Lions DBs to sign deals with Jaguars
D.J. Hayden and Don Carey are remaining teammates, just in another city. The former Detroit defensive backs agreed to free-agent contracts with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Wednesday, according to a person familiar with negotiations. Both players are expected to sign deals Thursday. SiriusXM Sports reported that Hayden will sign a three-year deal worth US$19 million, including US$9.5 million guaranteed. The 27-year-old Hayden replaces nickel corner Aaron Colvin, who reportedly agreed to a four-year deal with the Houston Texans on Tuesday.
Hayden has played in 61 games with Oakland (2013-16) and Detroit (2017), totalling 223 tackles, 35 pass breakups, three interceptions and 11/2 sacks.
Carey is expected to be a core special teams player for the Jaguars, who are looking to upgrade those units in 2018. A sixth-round draft pick by Cleveland in 2009, Carey landed in Jacksonville after being waived. He started 10 games for Jacksonville in 2010, was cut the following year, and ended up in Detroit. He has registered 117 tackles, nine pass breakups and three interceptions in 99 games. Hayden and Carey will join one of the league’s best defences, a unit that brings back 10 starters from last season and expects to be even better in a second year together. They’re part of Jacksonville’s 2018 free-agent class that also includes All-Pro guard Andrew Norwell and speedy receiver Donte Moncrief, according to two other people familiar with negotiations. The Jaguars also are re-signing receiver Marqise Lee. Norwell is expected to sign a fiveyear, $66.5 million contract that includes $30 million guaranteed, one of the people said. That would make him one of the highest-paid offensive linemen in the league. Moncrief will sign a one-year deal worth $7 million, according to ESPN. Lee agreed to a fouryear deal worth $38 million that includes $18 million guaranteed, another person said.
Lee and Moncrief will be counted on to fill the void left by the loss of former Pro Bowl receiver Allen Robinson, who is headed to Chicago.
Norwell will slide into Jacksonville’s offensive line at left guard.