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LB Grant Stuard to sign with Detroit Lions, adds more depth on defense
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- LB Grant Stuard to sign with Detroit Lions, adds more depth on defense
Mr. Irrelevant is coming to Detroit .
The Detroit Lions agreed to a one-year deal with former Indianapolis Colts linebacker Grant Stuard on the first day of free agency Wednesday, according to Houston television station KPRC.
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Stuard was the final pick of the 2021 draft − Mr. Irrelevant − by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and spent the past three seasons as a backup linebacker and special teams standout with the Colts.
More: Kevin Zeitler to leave to sign with Titans in free agency; where Lions go next at OG
He made five starts last season, had a career-high 40 tackles and forced two fumbles.
Lions special teams coordinator Dave Fipp mentioned Stuard unprompted in December when Zak Keefer, a reporter for The Athletic, was in town. Keefer wrote a capitivating profile on Stuard last summer that Fipp said he kept on his desk.
"A great story on a great dude," he said.
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The Lions return their top four linebackers from last season in Jack Campbell , Alex Anzalone , Derrick Barnes and Malcolm Rodriguez , but Barnes and Rodriguez are coming off season-ending knee injuries and Rodriguez could miss the start of the year.
Barnes signed a three-year extension with the Lions before the start of free agency this week and said he is healthy and will be ready for the season.
The Lions, who plan to release linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin in the coming days, also re-signed special teams standout Ezekiel Turner before the start of free agency and intend to re-sign Anthony Pittman to their linebacking corps.
Indianapolis Colts linebacker Grant Stuard (41) celebrates a play during a pre-season game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Denver Broncos on Sunday, August. 11, 2024 at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
Stuard is the third outside free agent the Lions have added since the negotiating period began at noon Monday, all on the defensive side of the ball. The Lions agreed to contracts with cornerback D.J. Reed of the New York Jets on Monday and defensive tackle Roy Lopez of the Arizona Cardinals on Tuesday.
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They also re-signed their own free agent defensive linemen Marcus Davenport and Levi Onwuzurike .
Dave Birkett will sign copies of his book, " Detroit Lions : An Illustrated Timeline," at 7 p.m., March 24, at the Birmingham Public Library. Order your copy here . Contact him at dbirkett@freepress.com . Follow him on Bluesky , X and Instagram at @davebirkett.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: LB Grant Stuard to sign with Detroit Lions, adds more depth on defense
