Adam Bighill signs 3-year deal with New Orleans Saints

Adam Bighill is NFL-bound.

A force for the BC Lions for the past six seasons, Bighill has reportedly signed a three-year contract with the New Orleans Saints.

#BCLions Adam Bighill has agreed to a 3 year (futures) contract with #Saints. He will receive a signing bonus. @CFLonTSN #NFL

— Farhan Lalji (@FarhanLaljiTSN) January 4, 2017

The 28-year-old linebacker is a four-time CFL All-Star and was named the Most Outstanding Defensive Player in the league in 2015. Last year the Central Washington University product finished third in the CFL in defensive tackles.

See also

• Punter Richie Leone leaves BC Lions for NFL

Bighill has proven himself north of the border, including winning a Grey Cup in 2011, but it remains to be seen if his size will preclude him from having a successful NFL career. Officially listed at 5-foot-10 and 230 pounds, he is small for a linebacker by NFL standards.

But as Lions fans know, you can’t measure the heart of Bighill, who has demonstrated himself to be an extremely hard worker on and off the field since his debut in 2011.

Bighill had until January 27th to find an NFL team after the Lions granted him release to pursue his NFL dream.

“I am grateful for the club’s understanding that as a professional football player, father and husband, I want to maximize my career potential,” Bighill. “I want to make it very clear to our incredible fans however, that I love being a BC Lion and if nothing comes to fruition in the NFL, I will be ecstatic to return to the club.”

Bighill’s gain is the Lions’ loss, as BC will be in tough to replace one half of ‘Team 100’ before next season.

In other news, the Lions announced that defensive back Keynan Parker has re-signed with the team.

“Keynan has developed into a versatile and gifted defensive back who we can count on to provide depth in our secondary,” said GM and head coach Wally Buono. “Talented Canadian players are critical building blocks in a championship team and Keynan has demonstrated the ability to take on multiple duties on defense which makes this signing a big one for the club.”