The Detroit Lions may be in need of a tight end shortly.
On Friday, Lions tight end Brock Wright accepted a three-year, $12 million restricted free agency contract from the San Francisco 49ers.
In early March, the Lions issued Wright an original-round tender of $2.985 million as a restricted free agent. The tender allows them five days to match any contract Wright makes with another team. Because Wright was an undrafted free agent, they will not receive draft pick compensation if he goes.
Wright has been an important element of the Lions’ running game for the past three seasons as a block-first tight end. He started four games last season and caught 13 catches for 91 yards and two scores before fracturing his forearm during the Lions’ divisional round playoff victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
That one still hurts: Dan Campbell rewatched the finish of the 49ers game, certain Lions ‘not going to break’ in 2024.
The Lions return Sam LaPorta as their primary tight end, James Mitchell as a backup, and re-signed exclusive rights free agent Shane Zylstra this summer, but they would be looking for another blocker at the position if they do not match the 49ers’ offer.
