Jalen

Reeves-Maybin

As NFL Networks’ Mike Garafolo notes, Reeves-Maybin becomes the highest-paid “core special-teamer ever” with this new deal. The seven-year vet was named Second-Team All-Pro and voted to the Pro Bowl for his efforts this past season, and converted two key fourth downs on fake punt plays during the regular season for the Lions. He was set to hit free agency in a few weeks but will now be under contract with the Lions through 2025.

Reeves-Maybin was set to enter the final season of his two-year, $7.5 million contract, but the Texans cut him a week before free agency opened. He appeared in all 17 games for Houston last year, logging 15 tackles and a fumble recovery. Reeves-Maybin got most of his run on special teams in 2022 and that will likely be his role in Detroit.

The Texans signed Reeves-Maybin to a two-year, $7.5 million contract just days into free agency last season. After one year with the team, the Texans will now cut Reeves-Maybin, who appeared in 17 games while registering 15 tackles. Houston will save $3.5 million against the cap next season but also absorb a $2 million dead cap hit.

The deal is reportedly worth up to $9 million. It is yet another Tier 2 or 3 move by the Texans in what is still Phase 1 of free agency. 27 years old, Reeves-Maybin has made only 14 career starts. 11 of them did come in 2021, but he was hardly a difference maker for the moribund Lions. Texans GM Nick Caserio had Bill Belichick’s complete trust in New England, but it remains difficult to figure out what his long-term vision is in Houston.

A fourth-round pick last year, Reeves-Maybin played just 239 snaps on defense as a rookie, but the Lions will need him to play a bigger role moving forward with Tahir Whitehead and Paul Worrilow headed to free agency, which might require him to put on some weight. “Me being an undersized linebacker, I always have to work on that,” Reeves-Maybin said. “Just keep adding strength and weight and that’s something I’ll be focusing on in the offseason.” Even if Reeves-Maybin takes a step forward, the Lions need to add some linebackers this offseason.

Reeves-Maybin (6’0/230) was the Vols’ starting weak-side linebacker as a sophomore and junior before missing all but four games of his final season with a shoulder injury. Recovered by Tennessee’s Pro Day, Maybin clocked 4.68 with a 35 ½-inch vertical and struggled in the three-cone drill (7.35). Not a thumper but a useful pass-coverage linebacker at the college level, it’s unclear whether that skill will translate to the pros based on Reeves-Maybin’s sub-average athleticism. He’ll focus on special teams initially.

Twentyman adds the rookie could earn playing time at weak-side linebacker if he is able to quickly pick up the scheme in camp. Linebacker remains a question mark for Detroit, but they actually have a lot of bodies there after adding Reeves-Maybin and first-rounder Jarrad Davis in the draft and Paul Worrilow in free agency. Reeves-Maybin will likely have to beat out Worrilow to earn a starting job.