Jabaal Sheard will meet with Lions brass on Thursday, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter (on Twitter). If he signs, he’ll reunite with old Patriots pals Matt Patricia and Bob Quinn. 
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Sheard never quite lived up to his potential as a game-changing pass rusher, but he has averaged over five sacks per season over the course of a mostly-durable nine-year NFL run. At this stage in his career, he profiles as a quality rotational edge player. For what it’s worth, he hasn’t had gaudy sack totals in a while — the 8.5 sacks he compiled as a rookie in 2011 remain a career high.
The 31-year-old has spent the last three years with the Colts, where he was quietly solid. In 2018, for example, he played the most snaps (813) of any defensive lineman on the team, racking up 5.5 sacks and 13 quarterback hits in the process. Pro Football Focus graded him as the No. 36 edge defender in the NFL that year, the highest ranking of any Colts pass rusher on the ’18 squad.
Sheard’s last deal paid him $25.5MM over the course of three seasons. This time around, he’d likely come at a much cheaper rate.
Knowing the team can’t get any worse, it makes sense to sign him on a show-me deal and see what it improves. The prior relationship with Matt P will help but other than that this doesn’t mean much if Patricia doesn’t alter his scheme to suit his players.
I was wondering where Sheard was last weekend. Wouldn’t mind seeing him in back in Cleveland. The browns are paying Vernon a lot of money for his perpetual rehab and Clayborn is injured too… Gustin has looked good, but more depth is needed just for rotating.
Sheard was a stud when he played for NE.. Patricia was his D coordinator too.. Hopefully Patricia gets him to play like he did in NE..
I’m fully expecting Patricia to be fired October 5 when the Lions start their bye week.
Yet another Patriots discard. Ridiculous…