B.C. Lions sign veteran CFL defender Jamal Parker

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The B.C. Lions have signed American defensive back Jamal Parker.

The 28-year-old played 11 regular-season games for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2025, making six starts at safety and five at field-side cornerback. He recorded 36 defensive tackles, one interception, and one touchdown but was released by the team in December.

The native of Pennsauken, N.J. first signed with the Blue Bombers in 2022. He played 32 regular-season games over four years with the team, making 86 defensive tackles, 11 special teams tackles, two interceptions, one sack, and one touchdown. He missed the entire 2024 season due to a torn ACL.

The five-foot-eight, 177-pound defender played collegiately at Kent State where he made 230 total tackles, four tackles for loss, 38 pass knockdowns, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery over 48 games. He also returned 29 kickoffs for 1,181 yards and one touchdown, earning a second-team All-Conference selection in his senior year.

The B.C. Lions signed defensive lineman Casey Sayles and linebacker Darnell Sankey after they were released by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Montreal Alouettes, respectively, though the team was relatively inactive in free agency. The team’s major departure was All-CFL offensive lineman Jarell Broxton, who signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The Lions hold the seventh overall pick in the 2026 CFL Draft, which is scheduled for Tuesday, April 28 at 7:00 p.m. EDT. All CFL training camps are scheduled to open on May 10. B.C. will play its first preseason game against the Edmonton Elks on Saturday, May 23 and its first regular-season game against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday, June 13.

In 2025, B.C. finished second in the West Division standings with an 11-7 record. They beat the Calgary Stampeders in the West Semi-Final but lost the West Final to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Franchise quarterback Nathan Rourke threw for 5,290 yards, 31 touchdowns, and 16 interceptions to be named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Player.