Detroit Lions find their veteran running back in LeGarrette Blount

The Detroit Lions have found themselves a veteran running back with the signing of former New England Patroits’ star LeGarrette Blount.

In the last week, the Detroit Lions have hosted visits from a slew of free agent running backs. From DeMarco Murray to Frank Gore to Jonathan Stewart. They all had one thing in common. They were all on the wrong side of 30-years old.

For me, it seems clear the Lions are looking for a veteran runner with a history of success in the NFL to mentor a talented, young running back they intend on finding in the upcoming draft.

On Friday night, Detroit found that veteran in former New England Patroits’ star LeGarrette Blount. The 31-year old running back has reportedly agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million deal in Detroit, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

An undrafted back out of Oregon in 2010, Blount spent his first three seasons in the NFL with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The 6-foot, 250 pound bruiser back surprised everyone rushing for 1,007 yards and six scores as a rookie. Blount spent the bulk of his career with the Patroits, helping them win two Super Bowls during his near four-year tenure.

Blount’s best season came recently, in 2016, when he recorded 1,161 rushing yards and a league-high 18 touchdowns. In 2017, the veteran runner helped lead the Philadelphia Eagles to their first Super Bowl title, giving Blount the third of his eight-year career.

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Former New England defensive coordinator and new Lions’ head coach Matt Patricia obviously has a very successful prior relationship with Blount. Patricia should have all the confidence in the world in LeGarrette as the new bell cow of his offense in Detroit. But this move does not prevent the Lions from drafting a running back high in the upcoming NFL draft. It simply means that incoming rookie now has a mentor with a championship pedigree to follow and learn from.