Riders Sign 5 Players

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have announced national receiver S.J. Haidara, international offensive lineman Jarriel King, national defensive back Kwame Adjei, national offensive lineman Aaron Picton and national running back Brandon Deschamps have all signed with the team. As per club policy, terms of the contracts were not released.

Haidara (6’1 – 215) will return for his fourth CFL season and second with the Riders after joining the team in June, 2015. Last season, the 26-year-old played nine regular season games picking up eight receptions for 58 yards and one special teams tackle.

Haidara has played 43 career regular season games through his first four years after originally being selected by the BC Lions in the 2^nd round (12^th overall) in the 2013 CFL Draft.  

King (6’5 – 315) was acquired by the Riders last week in a trade with the Toronto Argonauts. The 28-year-old South Carolina product played three regular season games for the Argonauts in 2015. Through three seasons with the Argos, King has played 29 regular season games, with 26 starts, spending time at guard and tackle.

Both Haidara and King were eligible to become free agents on February 9^th.

Adjei (6’1 – 205) signs with the Riders after playing five collegiate seasons at Mount Allison. The 22-year-old Brampton, ON native picked up 176 total defensive tackles, 6.5 quarterback sacks, and eight interceptions in 40 career regular season games.

Adjei attended training camp with the Riders last season after the team selected him in the 5^th round (42^nd overall) of the 2014 CFL Draft.    

Picton (6’4 – 295) officially joins the Green and White after his draft rights were picked up by the Riders in a September, 2015 trade with the Calgary Stampeders. The Regina native spent the last five seasons with the University of Regina playing 38 career conference games on the Rams offensive line.  

The Stampeders had originally selected Picton in the sixth round (53^rd overall) of the 2015 CFL Draft.

Deschamps (6’0 – 215) signs with the Riders after spending the previous five seasons at the University of British Columbia. Last season, the Prince George, BC  rushed for 1,098 yards on 150 carries in 12 regular-season and playoff games in 2015, when UBC won the Vanier Cup. He had attended the B.C. Lions’ 2014 training camp as an undrafted free agent.