Nick James - Pro Football Rumors

Lions Sign DTs Ego Ferguson, Bruce Gaston

June 8th, 2017 at 7:45am CST by Zachary Links

The Lions have signed free agent defensive tackles Ego Ferguson and Bruce Gaston, the team announced. To make room on the roster, the Lions waived defensive tackles Nick James and Maurice Swain.

Ferguson has now signed contracts with three of the NFC North’s four teams this offseason. After being cut by the Bears in April, Ferguson’s deal with the Packers was scuttled when he could not pass a physical. Apparently, he was healthy enough this week to sign a deal with Detroit. If he doesn’t make the Lions’ 53-man roster, perhaps he can try his luck with the Vikings.

Ferguson, 26 in September, appeared in all 16 games during his rookie campaign with the Bears in 2014, but ailments have limited him to just four games since then. The Raiders auditioned him after the Packers deal fell through, but the Lions are the only other team we’ve heard linked to him in the last two months. As Justin Rogers of The Detroit News (on Twitter) notes, Lions fans may remember Ferguson from a 2014 incident in which Lions center Dominic Raiola stepped on Ferguson’s leg. That dirty play resulted in a one-game suspension for Raiola.

Gaston, another former Bear, appeared in seven games for Chicago in 2015. Last year, he was with the Panthers’ practice squad. Gaston had shoulder surgery in 2016, but he has likely recovered by now.

Lions Sign LB Jarrad Davis

May 12th, 2017 at 1:24pm CST by Zachary Links

The Lions announced that they have signed eight of their nine draft picks, plus 14 undrafted free agents. The complete list:

Draft Signings:

1-21: Jarrad Davis, LB (Florida)
2-53: Teez Tabor, CB (Florida)
4-124: Jalen Reeves-Maybin, LB, Tennessee
4-127: Michael Roberts, TE (Toledo)
5-165: Jamal Agnew, DB (San Diego)
6-205: Jeremiah Ledbetter, DT (Arkansas)
6-215: Brad Kaaya, QB (Miami)
7-250: Pat O’Connor, DE (Eastern Michigan)

UDFAs:

Brandon Barnes, TE (Alabama State)
Alex Barrett, DE (San Diego State)
Dontez Ford, WR (Pittsburgh)
Tion Green, RB (Cincinnati)
Nick James, DT (Mississippi State)
Leo Koloamatangi, OL (Hawaii)
Desmond Lawrence, CB (North Carolina)
Storm Norton, OT (Toledo)
Michael Rector, WR (Stanford)
Maurice Swain, DT (Auburn)
Noel Thomas, WR (UConn)
Josh Thornton, CB (Southern Utah)
Robert Tonyan, TE (Indiana State)
Jeremiah Valoaga, DE (UNLV)

As far as draft picks go, Northern Illinois wide receiver Kenny Golladay is the only player that has yet to put pen to paper. The reason for the delay is not known, but third round picks often take longer to sign than other picks as things are less rigid in those slots.

Davis was said to be a target of the Dolphins at No. 22, so it’s a good thing that the Lions were up at No. 21. Davis impressed scouts at his Pro Day when he posted a 4.56 40-yard dash and 38.5 inch vertical jump. As shown on Roster Resource, Davis may be in for a starting role in 2017.

Tabor fell to the Lions at No. 53 but some draft analysts, like NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah, felt that he should have gone much higher. The Florida product suffered a hamstring injury during his workout with Detroit and was unable to audition for other teams, so that might explain why he was still available. Then again, we’ve seen “pretend injuries” before, so it’s possible there was a wink-wink deal between Tabor’s team and the Lions.

Kaaya was said to have one of the highest football IQs of any quarterback in this year’s class. It remains to be seen whether he has the arm to make it as an NFL quarterback, but the Lions believe that he can be a solid backup QB, at minimum.

According to Tom Pelissero of USA Today (on Twitter), Valoaga got $22K guaranteed ($12K bonus, $10K base) to sign with Detroit. Typically, UDFAs get around $5K, so that’s a sign that Valoaga had at least a few teams interested in adding him to the 90-man roster.