Lions beef up roster at QB, DE, WR and K
The Lions added a quarterback on Day 1 of free agency, and it was not — officially, at least — Jared Goff.
The Lions agreed to a one-year deal Wednesday with former Green Bay Packers backup Tim Boyle, a source told the Free press. NFL Network reported the deal is worth $2.5 million total, with $1.5 million guaranteed.
Boyle played sparingly in three seasons with the Packers after making the team as an undrafted free agent out of Eastern Kentucky in 2018. He was nontendered as a restricted free agent this week.
Backup quarterbacks Chase Daniel and David Blough remain under contract, but Daniel is expected to be released and Lions general manager Brad Holmes said he is open to taking a quarterback in next month's draft.
Boyle, 26, did not play as Green Bay's No. 3 quarterback behind Aaron Rodgers and Deshone Kizer in 2018. He appeared in 11 games the past two seasons, logged 18 carries — many of them kneel-down snaps — but did not attempt a pass.
In his only collegiate season as a starter, Boyle threw for 2,134 yards with 11 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He played his first three college seasons at UConn.
Boyle is the second ex-Packer the Lions have added in free agency. Late Tuesday night, they agreed to a two-year deal with running Jamaal Williams.
Lions add pass rusher, too
The Lions agreed to a free agent contract with edge rusher Charles Harris on Thursday, according to ESPN.
A first-round pick by the Miami Dolphins in 2017, one pick after the Lions took Jarrad Davis, Harris has 6.5 sacks in four seasons with the Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons.
The Lions have focused on upgrading their
pass rush in the early part of free agency.
They re-signed Romeo Okwara to a threeyear contract at the start of the free agent negotiating period Monday, and added defensive tackle Michael Brockers in a trade with the Los Angeles Rams on Wednesday.
The Lions ranked 27th in sack percentage last season, getting to opposing quarterbacks on 4.3% of their dropbacks.
Homecoming for ex-Lion’s son
As a top draft prospect, Breshad Perriman said he was "looking forward to filling (my dad's) shoes wherever" he played in the NFL.
Seven years later, Perriman's journey has taken him to his father's old team.
The Lions agreed to a one-year contract with Perriman, 27, on Thursday worth up to $3 million, his agent Drew Rosenhaus said.
Perriman has played for four NFL teams in his six seasons, but had his best year in 2019, when he played for new Lions receivers coach Antwaan Randle El with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
A first-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2015, Perriman spent three unproductive seasons in Baltimore before bouncing around the NFL the past three seasons.
He played for Lions senior personnel executive John Dorsey with the Cleveland Browns in 2018, had career-highs of 36 catches, 645 yards and six touchdowns with the Bucs in 2019, and caught 30 passes for 505 yards in 12 games with the New York Jets last season.
Perriman's father, Brett, was a key member of some of the Lions' best offenses in the early 1990s. Playing alongside Barry Sanders, Herman Moore and Johnnie Morton, Brett Perriman caught 108 passes for 1,488 yards and nine touchdowns in 1995.
Perriman, who was 3 years old when his father caught his last pass as a Lion, said in 2015 he has vague recollections, assisted by photo albums, of trailing his dad around training camp as a toddler.
"He wants me to be better than him, and I know I will," Perriman said in 2015. "I think I am already, and he showed me a lot about how to play as a bigger receiver and also play smaller as a smaller receiver and be the more quicker and shiftier receiver."
Call to the Bull(ock)pen at K
The Lions are finalizing a deal with ex-Bengals kicker Randy Bullock to replace Matt Prater, NFL Network reported Thursday.
Prater signed a two-year deal Wednesday with the Arizona Cardinals, where he reunites with his former special teams coach with the Broncos, Jeff Rodgers.
Bullock, 31, spent parts of the past five seasons with the Bengals and has played for four other teams in his nine-year career. He made 85% of his field goals with the Bengals, but was 50% from 50-plus yards.
The Lions signed Matthew Wright to a futures deal earlier this offseason and are expected to have a kicking competition in training camp. Like Bullock, he's known more for his accuracy than his strong leg.