While it might've felt like an under the radar signing, the news that the Detroit Lions had come to terms with Cade Mays on a three-year, $25 million deal was a huge victory for Brad Holmes and the front office.
In a year where the money flying around in free agency was predicted to majorly benefit the pockets of basically any starting lineman available, getting Mays for such a team-friendly deal is nothing short of a win. And, getting him on the books just ahead of a monstrous deal announced for Tyler Linderbaum and the Las Vegas Raiders made it even sweeter.
Mays is startable. That's already a huge improvement on the Lions' center depth from last season, where Graham Glasgow was put into a tough position and asked to slide over from guard to center thanks to Frank Ragnow's shocking retirement. With that, Detroit can now focus on their tackle room and guard room, rather than keep their search up for a center - even from within, again.
Lions are clear winner with Mays contract
Looking at the center market now, the Lions ended up with what feels like the best bargain signing at the position in free agency. You could argue that title should go to Austin Schlottmann, who just netted a deal with the Tennessee Titans at $4.5 million AAV, but he's also 30 years old. Mays is a buy-low, high-reward attempt at finding a long-term starting center for Detroit.
Assuming they can continue to coach him up through the offseason and camp, Mays would be a great solution to the Lions' continuous problems at center since Ragnow's departure. Sure, Tate Ratledge could've been an answer there, and he'll likely still be considered a backup option if anything happens to Mays throughout the season, but he shouldn't have been their only solution there.
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The draft also still offers Detroit some cheap solutions at center and along the line. They can feasibly take a tackle who can start on Day 1 at 17th overall, and can snag a center on Day 2 or 3 to coach up. Free agency is also far from over, although the Lions love to make these lower-tier, surprisingly effective signings (see: Al-Quadin Muhammad, and most of the Legion of Whom).
Detroit still has some cap maneuvering to do, as they have just over $3.9 million left to spend before accounting for Mays' deal, per Over the Cap. But, it shouldn't impact things too much, with the team only needing to clear enough to pay him an expected $8.3 million AAV, per Spotrac.