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Detroit Lions News & Rumors

Lions To Meet With Matt Slauson

March 15th, 2018 at 3:28pm CST by Zachary Links

Chargers free agent guard Matt Slauson is visiting the Lions on Friday, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Slauson was ranked as PFR’s fifth best interior lineman available heading into free agency. 

Slauson, 32, started seven games at left guard the Chargers before being shelved in October with a biceps injury. He also offers previous experience at center. Last year’s starting center, Travis Swanson, is a free agent, so they could be eyeing Slauson to be their new starter in the middle.

Alternatively, Graham Glasgow could be shifted over to center with Slauson displacing Joe Dahl at one starting guard spot. For a complete look at the Lions’ offensive line situation and overall depth chart, check out their page on Roster Resource.

Lions, Seahawks Interested In Quinton Dial

March 15th, 2018 at 1:53pm CST by Zachary Links

Packers free agent defensive tackle Quinton Dial will visit the Lions and Seahawks, according to Tom Silverstein of the Journal Sentinel (on Twitter). Dial, as Silverstein notes, was a positive locker room presence in Green Bay after coming over from the 49ers. 

It’s not clear if the Packers are still in the mix to keep Dial, but they think highly of him. When signing him last year, the Packers paid him one dollar more than the veteran’s minimum ($775,001), which left open the possibility of extending him in-season. They didn’t do that, however, allowing him to explore the open market.

Dial, 28 in July, appeared in 13 games with two starts for the Packers last season. He totaled 19 tackles.

Raiders To Meet With LB Tahir Whitehead

March 15th, 2018 at 12:18pm CST by Zachary Links

Lions free agent linebacker Tahir Whitehead is visiting the Raiders, a source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Whitehead was ranked as one of PFR’s ten best available players at the position heading into free agency. 

Whitehead has been with the Lions since 2012 and has been a fixture in their front seven since 2014. This past season, he started in all 16 games and totaled 110 tackles plus one sack.

The 27-year-old (28 in April) is coming off of a two-year deal worth more than $8MM. This time around, he’s probably due for a pay bump considering the contracts that have been given to other non-rush linebackers this offseason. The Jets scoffed at Demario Davis‘ request for $8MM per year, but he got that with his three-year, $24MM deal with the Saints. Meanwhile, Nigel Bradham re-upped with the Eagles on a five-year, $40MM deal and Anthony Hitchens scored a five-year, $45MM deal with the Chiefs.

Lions To Meet With TE Brent Celek

March 15th, 2018 at 11:54am CST by Zachary Links

Tight end Brent Celek is meeting with the Lions on Thursday, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan (on Twitter). Celek is a free agent following his release from the Eagles. 

Celek could fill a need for the Lions following the release of Eric Ebron and the departure of Darren Fells in free agency. Ebron was mainly utilized as a receiver for Detroit and Fells was a blocking specialist. Celek, 33, does a bit of both.

Celek was overshadowed a bit in Philadelphia last year with Zach Ertz and Trey Burton ahead of him on the depth chart, but he appeared in all 16 games for the Eagles. He has been remarkably durable over the course of his career, missing just one game since entering the league in 2007.

Once upon a time, Celek was a major part of the Eagles’ passing attack. He nearly hit 1,000 receiving yards in 2009 and he averaged 59 catches for 744 yards and 4+ TDs between 2009 and 2012. In recent years, he’s been used more for blocking purposes. He has just 27 grabs for 285 yards over the last two seasons.

RB LeGarrette Blount To Visit Lions

March 14th, 2018 at 9:10pm CST by Ben Levine

Add another name to the list of Lions running back targets. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports (via Twitter) that free agent LeGarrette Blount is set to meet with Detroit. Earlier tonight, there were conflicting reports that the organization was closing in on a deal with free agent back Frank Gore. The organization also met with DeMarco Murray and Jonathan Stewart (before he inked a deal with the Giants).

Following three straight seasons with the Patriots, Blount joined the Eagles last offseason. The 31-year-0ld proceeded to play in all 16 games (11 starts) last season, collecting 766 rushing yards and two scores on 173 carries (4.4 yards per carry). Blount was plenty productive in the postseason, collecting three touchdowns en route to a Super Bowl championship.

Pro Football Focus wasn’t overly enthused with Blount’s performance in 2017, ranking him 41st among 58 eligible running backs. However, the veteran’s track record still earned him the 11th spot in our free agent running back rankings.

The 250-pound Blount would certainly provide the Lions with a change-of-pace running back. The team is already rostering Ameer Abdullah, Theo Riddick, Tion Green, and Dwayne Washington.

RB Frank Gore Closing In On Deal With Lions?

March 14th, 2018 at 8:46pm CST by Ben Levine

Frank Gore may be closing to signing with a new team. Mike Jones of USA Today reports (via Twitter) that the veteran running back is close to reaching an agreement with the Lions. However, both Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press and Josina Anderson of ESPN tweet that Gore just arrived in Detroit, and his visit hasn’t yet started. We learned yesterday that Gore was set to meet with Detroit.

We heard in late February that the Colts were planning to move on from the 34-year-old, and previous reports indicated that the veteran running back intended to keep playing in 2018. Despite getting up there in age, Gore was listed as the sixth-best free agent running back in our positional rankings.

Playing in his 13th NFL season, Gore collected 250-plus carries for the seventh consecutive campaign. The former 49ers star ultimately started all 16 games for Indy last season, compiling 961 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 261 carries. Gore also added another 29 receptions for 245 yards and one touchdown. Pro Football Focus actually wasn’t all that critical of his 2017 performance, as the site ranked him 17th among 58 eligible running backs.

Gore would provide the Lions with another option at running back. The team is already rostering Ameer Abdullah, Theo Riddick, Tion Green, and Dwayne Washington. The Bills have also been connected to Gore.

Lions To Sign CB DeShawn Shead

March 14th, 2018 at 5:45pm CST by Zachary Links

Former Seahawks cornerback DeShawn Shead has signed with the Lions, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). He received a one-year deal worth $3.5MM. The deal be worth as much as $6.5MM with playtime incentives.

It’s a solid deal for Shead, who played in just two games last season after returning from a broken leg. The deal also has considerable upside for Detroit – Shead was Seattle’s full-time cornerback opposite Richard Sherman in 2016 and could prove be a starting caliber player at a bargain.

As shown on Roster Resource, the Lions project to start Darius Slay at one cornerback spot, but Shead could bump Quandre Diggs for the other top job. After re-signing on a two-year deal worth more than $9MM, Nevin Lawson will return in support.

The 49ers were among the teams with interest in Shead.

Joe Berger Has Offers From Vikings, Lions; May Retire

March 14th, 2018 at 5:06pm CST by Zachary Links

Offensive lineman Joe Berger may hang up his cleats. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that the veteran is considering retirement. The reporter notes that the lineman already has offers on the table from both the Vikings and Lions. We heard earlier this week that at least three teams were eyeing Berger.

The 35-year-old has spent the past seven seasons with the Vikings, where he’s started of each his 46 games over the past three seasons. Capable of playing guard or center, Berger ranks as PFR’s No. 8 interior lineman heading into free agency. Berger had previously indicated that he’d likely retire following the 2017 season, but he’s since walked that back.

The lineman started all 16 games for the Vikings last season, and Pro Football Focus ranked him 23rd among 77 guard candidates following the campaign. Mike Remmers and Danny Isidora are currently slotted in as the Vikings starting guards, while Joe Dahl and T.J. Lang hold that distinction for the Lions.

RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/14/18

March 14th, 2018 at 4:06pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Here are today’s restricted free agent and exclusive-rights free agent tender decisions, with the list being updated throughout the day. All links go to Twitter unless otherwise noted:

RFAs

Tendered at the second-round level ($2.914MM):

Tendered at original round level ($1.907MM):

Non-tendered:

ERFAs

Tendered:

Non-tendered:

Lions To Release Eric Ebron

March 14th, 2018 at 2:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

Less than an hour before the new league year begins, the Lions are taking Eric Ebron‘s contract off their payroll.

The team attempted to find a trade partner for its longtime tight end, but after failing to do so, Ebron will be released, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.

Ebron’s fifth-year option of $8.25MM would have kicked in if he was still on the Lions once the 2018 league year officially started. Detroit now has that amount to spend, with fifth-year options being guaranteed for injury only. Ebron will venture into free agency.

The former North Carolina pass-catcher did not live up to the hype that came with his top-10 selection, and the Lions were listening to offers for him. While Ebron showed intermittent promise, he could not put it together for lengthy stretches. He finished last season with 53 receptions for 574 yards and four touchdowns.

While the Lions felt his production wasn’t worth the upcoming salary, Ebron — who will turn just 25 next month — could still encounter a decent market, based on what’s been happening with pass-catchers this week. PFR’s top two UFA tight ends have been signed, but Ebron will join the likes of Austin Seferian-Jenkins and Tyler Eifert as the top available players at this position.

The Lions will see their cap space jump up past $35MM as a result of this maneuver. Michael Roberts, as of now, would be in line to inherit Ebron’s old job. The second-year player, though, caught just four passes last season.

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