By Canadian Press

Grey Cup-champion Argos sign veteran defensive back Adarius Pickett

Feb 14, 2023 | 2:09 PM

TORONTO — The Grey-Cup champion Toronto Argonauts signed offensive lineman Darius Ciraco, defensive back Adarius Pickett and defensive lineman Folarin Orimolade on Tuesday.

Ciraco is Canadian while the other two are Americans. The moves came after the free-agent period opened Tuesday.

Pickett, 26, appeared in 16 regular-season games with Montreal last year. He was voted the Alouettes’ top defensive player after registering 73 tackles, seven special-teams tackles, four sacks, one interception, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

The five-foot-11, 210-pound Pickett spent two seasons with Montreal. He appeared in 30 regular-season games, registering 96 tackles, 19 special-teams tackles, five sacks, two interceptions and three forced fumbles.

Before coming to the CFL, Pickett spent 2019-2020 in the NFL with New England, Chicago and the Los Angeles Chargers.

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The 27-year-old Orimolade had 37 tackles, six sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and a touchdown in 17 games last season with Calgary. The five-foot-11, 238-pound American joined the Stampeders in 2018, recording 52 tackles, 11 special-teams tackles, 10 sacks, one pick and three forced fumbles in 34 career regular-season games.

He also won a Grey Cup with the Stampeders in 2018.

The six-foot-four, 292-pound Ciraco appeared in 16 games last season with Ottawa after spending his first three CFL campaigns with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Ciraco, of Burling, Ont., has played in 62 career regular-season games and two Grey Cups.

The Argos also signed defensive lineman Thomas Costigan, an American, and Canadian fullback Mario Villamizar.

Costigan, 25, split last season between Edmonton and Montreal, posting 17 tackles, four special-teams tackles, four sacks and two forced fumble. The six-foot-three, 245-pound lineman had 24 tackles and six sacks in 11 games for the Elks in 2021.

Villamizar, 27, appeared in 40 regular-season games over three seasons with the B.C. Lions. The six-foot-three, 237-pound native of St. Catharines, Ont., played collegiately at Wilfrid Laurier University (2014-2018).

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 14, 2023.

The Canadian Press