Lions Star Player Was Sold To 49ers On The Grounds Of…

In an unexpected free agency plot twist on Friday, the Detroit Lions now have a decision to make. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the San Francisco 49ers have signed restricted free agent tight end Brock Wright to an offer sheet.

The Lions gave Wright a one-year right of first refusal/original round tender offer worth $2.985 million earlier this month. Wright was free to seek a deal elsewhere, with the Lions holding the right to match. They have five days to match the 49ers’ offer.

The terms of the 49ers’ offer are not known yet. As Rapoport noted, if the Lions don’t match they will not get any draft pick compensation because Wright was undrafted in 2021.

right signed with Detroit in 2021 as a undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame. He has not put up big numbers (43 catches and seven touchdowns in three seasons), but he has been a key part of the Lions’ offense as a blocker with an occasional moment where he has made a play in a big spot. He missed three games with a hip injury last season, playing 36 percent of the Lions’ offensive snaps.

Will the Lions match the 49ers’ offer sheet to Brock Wright?

As mentioned, the terms of the 49ers’ offer sheet are unknown as of the news of it being signed. But it’s fair to assume it’s more than the non-guaranteed, one-year, $2.985 million tender, or Wright would not have signed it.

t’s rare for a restricted free agent tender to be followed by an offer sheet from another team, and it’s rare for said offer sheet to not be matched by the original team. In 2019 the Lions signed Rams running back Malcolm Brown to an offer sheet, and the Rams matched it.

That said, around $3 million (and likely more now). is getting into pricey territory for a No. 2 tight end who mostly serves as a blocker (and, based on Pro Football Focus grades, not a particularly good blocker). PFF gave Wright a 45.9 run blocking grade last year (65th out of 76 eligible tight ends). But his pass blocking grade (64.0) was better than Sam LaPorta’s (59.6), albeit over fewer snaps.

If the Lions let Wright go, they’ll be down to James Mitchell and Shane Zylstra under contract at tight end along with LaPorta.

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Lions Projected to Find ‘Tag-Team’ Edge Rusher After Surprising Draft Move

A rusher in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft. But The Athletic’s Ben Standig projected the Lions to grab one of the top edge rushers in the class with Alabama’s Chris Braswell after not selecting in the first round at all.

In a mock draft released on March 25, Standig had the Lions trading back from No. 29 overall to No. 44. But even 15 selections later, Standig slotted Braswell to the Lions in the second round.

“Trading for Carlton Davis aided the cornerback room,” The Athletic senior NFL writer wrote. “Now comes a tag-team partner for Aidan Hutchinson.”

In Braswell, the Lions would be landing the No. 4 edge rushing prospect in the 2024 draft class according to ESPN and Pro Football Focus. With a trade back, the Lions would also receive additional draft capital.

Standig proposed the Lions move back 15 spots for the No. 112 pick and a 2025 third-rounder with second-round potential.

With a new edge rusher to pair with Aidan Hutchinson and two more significant draft picks, it’s hard to envision a better trade back scenario for the Lions.