Tight end Brock Wright has signed a contract with the San Francisco 49ers as a restricted free agent. Now the Detroit Lions must decide whether to match the deal or lose Wright for no compensation.
Per Dave Birkett, Wright signed a three-year contract worth $12 million with the 49ers. That’s a significant raise from the $2.9 million RFA tender offer the Lions placed on Wright. Because the Lions used an original round tender on Wright, who joined Detroit as an undrafted free agent in 2021, they won’t get any draft pick recompense for not matching San Francisco’s offer.
Detroit now has five days to match the deal. The $4 million per year average is a pretty hefty price tag for Wright, who caught 13 passes for 91 yards and a touchdown in 2023 as Sam LaPorta’s primary backup. However, Wright is a trusted blocker and sure-handed receiver–albeit a low-volume one.
The Lions do have James Mitchell and Shane Zylstra as reserve tight ends behind LaPorta. Neither has proven to be as steady as Wright yet in their young careers. Detroit has the available cap room to absorb the higher offer for Wright if the Lions so choose.