This summer, the Detroit Lions appeared to address tight end depth by tendering Brock Wright and signing Shane Zylstra as a free agent. However, the Lions will need to take another step to retain Wright’s services for the 2024 season.
That’s because on March 29, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the San Francisco 49ers had signed Wright to an offer sheet. Because Wright is a restricted free agent, the Lions have five days to match the offer and keep him.
“Some rare RFA action: Lions restricted free agent Brock Wright has signed an offer sheet from the 49ers, sources say,” Rapoport wrote on his Twitter account. “Detroit now has five days to match.”
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This is important for several reasons. For starters, it adds gasoline to the potential Lions-49ers rivalry. San Francisco overcame a 17-point halftime deficit against Detroit in the NFC championship game to reach this year’s Super Bowl.
Both clubs are likely to contend again in 2024. At the very least, by signing Wright to an offer sheet, the 49ers are increasing the cost for Detroit to retain one of their experienced tight ends.
Wright has 13 catches for 91 yards and one touchdown in 14 games last season. Over three NFL seasons, he has 43 receptions, 424 receiving yards, and 7 touchdowns.
Wright, an undrafted free agent from 2021, has largely served as Detroit’s blocking tight end.
Lions’ TE Depth Heading toward the 2024 NFL Draft
Entering the offseason, Sam LaPorta was Detroit’s unquestionable best tight end. As a rookie, LaPorta had 86 receptions for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns, earning him second-team All-Pro honors. He also made it to the Pro Bowl and finished third in the voting for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
LaPorta is already a standout, but the Lions’ tight end options were limited to James Mitchell.
With a tender offer for Wright and a one-year contract for Zylstra, the Lions have filled out their tight end room.
However, if the Lions lose Wright, their tight end depth will suffer greatly. Zylstra is rehabbing from a ruptured ACL sustained during 2023 training camp. He missed the entire season last year.
Without Wright, the Lions’ roster would only include two tight ends who played snaps in 2023. Mitchell, on the other hand, has only appeared in a few NFL games.
Mitchell has 157 offensive snaps last season. He only caught two receptions for 28 yards.
Wright ranked second among Detroit tight ends in 2023, with 423 offensive snaps.
Lack of TE Depth in NFL Free Agency
With Wright’s offer sheet, the 49ers could be attempting to acquire a depth player from another NFC contender. However, San Francisco may be interested in Wright merely because there aren’t many tight ends available in free agency.
On March 7, Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press stated that tight end is “considered one of the thinnest positions in free agency this year.” This offseason, Pro Football Focus ranked only two tight ends among the top 50 free agents in the NFL.
According to PFF’s tight end free agent rankings, the top ten tight ends have signed with new teams. Logan Thomas, the finest tight end still available, was rated the No. 240 overall free agent by PFF this offseason.
With few free agency choices to replace Wright, the Lions will most likely match the 49ers’ offer sheet. If they don’t, tight end may become a more pressing need for Detroit in the 2024 draft.
