DeShon Elliott greeted the Detroit media for the first time as a member of the Lions on Thursday. The safety inked his one-year deal with the team and was a participant in the voluntary workouts this week.
Elliott came to the Lions from the Baltimore Ravens. He remembers the epic game between the two teams last season, a game Baltimore won when kicker Justin Tucker nailed an NFL-record 66-yard field goal as time expired. It was a hard-hitting, intense game from both teams, one that made a big impression on Elliott.
“We played Detroit last year and it was a slobber-knocker,” Elliott said. “They played so hard. I could tell they loved their coaches by the way they played. They really bought in and loved the experience in the building.”
Those comments are in line with what Alex Anzalone talked about when he returned to Detroit despite having offers from other teams. Free agent WR DJ Chark also talked about the impact of the coaching staff on why he wanted to be a Lion. It’s a further testament to the culture change and the allure of head coach Dan Campbell
Elliott’s contract is not as meaty as initially reported. The safety will earn the league minimum salary of $965,000, plus a signing bonus of $135,000. The total figure is $1.1 million, and the Lions would only eat the signing bonus portion as dead cap if Elliott is cut before the season.