A seventh contract for a fifth-round draft pick is quite a feat.
Veteran receiver Mitch Picton hit the No. 7 mark on Feb. 6 when he signed another extension with the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
“Nine-year-old Mitch on the RMF atom Bears would find that pretty cool,” said the Regina-born Picton, who was selected 37th overall in the 2017 CFL Draft.
“It wouldn’t be possible without the support of my wife (Kaylee), the rest of my family and, of course, the incredible coaches and Regina football community.”
Twenty years beyond “nine-year-old Mitch,” he savours the ride.
“When I signed the deal, I was thinking about how long it has actually been,” the 29-year-old son of Derek and Cheryl Picton reflected.
“Especially being a fifth-round draft pick all those years ago, I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot that maybe wasn’t expected.
“The cards are kind of stacked against you. You’ve got to go through a lot of stuff. You’ve got to go through the practice roster and play on special teams and all those sorts of things.
“Those are things that I enjoy and that have been part of the process that I’ve been through.”
The process began, CFL-wise, when Picton was in his final season with the University of Regina Rams. He played Canada West football for the Rams in 2017 while also being part of the Roughriders’ practice roster.
Picton returned to the practice roster in 2018 before making his on-field debut with Saskatchewan the following year.
Since then, he has caught 76 passes for 852 yards and six touchdowns in 45 regular-season games. He has also played in the 2021 and 2024 Western Finals.
“I feel like we have accomplished a lot,” Picton said. “We’ve been to a couple of West Finals and that sort of thing, but there’s still that last one.
“We’ve got to get over that hump and bring a Grey Cup back to Saskatchewan. There’s another opportunity to do that this season. I feel like we have an incredible group.”
Picton also uses the word “incredible” to describe his journey — in a modest and appreciative fashion.
“This is the best place in the country to play, bar none,” he said. “To do it in my home province is pretty special for me and very special for my family and something I certainly don’t take for granted.”
Especially as someone who overcame the odds by not only making a CFL roster as a fifth-round Draft choice, but has also enjoyed the kind of longevity that routinely eludes professional athletes in a “what have you done lately?” business.
“I feel incredibly fortunate to that I’ve been able to play for as long as I have and stay at home,” Picton said.
“I feel like the team has been very good to me as well. It has been a very good relationship.”
One that was seemingly meant to be.
Consider the fact that Picton scored two touchdowns in the first football game ever played at new Mosaic Stadium — an Oct. 1, 2016 test event between the Rams and University of Saskatchewan Huskies. The Roughriders’ current home facility officially opened the following year.
Also in 2017, Picton signed his first two CFL contracts — on May 19 and Dec. 12.
He subsequently inked extensions in 2018 (Nov. 29), 2019 (Dec. 11), 2022 (Jan. 31) and 2023 (Feb. 10) before reaching his latest deal.
“I’m very happy with it,” he said. “I’ve been here my whole career and really didn’t want to go anywhere else.”
The new agreement was reached during the CFL’s free-agent communication window, which was open from Feb. 2 to 9. Teams could re-sign their own players (such as Picton) within that period, but a change of affiliations could not take place until the free-agency period formally began on Feb. 11.
“I wasn’t in a big rush,” Picton said. “I think the team was kind of on the same page as me in that respect. There’s a pecking order of things that have to get done, whether that was with Trevor (Harris) or whomever.
“I figured things would probably come together late, because they have in the past. There’s a little bit of suspense down to the end when you actually start negotiating, but it was a pretty seamless process.
“They’ve been good to me. I feel like we’ve been fair in return. The deals have always come together at a fair number for both sides, I feel.”
Picton has seen both sides of the equation.
As one who grew up attending Roughriders games and hoped to play for them one day, he can appreciate the attainment of a goal.
That is part of the message he conveys while speaking to students as part of the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation’s Win With Wellness program.
“The province does so much,” Picton said shortly before a school visit on Tuesday. “The Roughriders don’t exist without the support of the people of Saskatchewan. Any way that we can, with any opportunity that we have, we always try to give back.
“Especially with me being a kid from Saskatchewan, I see that it is possible for kids who are playing minor football anywhere in the province. You’ve got to tell them that it is possible.
“It’s a lot of hard work and it isn’t always as glorious as it may seem right now, but it is possible. Good things can happen when you work hard and are put in a good situation.
“We always try to give back. I love it. This is the place that I’ve chosen as home. Me and my wife live here.
“For me, it’s always special because this is my home, so I feel like I can be out in the community making a difference for the next generation.
“That’s kind of an added benefit for me, because I feel like I’m also doing some good and hopefully creating some good citizens for the future of Saskatchewan.”
