The Lions and defensive end Romeo Okwara have agreed to a three-year deal worth up to $39 million with incentives, a source confirmed to The Athletic.
The deal keeps Okwara in Detroit after a breakout 2020 season in which he recorded 10 sacks. The 25-year-old, an undrafted free agent in 2016, has 19 sacks in three seasons with the Lions after beginning his NFL career with the Giants.
The move also keeps Okwara with his younger brother and fellow Lions edge rusher Julian Okwara.
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Lions re-sign Romeo Okwara for three years, with expectations for an impact pass rusher
How Okwara fits within the Lions' defense
Nick Baumgardner, senior Detroit writer: The 6-foot-4, 274-pounder had his best overall year as a hand-in-the-ground edge rusher last season. Okwara wound up with 61 pressures and 42 quarterback hurries, per Pro Football Focus. The 61 pressures were tied with Joey Bosa for No. 5 among edge rushers last season. The 42 hurries also ranked fifth, one pressure shy of Bears star Khalil Mack.
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Okwara has not been as stout versus the run and while he did play a career-high 28 coverage snaps a year ago, he’s a pass-rushing defensive end.
What it means for the Lions' cap situation
Baumgardner: The Lions spent the weeks leading into free agency in slash mode to get themselves barely under the cap, cutting big numbers in Desmond Trufant, Jesse James and Justin Coleman (the Trufant move has not yet been announced). There will surely be other departures, but this is a sizable number for Okwara. We don’t yet know what his cap number for 2021 will be, but it’s likely to be toward the top of Detroit’s sheet.
The big picture
Baumgardner: Okwara’s return is a little surprising, though perhaps not shocking. He was arguably the most consistent player on the Lions a year ago, a great locker-room presence and a generally well-respected player. Culturally, he fits everything coach Dan Campbell and GM Brad Holmes want. He will set a great example for younger players, show up every day and give everything he has. The Lions are serious about building around team-first players and Okwara is one of those.
(Photo: Wesley Hitt / Getty Images)