highest-paid defensive end in the CFL. Betts was already well-paid, as 3downnation.com reported his 2023 maximum value at $206,000. At the time, that made him the highest-paid Canadian-born defensive end.
He also snagged a host of salary bonuses for his performance, including his All-Star selections.
Entering the 2023 season the highest-paid defensive end was Toronto’s Folarin Orimolade, who was paid $240,000 in hard money.
Betts hits free agency as a potential No. 1 target for any team hoping to boost its sack production — including his hometown Montreal Alouettes, who just won the Grey Cup.
Montreal would benefit from Betts’ high productivity — 25 sacks in his two seasons with BC, as he joined the Lions after starting his CFL career as a first-round pick for Edmonton in 2019.
Going home might have special meaning for Betts. Not only is he from Montreal, he played for U Sports power Laval in Quebec City, where he helped the Rouge et Or to Vanier Cups in 2016 and 2018. He was the U Sports Rookie of the Year in 2015 and a three-time Metras Trophy winner, given to U Sports’ best down lineman.
Montreal would also have to prioritize Betts. He signed his two-year deal with BC on the first day of free agency in 2022.
The free-agency period begins on Feb. 13 at noon eastern time.
If the Lions haven’t locked Betts up by then, all bets may be off.
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Matthew Postins writes about baseball for Fan Nation/SI and covers Big 12 basketball for Heartland College Sports. He formerly covered the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and USports football for the College Football America Yearbook.