The Detroit Lions made the first move in free agency by signing wide receiver Nate Burleson on a five-year deal from Seattle.
Seattle wideout moves to Detroit on five-year deal
Just two hours after the NFL's free agency began, the Detroit Lions made the first move by signing wide receiver Nate Burleson and making a late-night visit to Tennessee defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch.
Although the Lions improved slightly on their 0-16 record of two years ago, they still only won two games last year and a lot of work still needs to be done.
In a bid to help new quarterback Matt Stafford and star wide receiver Calvin Johnson, Detroit have brought in Burleson from the Seattle Seahawks.
The 28-year-old caught 63 passes in 13 games last season for 812 yards and three touchdowns, and the Seahawks were keen on keeping him in Seattle.
Burleson has reportedly penned a five-year deal in Motor City worth around $25 million, $11 million guaranteed, as he returns to the NFC North where he played for three seasons with Minnesota.
Reunion
Lions offensive coordinator Scott Linehan worked with Burleson in his Viking days, when he had his best season to date with 1,006 yards and nine touchdowns in 2004.
Detroit's woeful defence also needs attending to, and head coach Jim Schwartz was so keen to bring in veteran defensive end
Kyle Vanden Bosch that he visited his home at midnight to persuade him to sign up.
The move worked, and Vanden Bosch agreed to sign a four-year deal after talking with his former boss in Tennessee.
Schwartz was the defensive coordinator with the Titans for four years and wanted to work with the 31-year-old again in Detroit, so turned up on his doorstep just as free agency began.
Vanden Bosch is 31 and slowing down somewhat, but made the Pro Bowl last year and his experience will help Detroit's defence no end, while his relationship with Schwartz will ensure that the coach can get the best out of him.
Schwartz did not speak about Vanden Bosch directly at the NFL Combine but did say why he would be looking at some of his former players.
"You know the way they practice," he said. "You know the way they prepare. You know a little bit about them personally, so I think that adds to it. It makes you feel a little stronger about your evaluation."
The Detroit defence will also been improved by the addition of defensive tackle
Corey Williams, who will join the team from Cleveland in return for a low-round draft pick.
Williams was reportedly already in Detroit on Thursday and has agreed to a four-year deal worth around $5 million per season.
