Mathieu Betts talks about why Detroit Lions were best fit for him
After having him in for a workout in December, the Lions signed reigning CFL Most Outstanding Defensive Player Mathieu Betts earlier this week. He had 18 sacks in 18 games for the BC Lions last season, which caught the attention of multiple NFL teams and made him the top CFL free agent available. The Lions certainly need pass rush help.
Betts had three workouts after last season and at least one other offer from an NFL team, which apparently included guaranteed money. His one-year deal with the Lions does not include any guaranteed, but Betts told CFL reporter John Hodge why Detroit was the best fit for him.
"That’s the roster we were the most confident that I could that crack,” Betts said in a videoconference this week. “It was the first workout that I had this offseason and the chemistry, the energy, the discussions I’ve had with the staff there just felt right.”
Betts also talked about what the Lions told him they liked about him.
"The one thing they told me that popped off film is they saw somebody that was working hard,” Betts said. “And after they got that box checked, then they started looking at different athletic capacities and football capacities.”
Betts got a chance in the NFL with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted rookie in 2019, making it to final roster cuts before heading back home to play (he's from Montreal). Now, with four years of pro football experience, he say he's ready for a fresh opportunity in the NFL.
"I don’t think there’s anything that I did five years ago that I don’t do better now,” Betts said. “So I feel like I’m in a better situation football-wise to make an NFL roster.”