According to Tom Pellisero, the Lions have signed former Arizona Cardinals nose tackle Roy Lopez to a one-year, $4.65 million contract.
According to Tom Pellisero, the Lions are signing Roy Lopez, a former Arizona Cardinals nose tackle. The $4.65 million one-year contract adds another solid tackle to the Lions’ injury-depleted defense.
After playing football at New Mexico State, Lopez transferred to Arizona in 2020 to complete his eligibility. The Houston Texans selected Lopez, a four-year NFL veteran, in the sixth round of the 2021 NFL draft with the 195th pick.
After two years in Texas, Lopez was waived/injured in August 2023. He was signed to the Cardinals’ practice squad the following month and promoted to the 53-man roster within a week. In 2024, Lopez recorded nine solo tackles, one assisted tackle, one sack, three pass defenses, and a forced fumble.
With free agents Levi Onwuzurike and Kyle Peko still unsigned, Lopez’s signing appears to be another wise decision by Lions general manager Brad Holmes.
Described as a “ideal Dan Campbell sort of player,” the 6’2″ 318 lb. Lopez has a rough, tough, and persistent playing style. Lopez, a well-known locker room personality in Arizona, is expected to fit in well with the team.
HC Jonathan Gannon remarked about Lopez. “He is a phenomenal human being.” He enjoys going to work and is improving his game. “I’d love a bunch of Roys.”
However, Lopez became expendable following the Cardinals’ budget-busting acquisition of free agent Josh Sweat from the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. The Cardinals established their presence in free agency by signing Sweat to a four-year contract worth $76.4 million.
Detroit has been rather quiet this week compared to other NFL teams’ massive spending sprees. On the first day of free agency, the Chicago Bears paid a whopping $133 million to sign three players. Other teams, such as the Carolina Panthers, spent huge money to keep key players. The Panthers signed Jaycee Horn to a four-year contract worth $100 million. The New Orleans Saints re-signed Juwan Johnson for $30 million over three years, while premier EDGE Chase Young agreed to a new $51 million contract for the next three years.
Meanwhile, Holmes has kept his cards close to the vest, signing only one other free agent besides Lopez. Earlier this week, the Lions signed former Jets cornerback D.J. Reed to a three-year, $48 million contract. Reed’s acquisition is viewed as another home run for Holmes. In addition to acquiring Lopez and Reed, the Lions have mostly avoided the feeding frenzy, focusing their efforts on quietly re-signing internal players such as defensive linebacker Marcus Davenport, LB Zeke Turner, and fan favorite lineman Dan Skipper.
The specifics of their new contracts have not been made public, since Holmes is known for his quiet efficiency. However, with major contract re-signings still pending for the Lions’ top players such as Aidan Hutchinson, Alex Anzalone, and Kerby Joseph, Holmes is likely keeping an eye on his budget.
However, the Lions’ front office will re-sign these players very soon. Then Holmes can concentrate on doing what he does best: discovering undervalued elite talent in the upcoming NFL draft and signing them to Detroit.
