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Detroit Lions News & Rumors

Contract Details: CBs, McDougald, Ellis

March 14th, 2018 at 12:31pm CST by Sam Robinson

Let’s take a look at the details from the latest contracts signed in the NFL, with all links going to Twitter unless otherwise noted:

Lions Re-Sign LB Nick Bellore

March 14th, 2018 at 10:29am CST by Dallas Robinson

The Lions have re-signed linebacker Nick Bellore, the club announced today.

While Bellore is a linebacker in title, he was essentially a special teams-only player in 2017. The 28-year-old Bellore played only 108 defensive snaps a season ago, but saw nearly triple that action on special teams. Detroit general manager Bob Quinn has shown a willingness to pay for ST prowess in the past, and the Lions finished fifth in special teams DVOA last season.

Every one of Detroit’s free agent forays has been on the defensive side of the ball thus far, as the club has signed linebackers Devon Kennard and Christian Jones, plus re-signed defensive backs Nevin Lawson and Tavon Wilson.

Frank Gore To Visit Lions

March 13th, 2018 at 9:53pm CST by Ben Levine

Frank Gore is set to have his first meeting of the offseason. Aditi Kinkhabwala of NFL Network reports (via Twitter) that the veteran running back is set to meet with the Lions this week.

We heard in late February that the Colts were planning to move on from the veteran running back, and previous reports indicated that the 34-year-old intended to keep playing in 2018. The Bills have already been connected to the Gore, who was listed as the sixth-best free agent running back in our positional rankings.

Despite playing in his 13th NFL season, Gore still collected 250-plus carries for the seventh consecutive campaign. The former 49ers star ultimately started all 16 games for Indy, 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.

Lions Re-Sign Nevin Lawson

March 13th, 2018 at 5:14pm CST by Zachary Links

The Lions have agreed to re-sign cornerback Nevin Lawson, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). Lawson will receive a two-year, $9.2MM deal that can max out at $10MM, tweets Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, while the pact contains $4.55MM in guarantees, per Adam Caplan of SiriusXM (Twitter link).

Lawson, 27 in April, has been a starter for the last two years and change in Detroit. Last year, he started in all 15 of his games and totaled 43 tackles with four passes defensed. The Lions like what he brings to the table, but the advanced metrics have never held him in high regard (he was one of the ten worst qualified corners last year, per Pro Football Focus) and he is still in search of his first career interception.

It’s unclear if re-signing Lawson will take the Lions out of the cornerback market, but one cornerback who would have made sense for the Lions — former Patriot Malcolm Butler — is now off the table after inking a hefty deal with the Titans. D.J. Hayden, who appeared in all 16 games for Detroit last season, is in talks with the Jaguars, so the Lions may need to replace their slot corner. DeShawn Shead, for one, is scheduled to meet with Detroit today.

If nothing else, Lawson will give the Lions a cheap depth option. Even if Detroit doesn’t plan to deploy him as a starter again in 2018, a $5MM annual value isn’t a bad price for a third cornerback.

The Lions have been active today, re-signing safety Tavon Wilson while adding external free agents in linebackers Christian Jones and Devon Kennard.

Jaguars, CB D.J. Hayden In Talks

March 13th, 2018 at 5:05pm CST by Zachary Links

The Jaguars working on deal with cornerback D.J. Hayden, according to Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union (on Twitter). Hayden spent last season with the Lions.

Jacksonville has invested heavily in its secondary over the past few years, and has added corners Jalen Ramsey and A.J. Bouye through the draft and free agency, respectively. However, the Jaguars aren’t able to keep everyone in their defensive backfield, and today they lost slot cornerback Aaron Colvin to the division-rival Texans.

Hayden, a former first-round pick, could take over Colvin’s old role if signed by the Jaguars. Hayden, 27, has never lived up to his draft billing, but it’s possible his performance could improve if he’s sandwiched by All-Pro corners on either side of him. That would entail a large step forward, however: Pro Football Focus graded Hayden as a bottom-30 corner among 121 qualifiers.

DeShawn Shead To Visit Lions, 49ers

March 13th, 2018 at 1:53pm CST by Zachary Links

Former Seahawks cornerback DeShawn Shead is visiting the Lions on Tuesday, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). If he leaves without an agreement, he’ll meet with the 49ers on Wednesday. 

Shead’s contract tolled for the 2018 season, but the Seahawks honored a promise to make him an unrestricted free agent in that event. Seattle hopes to retain Shead, but they may not get the opportunity to re-sign him given the outside interest he has and their own numbers crunch.

Shead returned from a broken leg to play in two games last season for the Seahawks, The cornerback, 30 in June, was Seattle’s full-time right cornerback opposite Richard Sherman in 2016. With Sherman and Jeremy Lane already out of the picture, it sounds like Shead could be the next Legion of Boomer to wind up elsewhere.

Lions To Sign LB Christian Jones

March 13th, 2018 at 11:19am CST by Zachary Links

Former Bears linebacker Christian Jones plans to sign a two-year deal with the Lions, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Jones’ new contract is a two-year deal worth $7.75MM, including a $2.8MM signing bonus, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). Jones had spent the previous four seasons with the Bears.

Jones, 27, made 11 starts for Chicago last season. On the year, he racked up 84 total tackles and two sacks with two passes defended. Jones graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 64-ranked linebacker last season. That’s not excellent, but Tahir Whitehead and Jarrad Davis were the only Lions LBs to finish higher.

The intra-NFC North defection will represent more turnover for the Bears at inside linebacker this offseason. The team already cut Jerrell Freeman, whom Jones replaced in the starting lineup. Freeman initially replaced Jones after he signed with Chicago in 2016, with Jones — a former UDFA — starting 13 games for the Bears in 2015. He returned to the first unit by making 11 starts last season and now figures to play a prominent role in Detroit.

Lions Agree To Deal With LB Devon Kennard

March 13th, 2018 at 11:08am CST by Ryan Posner

The Lions have agreed to a deal with free-agent outside linebacker Devon Kennard, according to Peter Schrager of Fox Sports (on Twitter). Schrager opines that Kennard’s versatility will make him a good fit in the scheme of new Lions head coach Matt Patricia.

Kennard’s deal will be worth three years, $18.75MM, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (on Twitter). There was undoubtedly a need at outside linebacker for the Lions, with Tahir Whitehead and Paul Worrilow set to hit unrestricted free agency. They already know their front seven will take a hit next season, as defensive tackle Haloti Ngata agreed to a deal with the Eagles on Tuesday.

In four seasons with the Giants, who took Kennard in the fifth round of the 2014 draft, he’s started 35 games, including a career-high 11 starts last season. The 26-year-old managed to rack up four sacks last season despite playing as a non-rush backer. It was the second time in his career that he’s collected at least four sacks.

Kennard had said last month that he believed he would fit well within new Giants defensive coordinator James Bettcher‘s 3-4 scheme. It was also reported before the season that the Giants were interested in signing Kennard to a long-term deal. But they’re now under a new regime with general manager Dave Gettleman.

Lions Re-Sign S Tavon Wilson

March 13th, 2018 at 8:57am CST by Zachary Links

The Lions re-signed safety Tavon Wilson to a 2-year, $7MM deal, a source tells ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). Wilson was scheduled for free agency, but he’s now under contract with Detroit through the 2019 season. 

Wilson, who turns 28 this month, has appeared in 25 games for the Lions with appearances at both free safety and strong safety. Last year, he totaled 55 tackles, two sacks, and one interception.

The advanced metrics were not high on his play as Pro Football Focus ranked him as one of the ten worst qualified safeties in the NFL. In the year prior, however, he earned a strong 83.8 grade and was also held in high regard for his previous seasons with the Patriots. Old friend Bob Quinn brought him to Detroit after drafting him in New England and their partnership will continue for another two seasons.

Lions, Buccaneers In On DT Beau Allen

March 12th, 2018 at 7:10pm CST by Dallas Robinson

The Lions and Buccaneers are among the clubs with interest in free agent defensive tackle Beau Allen, according to Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press (Twitter link).

This represents the first known interest in Allen, who spent the first four seasons of his career with the Eagles. Allen, 26, was extremely durable that time, as the only game he missed during his Philadelphia was a meaningless Week 17 contest in 2017. Last year, Allen — a one-technique tackle by trade — appeared on roughly 41% of the Eagles’ defensive snaps. He’s PFR’s No. 6-ranked interior defender.

Detroit and Tampa Bay both ranked among the bottom half of the league in adjusted line yards, Football Outsiders‘ defensive line metric. The Lions could lose defensive tackle Haloti Ngata to either free agency or retirement, while the Buccaneers have already released fellow interior defender Chris Baker this offseason.

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