Regina product Mitch Picton is calling it a career. The hometown receiver announced his retirement from the Canadian Football League after nine seasons with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the team he grew up watching, capping his career with a Grey Cup championship in 2025.
Selected in the fifth round (37th overall) of the 2017 CFL Draft, Picton suited up in 64 regular-season games for Saskatchewan, recording 96 receptions for 1,081 yards and six touchdowns. He also made an impact away from the field, serving as a Player Ambassador for the Roughrider Foundation.
Picton’s connection to the franchise began even before he officially joined the team. In 2016, he caught two touchdown passes from his cousin, Noah Picton, during the first football game played at Mosaic Stadium, a preseason test event that saw the University of Regina Rams defeat the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.
He later appeared in the Roughriders’ first preseason game at the new stadium in June 2017 before returning to the Rams for his final U Sports season. Over five years with the program, Picton totalled 170 catches for 2,447 yards and 24 touchdowns, earning Canada West All-Star and First-Team All-Canadian honours in 2016.
After spending time on the practice roster in 2017 and 2018, Picton made his CFL regular-season debut on July 27, 2019, against the B.C. Lions.
His most productive CFL season came in 2021, when he posted a career-high 25 receptions and scored his first touchdown. He also set a single-game high with eight catches later that season against Hamilton.
In 2023, Picton recorded a personal-best 232 receiving yards, highlighted by a late touchdown grab from quarterback Trevor Harris in a dramatic win over Edmonton at Mosaic Stadium.
Last season, Picton added 20 receptions for 226 yards in 14 games and was part of Saskatchewan’s Grey Cup-winning roster, wearing No. 81 in the championship game.
Off the field, Picton was a familiar face in communities across Saskatchewan, visiting schools through programs focused on literacy and mental health.
Picton and his wife, Kaylee, will continue to call Regina home as he steps away from professional football.
