The Detroit Lions had one 2026 free agent signing land in Sports Illustrated's recent Top 50 list.
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Cade Mays helped fill a need along the offensive line, as the team made the decision to part ways with veteran Graham Glasgow following the conclusion of the 2025 NFL season.
The former Carolina Panthers lineman came in ranked at No. 37, noting, "the Lions weren’t super active in free agency, but they shored up one of their biggest needs by signing Mays at center."
Mays inkied a three-year contract worth $25 million that included $14 million in guaranteed monies.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell, who recently spoke to Fox 2 Detroit, expressed he likes the stability Mays can bring to the offensive line.
Last season, Detroit's offense had their ups and downs, resulting in offensive coordinator John Morton losing his play-calling duties and eventually being dismissed.
The team tried to have rookie Tate Ratledge take snaps at center during training camp, but that was a short-lived experiment. Glasgow ended up landing the starting job.
“I like where we’re going. Getting Mays was good, Cade Mays was big. He gives us a centerpiece there at center. He can anchor, he keeps the pocket clean for Goff, and we don’t feel limited in the run game by what he can do," said Campbell. "We feel like he can reach the wide zones, he can do the gap schemes, all of those, pin and pull. So that gives us some stability back, and then (Larry) Borom gives us that ability to start, ready to go in there and compete.
"Also can swing, he can play jumbo tight end. Those pieces alone help us, and then you get Scruggs. Last week, we got Ben Bartch," Campbell added further. "We feel like we’ve raised the floor, and we’re not done. We’ve raised the floor, and now you can compete. Those guys have to try to compete with each other and try to see who comes out on top.”
Detroit also has Giovanni Manu on the roster, but the expectation is that he is still not ready to take over a starting job along the offensive line.
In the upcoming draft, pundits are projecting Detroit will land another tackle, even as high as pick No. 17.
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