After they weren’t among 13 exclusive rights free agents tendered contracts, the Detroit Lions have announced the re-signings of Ryan McCollum and Rashod Berry.
The Detroit Lions tendered contracts to 13 exclusive rights free agents on Wednesday, with three who weren’t tendered. On Thursday they re-signed two of the three who were not tendered contracts, with an announcement center Ryan McCollum and outside linebacker Rashod Berry have been re-signed. Terms were not disclosed, but one-year deals for a little above league minimum feels certain for both guys.
McCollum, an undrafted free agent who landed with the Houston Texans in 2021, was added to the Lions roster in early October last season in the wake of Frank Ragnow’s injury and the realization it was going to be a long-term thing. He was active for 13 games for the Lions last season, with offensive snaps in four games–including a start in Week 14 in place of Evan Brown. Ragnow’s replacement. When Brown was injured in Week 18, McCollum played 30 snaps when Jonah Jackson moved over to center.
Detroit Lions keeping more depth around before free agency starts
Brown is a restricted free agent, so McCollum may find himself in the mix to be Ragnow’s backup next season.
After spending 2020 on the New England Patriots practice squad, Berry came to the Lions during 2021 training camp. He didn’t make the 53-man roster, and a one-day practice squad stint followed. He came back to the Lions’ practice squad in October, and wound up on the active roster for the final month of the season. He played in five games, with double-digit defensive snaps four times. He will again be battling for a roster spot, this time entering the offseason with the Lions.
For whatever it’s worth, if only for offseason roster depth really, the Lions now have 15 of their 16 exclusive rights free agents coming back.