Multiple local and national sources are reporting that the Detroit Lions have agreed to terms with linebackers Reggie Ragland and Elijah Lee.
Ragland was a popular choice among Lions fans in the 2016 NFL Draft, after a successful career at Alabama. He was selected 41st overall by the Buffalo Bills after they traded up to get him. Unfortunately, he missed his entire rookie season due to injury.
In 2017, the Bills went through a regime change, felt Ragland no longer fit their 43 scheme, and traded him to the Kansas City Chiefs for a fourth-round pick. Ragland would spend the next three seasons with the Chiefs and was part of their Super Bowl victory last season.
At 6-2, 251, Ragland — who was on our Playoff free agency watchlist — is a downhill thumper who has flashed strong run defense and the ability to blitz when given the opportunity.
Ragland is a part-time rotational off-the-ball linebacker, but he has the skill set to play at MIKE, WILL, and JACK — fitting the offseason narrative that the Lions are adding linebackers with positional fluidity, ala Jamie Collins.
Lee was originally selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the seventh round (pick 232 overall) of the 2017 draft but was released at cut-downs his rookie season. San Francisco seized the opportunity to snag Lee and over the next three seasons, he would play 38 games for them, starting six. The 49ers opted not to pick up his restricted free agent tender — which would have been over $2 million — and he became an unrestricted free agent.
At 6-2, 229, Lee is primarily a special teams player and depth at MIKE and WILL, likely challenging Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Steve Longa, and Jason Cabinda for a spot(s) on the 53-man roster.
