Jesse James‘ two-year stint in Detroit has come to an end. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that the Lions have released the veteran tight end. The move will save the team more than $6MM over the next two years.
The tight end initially joined the Lions on a four-year, $22.6MM deal back in 2019, but he hasn’t come close to matching the (limited) production he displayed during his time with the Steelers. In 32 games (18 starts) over the past two years, James has hauled in 30 receptions for 271 yards and two touchdowns. The 26-year-old had cap hits of $6.4MM in 2021 and $7.1MM in 2022, and the Lions will be left with dead cap hits of $4.2MM in 2021 and $5.7MM in 2022.
The 2015 fifth-round pick spent the first four seasons of his career with Pittsburgh, starting 36 totals games. His best season came in 2018 when he hauled in 30 receptions for 423 yards and two scores.
T.J. Hockenson obviously sits atop the Lions tight ends depth chart, but the team will surely be looking for some reinforcement behind him. Hunter Bryant is the only other tight end under contract for the 2021 campaign.
I can’t fathom why the Lions paid him so much just to underutilize his offensive capabilities
Bob Quinn wanted to prove he was a worse GM than Ryan Pace.
I can’t fathom why the lions paid him when he has no capability
He had more than what they used him in. James was barely on the field-maybe some of that was due to skill limitations but with a contract like that the Lions needed to at least try and give him a few more opportunities.
Once they made the asinine move of drafting Hock, they knew their necks were tied to him (Hock), and were determined to ensure his success, and make him the focal point to justify the insanity of drafting an overrated, overhyped TE in the first round (for the 3rd time in recent history for this org), and all other casualties at the position were inevitable in the process.
Asinine move of drafting Hock? That may be the ONE smart move Quinn made
I wondered this too.
Curious move.
Not that much difference between
The cap hits and the dead money cap hits.
13.5 vs 9.9.
He barely broke a 100 yards in each season. Best to move on. Easy move to make.
blasting off again
Also rumored to be “on the bubble” in Detroit are:
Henry McCarty,
Robert Parker,
Harry Longabaugh.
WOOSH
Went right by you guys, didn’t it ?
Totally got it. Are Bill Hickock, Bill Cody and Tom Horn on the bubble too?
Hey, I liked it.
Back to the Steelers I see ad his next move as well as BJ finney, not to mention the sense it makes for both sides.
Absotively posolutely. Welcome back boys…
It is pretty clear that the Detroit GM was never on the same page as Matt Patricia’s coaching staff – as there is no need to acquire players that don’t fit the schemes you plan to implement.
Replaced with Josh Hill at TE.