The Detroit Lions have landed their potential starting center of the future, signing former Carolina Panthers center Cade Mays to a very reasonable three year, $25 million deal per NFL insider Aaron Wilson. $14 million of that deal is guaranteed.
Mays was a rising piece in Carolina in 2025, taking over at center and thriving in the starting role for the first time in his career. Mays finished up with a decent overall PFF grade of 62.4 at center, and he didn't allow a single sack on Bryce Young all year.
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Mays is a bit of a gamble given that last season was the first time he had ever slotted in at center, but the experiment surely seemed to pay off.
Mays also potentially solves the Lions' issue at center, as the team was reportedly considering sliding Tate Ratledge over from guard to center to solve that hole. With Graham Glasgow having been released recently, they needed additional depth, at the very least, at center. Mays isn't just depth - he's a legitimate starting option.