An interesting tidbit on the Lions and the status of their tight end room came out this week. Dave Birkett of the Free Press noted that the team made an attempt to sign free agent Foster Moreau earlier this offseason.
The effort was thwarted when Moreau revealed he had non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and was stepping away from football while he fought to recover from cancer. The cancer was discovered during a free agent visit with the New Orleans Saints.
The courtship of Moreau indicates the Lions are looking to at least build competition on the current trio at tight end. Brock Wright, James Mitchell and Shane Zylstra are all back, but none are what is considered to be big-time talents at the position. Detroit traded Pro Bowler T.J. Hockenson last season in no small part because coordinator Ben Johnson’s offense doesn’t heavily utilize the tight end in the receiving game.
Moreau was considered a mid-level free agent after spending his first four seaons with the Raiders. He’s coming off a season with career highs in receptions (33) and yards (420) as the No. 2 TE in Las Vegas behind Pro Bowler Darren Waller, who missed half the season.
Stop projecting first-round tight ends for the Lions in 2023
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