Detroit Lions re-sign running back Craig Reynolds, tender five ERFAs

The Detroit Lions took care of a few more in-house moves on Monday, re-signing running back Craig Reynolds and tendering five exclusive rights free agents.

The Detroit Lions kicked off their free agency week by re-signing defensive tackle Isaiah Buggs to a two-year deal. A little later, the team announced it has re-signed running back Craig Reynolds and tendered offers to five exclusive rights free agents.

The exclusive rights free agents, players on expiring conracts with less than three years service time as the strict definition, who were tendered by the Lions are tight end Brock Wright, long snapper Scott Daly, linebacker Anthony Pittman, tight end Shane Zylstra and defensive tackle Benito Jones.

The news that Pittman, a core special teamer, was tendered surfaced last week and now it has been confirmed by the team. The ERFAs being tendered is a formality, as the team has no-risk in doing so with it being a one-year league mininum deal.

Reynolds was signed to a better deal outside of the tender, with some guaranteed money.

Guard Tommy Kraemer, who missed all of last season due to a back injury after initially being tabbed as the replacement for the injured Halapoulivaati Vaitai at right guard, was not tendered and he’ll become an unrestricted free agent.

Detroit Lions keep some depth around early in free agency

Reynolds did not play much last season, totaling 23 carries and nine catches in nine games played as the Lions’ No. 4 running back. But he had a solid couple-game run as the Lions’ lead back late in the 2021 season, and he’s clearly well-liked internally.

The headliner of the exclusive-rights free agents who were tendered is Wright. He became the Lions’ No. 1 tight end after T.J. Hockenson was traded last season, highlighted by the game-winning 51-yard touchdown catch against the New York Jets. Zylstra joins him to make it three tight ends currently on the Lions’ roster, with James Mitchell also in the mix.