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Detroit Lions News & Rumors

Lions Sign 12 Undrafted FAs

May 8th, 2015 at 8:22am CST by Luke Adams

The Lions have officially signed 12 undrafted free agents, formally announcing the latest additions to their roster today. As Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com points out in his round-up, players like Joseph Fauria, LaAdrian Waddle, and Cornelius Lucas have joined the club as UDFAs in recent years and stuck around, so there may be a couple diamonds in the rough in 2015’s class.

Here’s the full list, with bonus info – via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press – noted in parentheses:

  • Al Bond, G, Memphis ($6K bonus)
  • Anthony Boone, QB, Duke ($3K bonus)
  • Kyle Brindza, K, Notre Dame ($7.5K bonus)
  • Isaiah Johnson, S, Georgia Tech ($12K bonus)
  • Vernon Johnson, WR, Texas A&M Commerce ($10K bonus)
  • Desmond Lawrence, WR, North Carolina A&T
  • Casey Pierce, TE, Kent State ($7K bonus)
  • Kevin Snyder, LB, Rutgers ($1K bonus)
  • Brian Suite, S, Utah State ($2.5K bonus)
  • Rasheed Williams, RB, Alfred State ($2.5K bonus)
  • Torrian Wilson, OL, UCF ($11K bonus)
  • Zach Zenner, RB, South Dakota State ($5K bonus)

Lions Notes: Wright, Mayhew, Swanson

May 3rd, 2015 at 10:36am CST by Rory Parks

As this weekend’s draft dust continues to settle, let’s take a look at a few draft-related notes out of Detroit:

  • The Lions ultimately drafted DT Gabe Wright in yesterday’s fourth round after trading a 2016 third-round pick to the Eagles to move up to the 113th-overall selection. As Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com tweets, one of the reasons they were comfortable in doing that was because they knew that they would likely be getting a fairly high compensatory selection in 2016’s draft as a result of losing Ndamukong Suh in free agency.
  • Last season’s injuries played a major role in the Lions’ draft strategy this year, writes Carlos Monarrez of The Detroit Free Press. The team went through four right tackles and lost their top two nickel corners after Week 2, so GM Martin Mayhew drafted durable offensive linemen Laken Tomlinson and Corey Robinson. Detroit also added Stanford corner Alex Carter in the third round and Texas nickel corner Quandre Diggs in the sixth.
  • Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com points out that, for the first time in his seven-draft tenure as Lions GM, Mayhew did not select a wide receiver. “There were a couple of times during the draft when a receiver’s name was up there,” Mayhew said. “But there was somebody else who was more of a reason to go in a different direction.”
  • After hinting for the past few months that they wanted to shift to a more run-oriented offense, Kyle Meinke of MLive.com says the Lions took a definitive step in that direction this weekend by drafting a mauling guard (Tomlinson), a tailback (Ameer Abdullah), and even a fullback (Michael Burton).
  • The Lions drafted Travis Swanson in the third round last year with intentions of having him take over for Dominic Raiola at center this season. But as Dave Birkett of The Detroit Free Press writes, Detroit, which has spent four high-round draft picks on offensive linemen in the last three years, is not willing to commit to Swanson as its starting center just yet. He was penciled into the starting lineup until Thursday night, when the Lions acquired veteran interior blocker Manny Ramirez in a trade with Denver.

Eagles Notes: Mathis, Lions, Collins

May 2nd, 2015 at 4:17pm CST by Rob DiRe

Before the draft, many fans and pundits expected the Eagles to be aggressive in moving up to try to get Marcus Mariota and other players in order to strengthen the roster, putting current players and future draft picks on the trading block in order to create packages to go after prospects they valued highly.

They did trade up once in the early rounds to select Eric Rowe, but actually leave the weekend without trading any players and actually managed to come away with an extra 2016 third-round pick after trading their fourth-round pick to the Lions.

Here are a few notes surrounding the Chip Kelly and the Eagles on trades and the NFL Draft:

  • Evan Mathis is one player who has been rumored to be available, but he remains an Eagle even if he has a strenuous relationship with his head coach. Kelly said that Mathis has been available for two years now, and no team has made an offer for him yet, according to Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News (via Twitter).
  • No offer may have been on the table, but Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets that the Lions had some interest in Mathis before acquiring two guards in the first round (Laken Tomlinson at No. 28, and Manny Ramirez via trade from the Broncos).
  • Kelly also confirmed that controversial prospect La’el Collins was removed from the team’s draft board following his recent legal issues, despite his first-round talent, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (via Twitter).

Lions Acquire No. 113 Pick From Eagles

May 2nd, 2015 at 11:45am CST by Ben Levine

Having entered the day with no picks until the fifth round, the Lions have moved up to the fourth round. According to Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer (via Twitter), Detroit has acquired pick No. 113 from the Eagles. In exchange, the Eagles have received a 2016 third-rounder from Detroit, according to Zach Berman of The Philadelphia Inquirer (via Twitter).

According to the Baltimore Sun’s Aaron Wilson (on Twitter), the Lions will select Auburn defensive tackle Gabe Wright. The 23-year-old will never be confused with departed defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh (or replacement Haloti Ngata), but the rookie will certainly provide some depth and reinforcement at the position.

After trading out of the fourth round, the Eagles’s next selection is in round six, at pick No 191.

Lions Acquire 80th Pick From Vikings

May 1st, 2015 at 9:28pm CST by Connor J. Byrne

Two NFC North rivals have swung a deal. The Vikings will send the 80th pick in the draft to the Lions, reports Chris Long of 1500 ESPN (Twitter link). In return, the Vikings will receive picks 88 and 143, tweets Master Tesfatsion of the Star Tribune.

With the 80th pick, the Lions selected Stanford cornerback Alex Carter.

Broncos Acquire 23rd Pick From Lions

May 1st, 2015 at 2:43pm CST by Dallas Robinson

FRIDAY, 2:43pm: Ramirez has passed his physical, according to Tim Twentyman of DetroitLions.com on Twitter, making the trade official.

THURSDAY, 9:31pm: The Broncos have traded up, acquiring the No. 23 pick from the Lions, according to Dianna Marie Russini of NBC 4 (Twitter link). Denver will use the pick to select Missouri pass rusher Shane Ray, tweets Mike Klis of 9 News. Detroit will receive the Broncos’ No. 28 pick, a fifth-rounder (143), a 2016 fifth-rounder, and offensive lineman Manny Ramirez.

Per Adam Schefter of ESPN (Twitter link), the deal was agreed to on Wednesday. Presumably, Denver agreed to the deal in principle with the hope that Ray was still on the board. Of course, Ray, once projected as a top-ten pick, saw his stock tumble following his recent arrest for marijuana possession. He’s also dealing with a foot injury that could force him to miss the beginning of the season.

Ramirez, meanwhile, will slot in at left guard for Detroit, who has yet to re-sign their own free agent guard, Rob Sims. Ramirez played more than 1,000 snaps for the Broncos last season, seeing time at both center and guard.

NFC Draft Notes: 49ers, Thompson, Bucs, Gregory

May 1st, 2015 at 1:12pm CST by Ben Levine

NFL.com’s Marc Sessler explores which teams could move up during Friday’s portion of the draft. The Cowboys and Cardinals top the list, as the writer believes the teams could make a move for a targeted running back. The Lions are a candidate to move up and grab a defensive lineman, while the Saints could target a young quarterback.

Let’s take a look at some more draft notes from the NFC…

  • 49ers GM Trent Baalke told reporters (video link on 49ers’ website) that he didn’t draft defensive end Arik Armstead as insurance against Justin Smith‘s possible retirement. Smith’s status for 2015 and beyond is still up in the air but Baalke has said all along that his uncertain status wouldn’t affect the team’s draft plans.
  • If linebacker Shaq Thompson hadn’t been selected by the Panthers at pick No. 25, Adam Jude of The Seattle Times says (via Twitter) the Cowboys were ready to “pounce” at No. 27.
  • Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times says (via Twitter) the Buccaneers are “thrilled” that offensive tackles Jake Fisher (Oregon) and T.J. Clemmings (Pittsburgh) are still one the board. The writer notes that the team will target one of the lineman with pick No. 34.
  • Meanwhile, ESPN’s Ed Werder says Randy Gregory is on the Buccaneers draft board, which indicates that the embattled linebacker is also being considered at pick No. 34 (Twitter link).

Zach Links contributed to this post.

NFC Notes: Lions, Saints, 49ers, Cowboys

April 30th, 2015 at 11:48pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Earlier tonight, we rounded up a few leftover draft-related items out of the AFC. Now let’s shift our focus to the other conference and pass along some NFC notes….

  • The Lions had three offers to trade back, GM Martin Mayhew tells Michael Rothstein of ESPN.com (Twitter link), but the Broncos’ decision to offer Manny Ramirez helped Detroit make its decision.
  • Had Andrus Peat not been available to the Saints, they would have been fine with choosing Danny Shelton, says head coach Sean Payton (Twitter link via Sean Fazende of FOX 8).
  • The 49ers had several options in the first round, as GM Trent Baalke tells Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle (via Twitter) that there were still five or six prospects the team “coveted” when the No. 15 pick rolled around. As such, it made sense for the Niners to move back a little.
  • The Cowboys would’ve thought hard about trading down had Byron Jones not been available, says Dallas exec Stephen Jones (Twitter link via Todd Archer of ESPN.com). Jones says the club had a couple other players who were in play at the back end of the first round.
  • Texas defensive tackle Malcom Brown was still on the board when the Patriots grabbed him with the last pick of the first round, and it sounds like Brown himself thought he’d be picked sooner — according to Jeff Howe of the Boston Herald (Twitter link), the newest Pat was told he could have gone as high as No. 7 to the Bears.

Luke Adams contributed to this post.

Draft Rumors: Gurley, Saints, K. Johnson

April 30th, 2015 at 6:01pm CST by Dallas Robinson

Three teams who pick in the top ten are considering Georgia running back Todd Gurley, according to Todd McShay of ESPN (Twitter link). The Dolphins are also known to be in on Gurley, but it sounds like he may not last that long.

Here are some more rumors as we approach the start of the draft:

  • A “high-level” Saints source tells Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (Twitter link) that the club doesn’t intend to take a quarterback in the first round. Previous reports had indicated that New Orleans would be interested in Baylor QB Bryce Petty at No. 31.
  • Wake Forest cornerback Kevin Johnson is expected to be off the board by the time the Ravens pick at No. 26, sources tell Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun, who notes that the Dolphins, at pick No. 13, could consider Johnson.
  • It’s possible that we see a run on offensive tackles near the end of the first round, which could cause the Broncos to consider trading up. However, Denver won’t give up a second-rounder to do so, tweets Troy Renck of the Denver Post.
  • The Lions recently called Texas A&M tackle Cedric Ogbuehi to double-check his contact information, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press (Twitter link). That might not mean much on its face, but at least we know Ogbuehi, who is recovering from an ACL injury, is still on Detroit’s board.
  • The Rams have received calls from teams interested in moving up to the tenth pick, tweets Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

Draft Notes: Cooper, Lions, Collins

April 28th, 2015 at 9:11pm CST by Zachary Links

In his latest mock draft, Peter King of The MMQB sees the first two picks going as most of us suspect they will: Jameis Winston to the Buccaneers and Marcus Mariota to the Titans. However, he cautions that if a team offers something ludicrous like three first-round picks, the Titans would consider dealing the No. 2 selection. At No. 3, King projects that the Jaguars will take Alabama wide receiver Amari Cooper, though it’s tough to forecast what Jacksonville will do. Here’s a look at the latest draft news:

  • The Lions among the teams making lots of calls about possibly moving down in the draft in order to get more picks and they’re not alone in that, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com tweets.
  • Police are seeking to question La’el Collins following the shooting death of a pregnant woman last week, but the former LSU offensive lineman is not considered a suspect, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com writes. Collins is not being looked at as the shooter but he could potentially be the father of the infant who was delivered after the woman’s death. The former LSU standout is projected to be a first-round pick.
  • Iowa defensive tackle Carl Davis has visited the Cowboys, Dolphins, 49ers, Bills, and Bears, according to Josh Katzenstein of The Detroit News (on Twitter).
  • The Saints worked out Central Arkansas wide receiver Dezmin Lewis, according to Kristian Garic of WWL 870am (on Twitter).
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