The Detroit Lions have an answer up front. On the first day of the NFL’s legal tampering period, reports broke that the Lions are signing center Cade Mays to a three-year deal.
KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson was first to report that the Lions were inking Mays to a three-year, $25 million deal that includes $14 million guaranteed. The 6-foot-6, 325-pound center was originally drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL draft.
Mays just completed a one-year, $3.4 million deal with the Carolina Panthers. Across four seasons, Mays played in 52 games with the Panthers and started 27, including 12 starts in 2025. Out of Tennessee, Mays didn’t give up a sack over 726 snaps and had a 94.3% run block win rate that ranked among the top 20 centers in the league.
Lions general manager Brad Holmes and the organization have been seeking an answer at center following Frank Ragnow’s retirement last summer.
Graham Glasgow was the Lions’ starting center in 2025, but the Lions released Glasgow last week, saving $5.6 million on the 2026 NFL salary cap in the process.
Now, the Lions have their answer at center in its first move of free agency.
For more Lions coverage, follow us on X, @TheLionsWire, and give our Facebook page a like. Follow Josh on X, @JoshOnLions
This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: NFL free agency: Detroit Lions sign center Cade Mays
Reporting by Josh Helmer, Lions Wire / Lions Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
