Tim Twentyman of the Detroit News takes a look at a proposed labor deal in the NFL that states any player with an expiring contract and four or more years of service in the NFL would become unrestricted free agents. This report was originally brought to surface by ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
But how would this affect the Lions?
Here is a list of the current Lions with expiring contracts with four or more years in the NFL…
Four-year — CB Chris Houston, QB Drew Stanton, DE Turk McBride, K Dave Rayner, S John Wendling, CB Brandon McDonald, WR Brian Clark and CB Tye Hill.
Five-year — LB Bobby Carpenter and G Dylan Gandy.
Six years or more — S C.C. Brown, CB Eric King, LB Vinny Ciurciu and LB Landon Johnson.
Twentyman highlights CB Chris Houston in the group of players who may become an unrestricted free agent if this proposed labor deal comes to fruition. Lions GM Martin Mayhew indicated prior to the end of last season that one of the top priorities for the team in the off-season was to get Houston a new contract.
“He’s a guy we definitely want back,” Mayhew said. “Chris was a good pickup. We are prepared to tender him or deal with him and make him an offer.”
Houston is not only a guy the Lions want to bring bat but he is a Lions need to bring back. Chris Houston was the Lions best CB last season and for the most part only serviceable CB the Lions had.
Some other names of note on that list are third string QB Drew Stanton and DE Turk McBride. Stanton was able to come in last season and help the Lions win some games when Stafford and Hill went down with injury. Turk McBride also was a contributing factor to the nice depth the Lions had on the defensive line.
Source: ESPN, Detroit News
