Bob Quinn and the Lions made a nice free agent splash Wednesday afternoon securing themselves a much needed upgrade at the offensive tackle position.
Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network was the first to report that the Lions signed free agent tackle Ricky Wagner to a deal that’ll ‘eclipse the $9 per year’ mark.
The #Lions and OT Ricky Wagner have agreed in principle on a contract, source said. It will eclipse $9M per year, setting a new market.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 8, 2017
Wagner previously spent the last four years with the Baltimore Ravens which was the same team that drafted him in the fifth round back in 2013. During that time Wagner was a starter for the last three seasons were he was especially effective as a pass blocker. Overall Pro Football Focus graded Wagner with an 84.5 mark putting him on the cusp of a ‘high quality player’ according to their scale.
Meanwhile Wagner’s signing more than likely means former first round pick Riley Reiff will be on his way out. Taken 23rd overall by the Lions back in 2012, Reiff hasn’t been nearly as effective as Wagner both in run and pass blocking. Overall Pro Football Focus graded Reiff out at a 67.5 making him a ‘below average player’.
With Taylor Decker already in tow (PFF ranking of an 82.4) and the Lions all of a sudden have two solid offensive tackles when it comes to making holes for the running backs and giving Matthew Stafford time in the pocket.
Now if they can only figure out that Laken Tomlinson problem…
