According to ESPN NFL insider Adam Caplan, the Lions have signed former Raiders corner D.J. Hayden to a one-year deal worth up to $5.25 million.
#Lions agreed to terms on a 1-year deal up to $5.25 million with CB DJ Hayden, source said.
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) March 10, 2017
The former 12th overall pick by Oakland back in 2013 saw his best season come in 2015 when he recorded 70 combined tackles, one forced fumble and one interception over 16 games played. Hayden appeared in 13 games last season with 37 combined tackles before being placed on injured reserve on December 3rd with a hamstring injury.
However the fact that Hayden is still alive let alone playing football can be seen as a miracle. During his senior season at Houston, Hayden was struck in the chest by a teammates knee tearing the inferior vena cava in his heart. It was a life-threatening injury due to blood loss and see’s a fatality rate of 95 percent. Remarkably Hayden was able to recover and still All-Conference USA honors but told teams at the combine that he couldn’t see much out of his left eye.
I’m not sure if that’s still the case.