Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle is reporting that the Detroit Lions have agreed to terms with nickelback and special teamer Tony McRae to a 1-year deal worth $1.5 million.
McRae was undrafted out of North Carolina A&T in 2016 signed with the Raiders after the draft but was released in Spring camp, joined the Bengals and spent the year on their practice squad. In 2017 he jumped to the Ravens practice squad, then Bills, before re-signing with the Bengals and earning a spot on the active roster later in that season and he remained on their 53-man roster for the last two seasons.
McRae makes his living primarily in the slot, but he gets the majority of his snaps (256) on special teams. Last season McRae learned under new Lions’ special teams coordinator Brayden Coombs and earned a 72.4 grade on special teams from Pro Football Focus.
McRae’s best path to the roster appears to be as a gunner on special teams where he would challenge last year’s gunners C.J. Moore, Dee Virgin, and Mike Ford for a starting role.
Having experience working with Coombs, and a nice payday from the Lions, McRae should be an early leader for a spot on the Lions 53-man roster.
