According to multiple reports, the Detroit Lions are planning to sign arguably the top defensive end on the market, former New England Patriot Trey Flowers, to a five-year deal.
Financial terms were not disclosed and won’t be official until the new league year begins on Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET, but NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting that is should be in the range of $16-$17 million per year. Contracts are tricky, so it’s important for Lions fans to have patience until the contract structure is released.
This would be a huge addition to the Lions and one likely the biggest free agent acquisitions since Bob Quinn became the Lions general manager. With a ridiculous 90.4 season grade from Pro Football Focus, Flowers was one of, if not the top target for the Lions this offseason.
Incredibly efficient as a pass rusher and stout against the run, Flowers can do it all. And the fact that he understands coach Matt Patricia’s scheme intimately will allow him to step in on Day 1 with zero learning curve.
The Lions inability to put pressure on the quarterback was their Achilles heel last year and Flowers solves that problem emphatically.
