Lions must decide if they will tender CB Mike Ford as a restricted free agent
The Lions have a decision to make on restricted free agent cornerback Mike Ford. Among the many other decisions new GM Brad Holmes must make is whether or not to issue a tender offer to Ford. But it doesn’t appear to be a difficult decision.
Restricted free agents are players who have at least three years of accrued service in the NFL. That’s where Ford, who just completed his third season, fits in.
Ford was an undrafted free agent as a rookie, so the Lions would tender him with a right of first refusal tag that would be worth just under $2.37 million. The Lions would have to pay Ford that amount on a one-year deal if no other team makes any offers to the speedy CB. Ford earned $750,000 on a one-year deal in 2020.
Another team could sign Ford with a tender, but they would owe the Lions a draft pick as a result. That seems extremely unlikely to happen for Ford, who has primarily played on special teams. Ford has played in 31 total games, starting seven, and played just 58 reps on defense in 2020.
The Lions could let Ford become an unrestricted free agent and sign him for a lesser figure than the restricted free agent tender, if he chooses to not sign anywhere else. Given the Lions’ current salary cap situation, that seems the only way Ford will be back in Detroit.
