Montreal Alouettes sign former NFL draft pick Thakarius ‘BoPete’ Keyes

Photo: Bears. Photo edit: 3DownNation.

The Montreal Alouettes have signed American defensive back Thakarius ‘BoPete’ Keyes to a two-year contract through the 2027 season.

The six-foot-one, 220-pound defender was a seventh-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2020 NFL Draft. He spent one season with the team, dressing for eight regular-season games and recording eight total tackles with one start.

The 28-year-old was waived by Kansas City at the conclusion of the 2021 season and his rights were claimed by the Indianapolis Colts. Keyes dressed for four regular-season games with the team and made one tackle before being released, then dressed for one regular-season game with the Chicago Bears.

The native of Laurel, Miss. had stints with the Houston Texans, Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, and Cleveland Browns in 2022 and 2023 but never appeared in another regular-season NFL game. He was a member of the San Antonio Brahmas in 2024 and 2025.

Keyes played collegiately at Tulane University, where he made 95 tackles, two interceptions, and 18 pass knockdowns over 39 games.

According to Spotrac, Keyes earned just under $1.5 million USD playing in the NFL.

The Montreal Alouettes finished second in the East Division standings in 2025 with a 10-8 record and beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East Final before losing the 112th Grey Cup to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Davis Alexander went 7-0 as a starter during the regular-season, though he missed 11 games due to a hamstring injury.

The Alouettes ranked eighth in net offence, first in net defence, and third with a turnover differential of plus-eight. The club’s leading rusher was Stevie Scott III with 418 yards, leading receiver was Tyler Snead with 1,129 yards, and leading tackler was Darnell Sankey with 103 tackles. Montreal finished sixth in attendance with average crowds of 21,132, which was a 0.8 percent decrease from the previous year.