The Lions and restricted free agent defensive tackle Khyri Thornton have agreed to a deal, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. It’s a two-year, $3.3MM pact that features a $325K signing bonus (Twitter link). Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com (on Twitter) hears that the deal is actually worth $3.6MM.
Thornton, 27, entered the NFL as the Packers’ third-round pick in 2014, but he didn’t suit up in any regular-season games with the team. He debuted in 2015 as a member of the NFC North rival Lions, with whom he has totaled 19 appearances. Thirteen of those appearances came last year for Thornton, who made the first six starts of his career, registered his first sack and tallied 19 tackles. Pro Football Focus wasn’t impressed, though, as it ranked his performance 121st among 126 qualified interior D-linemen.
After appearing in 29.9 percent of the Lions’ defensive snaps last year, Thornton should once again serve as depth for the club next season. Haloti Ngata, who plans to return for his age-33 campaign, and A’Shawn Robinson figure to slot in ahead of Thornton along Detroit’s interior line.