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Detroit Lions News & Rumors

Lions Interested In TE Trey Burton

March 12th, 2018 at 2:06pm CST by Zachary Links

The Lions are among the teams with interest in free agent tight end Trey Burton, according to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com (on Twitter). With about “half a dozen serious suitors,” in the mix for Burton, they’ll have some steep competition for his services. 

Burton emerged as a real talent for the Eagles in 2017, but they do not have the space necessary to retain him. The 49ers are reportedly among the clubs with interest in signing him and they certainly have the room to pull it off.

Over the past two seasons, Burton has averaged just 30 catches, 288 yards, and three touchdowns per campaign, but he’s been very efficient. Football Outsiders ranked Burton third in DVOA among tight ends a season ago, underscoring his value on a per-play basis.

Last week, I ranked Burton as the No. 19 free agent available based on expected contract value.

While the Lions as of now have a starting tight end in Eric Ebron, the team is listening to offers on the fifth-year tight end. The Lions picked up Ebron’s fifth-year option last May, and that’s worth $8.25MM. It’s possible Detroit could cut Ebron, however, and pursue another tight end. That decision could come down to the wire, with the option becoming guaranteed on Wednesday.

Lions To Meet With RB Jonathan Stewart

March 12th, 2018 at 8:46am CST by Zachary Links

Former Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart is scheduled to visit with the Lions on Monday, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Stewart’s visit is taking place before DeMarco Murray touches down in Detroit later on today.

Stewart was released by the Panthers late last month after ten seasons with Carolina. Late last week, he took his first free agent visit with the Seahawks, but did not sign right away.

Last year, Stewart didn’t put together much of a stat line as he played behind rookie Christian McCaffrey. It’s possible that a change of scenery, a different blocking scheme, or a different complement in the backfield could improve Stewart’s output. He is on the verge of his 31st birthday, but Stewart’s isn’t that far removed from his 2015 season in which he averaged 4.1 yards per carry and qualified for the Pro Bowl.

The Lions had the worst rushing production in the NFL last year, so they are open to all options this offseason.

DeMarco Murray To Meet With Lions

March 11th, 2018 at 10:19pm CST by Zachary Links

Former Titans running back DeMarco Murray is scheduled to visit the Lions on Monday, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Murray secured his release from Tennessee on Thursday, making him eligible for free agency right away.

Murray, 30, is coming off of a down season in which he amassed just 659 yards and averaged 3.6 yards per carry. On a per-tote basis, it matched the career low he set in his lone season with the Eagles. He did have 39 catches for 266 yards, however, and may be capable of getting back to his old form with a new team.

The Lions are in serious need of help in the backfield after finishing at or near the bottom in every statistical measure of rushing. Detroit owns the No. 20 selection in this year’s draft, but they may prefer to use that pick to bolster their pass rush or another area of the team.

Last year, Murray graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 40 running back in the league. That’s nothing to write home about, but pass-catching specialist Theo Riddick (No. 24) was the only Detroit RB to place higher.

DeShawn Shead Planning To Visit Lions

March 11th, 2018 at 4:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

In a full rebuild of their cornerback corps, the Seahawks are expected to release DeShawn Shead once his contract tolls on Monday. This comes after Seattle parted ways with Richard Sherman and Jeremy Lane.

Sherman was rumored to be squarely on the Lions’ radar, but the 49ers signed him. It appears Detroit is also interested in Shead. The corner’s agent, Cameron Foster, told KJR Radio’s Curtis Crabtree (via Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk) that Shead has a visit scheduled with the Lions on Wednesday.

Shead returned from a broken leg to play in two games last season for the Seahawks, but it wasn’t enough to accrue a year toward free agency. But the Seahawks will send him there anyway. Shead, who will turn 30 in June, was Seattle’s full-time right cornerback opposite Sherman in 2016. A former UDFA, Shead broke his leg in the Seahawks’ divisional-round loss to the Falcons in the ’16 playoffs.

Detroit has Darius Slay signed long-term but has a need at corner. And Shead won’t cost remotely what the 49ers paid Sherman.

Lions Were Very Interested In Richard Sherman

March 11th, 2018 at 12:44pm CST by Rory Parks

Richard Sherman has dominated headlines over the past few days, and just yesterday, the former Seahawks star cut short what might have been a lengthy free agency tour by signing a three-year pact with the 49ers.

Earlier today, we learned that the Patriots did not reach out to Sherman before he agreed to sign with San Francisco, though New England was a team that Sherman indicated he would be interested in joining. The Lions were the only team other than the 49ers that Sherman had scheduled a visit with, and per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Detroit’s interest in the Stanford product was significant.

Citing a league source, Florio says the Lions were “strongly motivated” to pursue Sherman, and some believe that Sherman should have at least visited the Motor City if for no other reason than to leverage the 49ers into a better contract (as Florio pointed out in a separate piece, Sherman’s self-negotiated contract with the 49ers does not look especially player-friendly).

However, the 49ers may have told Sherman that if he left San Francisco without signing, then they would have pulled their offer entirely. As such, it seems that Sherman elected to take a sure thing rather than risk losing a contract that, in theory, could pay him $13MM per year. Of course, his joining the 49ers also includes the opportunity to torment his old team two times a year, and Florio suggests that could have played a role in his decision.

Florio also opines that Sherman could have landed a better deal by waiting until teams that hope to secure a starting-caliber cornerback in free agency failed to do so, or until after the draft had concluded, and that perhaps a one-year “prove it” contract might have been a better option. In any event, Florio believes the speed with which events unfolded suggests that Sherman did not do as well for himself as he could have.

Of course, it’s easy to second-guess a contract that a player negotiates without an agent, and only time will tell if Sherman acted too hastily. The Lions, meanwhile, will have to look elsewhere to upgrade their CB corps.

Lions Looking To Improve Defense

March 11th, 2018 at 9:40am CST by Ben Levine
  • If the Lions don’t envision tight end Eric Ebron being in their future plans, ESPN.com’s Michael Rothstein believes it makes sense for the organization to get something for the player via trade. However, if the team plans to trade Ebron and replace him with someone like Jimmy Graham, Rothstein doesn’t understand the logic. The two tight ends put up similar numbers in 2017, and Graham is seven years older than Ebron. Ultimately, the writer doesn’t believe a player like Graham would provide a massive upgrade over Ebron.
  • The Lions do need an early-down running back, but Rothstein doesn’t believe veteran DeMarco Murray would be a good fit. The running back’s age and declining numbers make the writer wary, and he anticipates the Pro Bowler would earn more than his fellow free agents. Plus, Rothstein points out that there are younger, more intriguing options available via free agency.
  • With $28MM in cap space and six key contributors heading to free agency, the Lions will look the revamp their defense this offseason, writes Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press. Detroit could conceivably be eyeing holes on every unit of their defense, including defensive line, linebacker, and defensive back. “From a needs standpoint, we’re going to make sure obviously we have enough competition in all the situations and you want to have good competition, the best competition you can possibly get,” head coach Matt Patricia said of his team’s offseason approach. “So you’re never going to really try to pass up an opportunity for a good player on your team, and whether that puts someone else that’s maybe a good player on your team in a hard spot or a competitive situation, then that’s probably good for you. So that’s what we’re going to do as we go through.” The Lions are apparently already looking to make some moves, as the team is set to meet with cornerback DeShawn Shead this week.

    [SOURCE LINK]

Richard Sherman To Visit Lions?

March 10th, 2018 at 1:58pm CST by Sam Robinson

Two stops on Richard Sherman‘s itinerary have now emerged. The free agent cornerback has scheduled a visit with the Lions, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com reports (on Twitter).

Sherman’s 49ers meeting began on Friday night and is ongoing, but the three-time All-Pro is doing due diligence as a first-time free agent, it appears.

Josina Anderson of ESPN.com, however, tweets Sherman told her he and the Lions have not slotted a date for this summit yet.

It’s unclear if Sherman is planning to examine the market through a wide lens or if he would be open to completing a deal after one of his early stops. Adam Schefter of ESPN.com reported the 49ers could end up being Sherman’s only visit, but preliminary interest has come Sherman’s way from the Titans, Raiders, Texans, Buccaneers and Packers thus far.

Acting as his own agent, Sherman appeared in indicate he’d like to survey the market.

“This will be an ongoing process and I am excited to take on this challenge,” the 29-year-old corner wrote (on Twitter). “To the fans urging me to join your team, I am humbled but I can only look at the teams that have reached out.”

The Lions have an entrenched CB1 in Darius Slay, a 2017 All-Pro, but have a need opposite the recently extended talent. Sherman, who will turn 30 later this month, landed on the All-Pro team from 2012-14.

Holding around $27MM in cap space, the Lions are well behind the 49ers ($70MM-plus) in this running. But this could develop into more than a two-team race for a strong candidate to land on the 2010s’ all-decade team.

Lions Re-Sign DE Kerry Hyder

March 10th, 2018 at 9:19am CST by Ben Levine

Kerry Hyder will be sticking around Detroit. ESPN’s Field Yates tweets that the Lions have re-signed the defensive end. The 26-year-old was set to become an exclusive rights free agent. Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press tweets that Hyder signed his ERFA tender, which is worth $630K.

Following a brief stint with the Jets, the 2014 undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech has spent the past three seasons with the Lions. The lineman had a breakout season in 2016, compiling 36 tackles and eight sacks in 16 games (two starts). Unfortunately, Hyder tore his Achilles during his team’s first 2017 preseason game, and he ultimately sat out for the entirety of this past campaign.

With Ezekiel Ansah and Anthony Zettel likely to start the season in Detroit, it’s unlikely that Hyder will automatically earn a starting gig. However, he figures to be the top reserve among a group that also includes Cornelius Washington, Jeremiah Valoaga, Alex Barrett, and Christian Ringo (ERFA).

49ers To Meet With Richard Sherman

March 10th, 2018 at 8:38am CST by Ben Levine

Could Richard Sherman be joining another NFC West team? It sounds like he’s at least considering the idea, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweets that the veteran cornerback is set to meet with 49ers officials today.

San Francisco wants to confirm that Sherman is recovering from his Achilles injuries, and if everything goes well, the two sides will “try to get a contract done.” In another tweet, Schefter says there’s a good chance that this is Sherman’s only visit. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport says (via Twitter) Sherman’s apparent interest in the 49ers makes sense. The cornerback has “a strong affinity for the West Coast,” and he’s already familiar with defensive coordinator Robert Saleh‘s scheme.

Meanwhile, ESPN’s Josina Anderson reports (via Twitter) that Sherman has received “preliminary interest” from a list of additional teams: the Lions, Titans, Raiders, Texans, Buccaneers, and Packers.

Sherman’s seven-year tenure with the Seahawks came to an end yesterday, as the team released the defensive back with a failed physical designation. The veteran is still rehabbing from surgery to fix a torn Achilles and remove a bone spur, but he expects to be ready by June. The three-time First-Team All-Pro was relatively productive in nine games last season, compiling 35 tackles, two interceptions, and seven passes defended.

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