Tag: Elijah Lee

Report: Lions have agreed to terms with LBs Reggie Ragland and Elijah Lee

Multiple sources are reporting that the Detroit Lions have agreed to terms with linebackers Reggie Ragland and Elijah Lee.

Multiple local and national sources are reporting that the Detroit Lions have agreed to terms with linebackers Reggie Ragland and Elijah Lee.

Ragland was a popular choice among Lions fans in the 2016 NFL Draft, after a successful career at Alabama. He was selected 41st overall by the Buffalo Bills after they traded up to get him. Unfortunately, he missed his entire rookie season due to injury.

In 2017, the Bills went through a regime change, felt Ragland no longer fit their 43 scheme, and traded him to the Kansas City Chiefs for a fourth-round pick. Ragland would spend the next three seasons with the Chiefs and was part of their Super Bowl victory last season.

At 6-2, 251, Ragland — who was on our Playoff free agency watchlist — is a downhill thumper who has flashed strong run defense and the ability to blitz when given the opportunity.

Ragland is a part-time rotational off-the-ball linebacker, but he has the skill set to play at MIKE, WILL, and JACK — fitting the offseason narrative that the Lions are adding linebackers with positional fluidity, ala Jamie Collins.

Lee was originally selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the seventh round (pick 232 overall) of the 2017 draft but was released at cut-downs his rookie season. San Francisco seized the opportunity to snag Lee and over the next three seasons, he would play 38 games for them, starting six. The 49ers opted not to pick up his restricted free agent tender — which would have been over $2 million — and he became an unrestricted free agent.

At 6-2, 229, Lee is primarily a special teams player and depth at MIKE and WILL, likely challenging Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Steve Longa, and Jason Cabinda for a spot(s) on the 53-man roster.

Matt Breida, Kendrick Bourne receive 2nd-round RFA tenders, Elijah Lee not tendered

The 49ers gave second-round tenders to two of their restricted free agents.

The 49ers on Tuesday made a pair of moves that put them in line to retain two of their offensive playmakers who are set to be restricted free agents. The team announced it tendered one-year contracts to wide receiver Kendrick Bourne and running back Matt Breida. ESPN’s Dianna Russini reported linebacker Elijah Lee was not tendered.

Both Bourne and Breida were given second-round tenders. That means their deals are worth $3,259,000 for one season. Since they’re restricted free agents, they’re still allowed to negotiate with other teams, and the 49ers will have right of first refusal and can match any offer. If they choose not to match, the signing team will be required to send San Francisco a second-round pick.

Bourne became one of the three receivers the 49ers leaned on last season while turning into a first-down and touchdown machine. Of his 30 catches in the regular season, 23 went for either a first down or a touchdown.

While Breida did fall out of the rotation last season, he’s still a valuable member of the 49ers’ backfield. Over the last two seasons he’s averaging 5.2 yards per carry on 267 attempts. His speed makes him a home-run threat every time he touches the ball. The 2019 season ended with a thud for him though after he fumbled on three of his final 16 carries. With some uncertainty in the backfield going into the year, Breida has a bounce-back opportunity in 2020 if he returns to the 49ers.

For Lee, not getting tendered doesn’t mean he won’t return to the 49ers. He played sparsely last year with most of his action coming on special teams in his eight games. They chose not to place an original round tender on Lee that would’ve cost the team $2,133,000 for the season. Instead, they’ll forego their right of first refusal while he explores the open market. He could wind up back in San Francisco if he doesn’t land a deal elsewhere.