It appears the depth chart along the Detroit defensive line is taking a minor hit.
According to a report from Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, the Lions will not extend a tender offer to restricted free agent defensive lineman Kerry Hyder. The team has until March 13 to officially make the decision, but Rapoport’s report echoes the common discussion in Indianapolis during the NFL combine that Hyder was unlikely to return.
If the Lions don’t issue a tender offer, Hyder will become an unrestricted free agent. The team could still place an offer to him and earn the right to match any other team’s offer, but it appears they are ready to move on from Hyder after a disappointing 2018. He did not appear fully recovered from the torn Achilles which wiped out his promising 2017 campaign.
The team already agreed to terms with the other potential restricted free agent on the defensive front, Romeo Okwara.
