Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata is sticking with the Lions, signing a two-year deal to come back for a second season in Detroit, according to his agent.
Lions re-sign Haloti Ngata on 2-year deal
The veteran defensive tackle was traded to Detroit last year.
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Lions confirmed the new deal, which is worth $12 million:
Haloti Ngata's deal in Detroit: 2 years, $12 million, $6.25 million in 2016, $6 million fully guaranteed.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 10, 2016
The 32-year-old was set to hit the open market after playing out the last year of his four-year, $48.524 million contract he signed with the Baltimore Ravens in 2011. The Ravens opted to trade him to the Lions in 2015 rather than take on his $8.5 million cap hit.
Before the trade, Ngata spent his entire career with the Ravens, who drafted him No. 12 overall in 2006. He’s been one of the league’s better interior run stoppers for most of his career, but has been in clear decline in recent years.
Nevertheless, Ngata has been a solid asset for the Lions, finishing the 2015 season with 2.5 sacks, 25 total tackles and three passes defended on 599 snaps.
The Lions defense threatened to take a step back after losing Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley on the defensive line, but Ngata stepped in as a decent replacement. He should continue filling a veteran stopgap role for the time being.
See More:
