Green Bay Packers wide receiver Devin Funchess celebrates a catch during the preseason game against the Houston Texans on Saturday, Aug. 14, 2021, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
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Devin Funchess is an interesting flier for the Detroit Lions, but the details of his contract (as expected) reflect that status as training camp gets going.
Perhaps more surprising than the Detroit Lions signing Devin Funchess back in mid-June was that they listed him as a tight end. The former University of Michigan star had been a wide receiver at other stops in his NFL career.
Funchess has not played in a game since September of 2019, when he suffered a season-ending injury in the season opener playing for the Indianapolis Colts. He opted out of the 2020 season with the Green Bay Packers due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and last year a training camp injury led to the Packers putting him on IR. He spent a short time on the San Francisco 49ers practice squad last year before being cut.
Devin Funchess contract details confirm he’s a flier for the Lions
Over The Cap (finally?) has the details of Funchess’ contract with the Lions (h/t to Erik Schlitt of Pride of Detroit for initially unearthing that the contract details were out). He got no signing bonus, with no bonuses or guaranteed money of any kind. His base salary is the veteran minimum $1.035 million, with a $895,000 cap number. The Lions can, of course, clear all of that $895,000 off their books with no dead money.
Funchess has tight-end like size (6-foot-4, 225 pounds), with not-so wide receiver like speed the last time he was seen on a competitive football field for a notable stretch. He’ll have a learning curve to get comfortable with all aspects of a new position, but the evolution of the tight end position has made blocking less of a factor in determining if someone can contribute.
T.J. Hockenson is the only Lions’ tight end locked into a spot on the depth chart, and quite possibly a roster spot as camp takes shape. All Funchess could ask for is a chance, approaching three years since he last played in an NFL game, and he has one at the start of Detroit’s training camp.