Detroit Lions reportedly pursued tight end Foster Moreau in free agency

The Detroit Lions were reportedly interested in free agent tight end Foster Moreau, before his situation took a dramatic turn.

The Detroit Lions tight ends did just fine after T.J. Hockenson was traded last season, but the position is begging for an addition and now it’s most likely to come in the draft. In an unexpected development reported this week by Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, the Lions pursued and missed out on free agent tight end Foster Moreau.

Birkett added the Lions are likely to be in the market to draft a tight end.

"The Lions are expected to add to the position in the April 27-29 draft, after pursuing and missing out on Foster Moreau in free agency."

Moreau spent his first four NFL seasons with the Raiders, functioning as Darren Waller’s backup, with his best season coming in 2022 (33 catches for 420 yards, two touchdowns). His status as a mid-tier free agent seems to fit perfectly with what the Lions were going to do in free agency to add a tight end, if they did anything.

If the Lions don’t draft a tight end, the door would be open for James Mitchell to be the top dog at the position over Brock Wright and Shane Zylstra.

Lions were interested in Foster Moreau before his situation took an unexpected turn

Moreau did not sign with any team this offseason. When he made a free agent visit to the New Orleans Saints and was set to sign with them, a routine physical showed he had Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. So he’s taking a leave of absence from football to get treatment, but he actually returned to New Orleans to complete the physical earlier this month. It seems to be matter of when, not if, he plays football again.

On “Good Morning America”, Moreau said his prognosis is good.

For the Lions, their interest in Moreau fits their template of fostering competition in every position group. He may have been one of the only veteran free agent tight ends they really pursued, knowing the draft class of tight ends is historically deep.