The Detroit Lions have re-signed another player before the start of free agency. The Lions have signed linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin to a two-year, $7.5 million contract, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafalo.
According to Garafolo, the deal has a maximum value of $8 million and comes with a $5.245 million guarantee in addition to a $2.5 million signing bonus.
Reeves-Maybin is now the highest-paid core special team member in history according to the deal.
Reeves-Maybin played his first five seasons in the NFL with the Lions after being selected in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft. He signed a one-year, $1.75 million contract as a free agency with the Houston Texans in 2022, but was cut after just one season. He returned to Detroit in the summer.
As a special team member last season, Reeves-Maybin was selected to his first Pro Bowl in his career and made the second team All-Pro. With 14 special teams tackles, he ended tied for the league lead. He also successfully executed two fake punts, one in which he carried the ball and the other as a passer.
Jalen-Reeves Maybin receives recognition from the Lions for his unsung achievements
Reeves-Maybin performed admirably last season when asked to play a greater percentage of defensive snaps at the end of the game. He participated in 111 of the 121 defensive snaps that he played from Week 13 to the Divisional Round playoff game, and he performed admirably.
Reeves-Maybin was praised by both head coach Dan Campbell and special teams coach Dave Fipp for his efforts during the 2023 campaign.
“He is cunning. He’s a ball guy, and we monitor him every day in practice, games, and one-on-one rushes and coverage. He manages to extract a ball.” stated Campbell. “We have great confidence in him.”
Dave Fipp, the coordinator of special teams, stated in January that “he does everything for us.” And more significantly, he genuinely does pull guys aside when necessary, in my opinion. I believe I mentioned how much of an example he sets. He leads by example in most of what he does, but he also has a stealthy way of grabbing a guy and offering him guidance or advise, ultimately taking charge of the group’s leadership. And he’s performed admirably with that.
The Lions’ organization places a high value on rewarding and maintaining its own players, according to general manager Brad Holmes. Reeves-Maybin, who returned and had his finest season to date, is now regarded as aAdditionally, it’s a recognition of the job he does as a special team member and team leader that goes unnoticed by casual fans.
