The Detroit Lions have signed Detroit native Avonte Maddox to a one-year contract in the second week of NFL free agency.
Maddox attended Detroit King in high school. He was a fourth-round pick out of Pittsburgh of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018, and spent seven seasons in Philly, winning this past season’s Super Bowl as a backup nickel. He turns 29 on March 31.
He’s small at 5 feet 9, 184 pounds but did play in all 17 regular season games last season and four playoff games for the Eagles. He has missed time due to injury in five of seven seasons.
Maddox has four career interceptions in 81 games (41 starts), playing mainly in the slot. He also has safety experience.
He joins cornerbacks D.J. Reed and Rock Ya-Sin as new Lions secondary signings in free agency. Reed will start opposite Terrion Arnold on the outside.
