The B.C. Lions signed wide receiver Dezmon Patmon and moved wide receiver Milton Wright III and defensive back Rico Gafford Jr. to the retired list on Monday according to the CFL Transactions page.
Dezmon Patmon is six foot four and weighs 225 pounds. The 25-year-old from San Diego, California, signed with the Michigan Panthers as a free agent on February 5, 2024, but was released on March 21, 2024. In 2023, Patmon made three catches for 35 yards, and one touchdown in two preseason games for the Buffalo Bills.
The Buffalo Bills signed Patmon as a free agent on January 23, 2023. After he was released by the Bills, Patmon signed with the Carolina Panthers and was placed on the practice squad.
Before Buffalo, Patmon was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the sixth round (212th pick) of the 2020 NFL Draft. He spent three seasons in Indianapolis making four catches for 45 yards, and one touchdown in ten games.
Collegiately, Patmon played four seasons at Washington State (2016-19) making 156 catches for 1,976 yards, and 13 touchdowns in 43 games for the Cougars.
Milton Wright III is six foot three and weighs 195 pounds. The 23-year-old from Louisville, Kentucky, signed with the B.C. Lions on November 27, 2023. Before B.C., Wright III signed with the Los Angeles Chargers as an undrafted free agent in 2023. He appeared in two preseason games but recorded no stats.
Collegiately, Wright III played three seasons at Purdue (2019-21) with 99 catches for 1,325 yards, 10 touchdowns, and 6 carries for 16 yards in 29 games for the Boilermakers. He was named Fourth Team All-Big 10 by Phil Steele.
Rico Gafford Jr. is five foot ten and weighs 185 pounds. The 27-year-old from Des Moines, Iowa, was on the B.C. Lions practice squad in 2023. He re-signed with the Lions on November 22, 2023. Before B.C., Gafford Jr. spent the majority of the 2022 season on the Green Bay Packers practice squad. On December 13, 2022, Gafford signed with the Birmingham Stallions but was released on April 10, 2023.
Gafford Jr. signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He later signed with the Oakland Raiders. Gafford Jr. played eight games for the Raiders with one tackle and one catch for 12 yards. After Oakland/Las Vegas, Gafford signed with the Arizona Cardinals.
Collegiately, Gafford Jr. played two seasons at Iowa Community College (2014-15) with 77 tackles (54 solo, 23 assists), four interceptions, 18 kick returns for 460 yards, and one blocked punt return for 12 yards, and one touchdown in 23 games for the Reivers.
He helped the Reivers win the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) National Championship Bowl in 2015.
Then, Gafford Jr. transferred to Wyoming (2016-17) with 103 tackles (76 solo, 27 assists), 1.5 tackles for loss, six interceptions for 109 yards, one touchdown, 17 pass breakups, three forced fumbles, and seven kick returns for 140 yards in 27 games for the Cowboys.
