The Detroit Lions lost key players in free agency during the off-season. Ndamukong Suh went to Miami. Nick Fairley signed with the St.Louis Rams. The Detroit Lions and their GM are doing everything to keep "The Beard" in Detroit. Linebacker DeAndre Levy is under contract for the 2015 season, but is set to become a free-agent at the end of the season. Levy, a third-round pick in 2009, is entering the final year of a $9.75 million deal he signed with the club in 2013.
GM Martin Mayhew revealed, in a pre draft press conference on Friday, that the team was actively engaging in talks with Levy. "We've had some dialogue with him," Mayhew said, "and I think it's ongoing at this point.". This comes as a sigh of relief to Lions fans, but similar comments were made regarding Ndamukong Suh prior to last season.
Levy, who was a Pro Bowl snub the past to seasons, is critical to a team which ranked #2 in overall defense in 2014. In 2013 Levy had a breakout season. He finished second in interceptions (6), and had 117 tackles. He followed that up with a stellar 2014 season that saw him get 151 tackles (ranking him second to only Luke Kuechly), 2.5 sacks, and an interception.
Details of any such negotiations have not been made available, but his asking price will nowhere near the asking price of Ndamukong Suh. The Lions have committed nearly $116 million toward the salary cap next season. They will also have the relief of the dead money that restrained them this offseason. Also, the salary cap is expected to be close to or exceed $150 million.
Levy isn't a headline grabber, but this offseason made plenty of news when he rode atop of an airplane. He is a thrill seeker who has swam with great white sharks in South Africa, and made the five day hike through the Inca Trail to Machu Pichu.
GM Martin Mayhew was asked during the same press conference about his players participating in extreme activities, “I saw a picture and that was all I needed to see. I’d rather them just not do that."