The Detroit Lions retained tight end Brock Wright, preventing the San Francisco 49ers from signing the restricted free agent.
Detroit decided to match the 49ers’ $12 million, three-year offer to Wright, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the terms were not announced.
Wright, 25, has 43 career catches for 424 yards and seven touchdowns in three seasons with the Lions.
He had a 29-yard reception in the playoffs against Tampa Bay, helping Detroit win two games in one postseason for the first time since winning the 1957 NFL title.
Wright broke his forearm against the Buccaneers and did not play in Detroit’s loss to San Francisco in the NFC championship game.
The former Notre Dame star, who is from Cypress, Texas, earned a spot with the Lions as an undrafted rookie in 2021.
He had career highs with 18 receptions, 216 yards receiving and four touchdowns in his second season, starting 10 of 17 games, before primarily backing up Pro Bowl rookie tight end Sam LaPorta. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound Wright made 13 receptions for 91 yards and a score in 14 regular season games last year.
The Lions have seemingly addressed all of their needs in free agency to give general manager Brad Holmes a lot of flexibility in the NFL draft, which will be held in Detroit later this month.
