James Houston, an edge defender for the Detroit Lions, has been tendered to a minimum wage.

as per the NFL, a one-year exclusive rights free agent agreement. The Lions may give Houston a one-year contract worth $915,000 because he had less than three accrued seasons and his current deal was about to expire. Houston would have to sign the pact or miss the 2024 season. Detroit took that action, and now it is up to Houston to accept the agreement or miss the remainder of the season.

During his debut campaign, Houston was a revelation. Houston, a sixth-round selection in 2022, was signed to the practice squad but was left off of the initial roster. The Lions gave him a chance in the second part of the 2022 season after he demonstrated in practice that Detroit could not defend keeping him off the gameday roster, and Houston did not let them down. Houston registered seven game appearances, 8.0 sacks, and one forced fumble.Houston’s next season wasn’t quite as successful. He broke his ankle during a special teams play in Week 2, and he didn’t play again until the postseason. Throughout his three game appearances, he only collected one tackle.

Nevertheless, Houston has the chance to regain some of his pass-rushing skill and improve his game going forward in 2024 if he stays healthy. Given that Romeo Okwara and Charles Harris will both be eligible for free agency beginning on Wednesday, and Julian Okwara has already gone for the NBA, Detroit will most likely be looking to add additional competition to its defensive end room.The Lions have also tendered guard Kayode Awosika to his ERFA deal (worth $985,000) in addition to Houston. Over the previous two seasons, Awosika has been a dependable depth option for the Lions at guard, starting five games during the regular season and the NFC Championship against the San Francisco 49ers.”I believe (Ka)yode is extremely reliable,” Graham Glasgow declared on Wednesday. “I believe that he is not really lacking in any aspect when you watch him play. That seems like a useful quality to have for o-line play. I believe that people will be somewhat angry with you if you do one extremely excellent item and the other is not that great.Glasgow’s three-year contract was renewed by the Lions earlier on Monday, meaning that the majority of Detroit’s offensive line is still with them. But even with Jonah Jackson signing a three-year contract with the Los Angeles Rams, there’s still a vacancy at left guard the size of Jonah Jackson.

Additionally, as previously mentioned, tight end Shane Zylstra, running back Craig Reynolds, and quarterback Zonovan Knight all earned their tenders and are anticipated to return. Knight and Zylstra have already signed their tender agreements.Cornerback Chase Lucas is the lone ERFA that was not tendered. This was also previously reported, and as a result of not receiving his tender, he is currently free to sign with no restrictions. Remarkably, NFL source Aaron Wilson is claiming that the Raiders, Browns, Giants, and… Lions are interested in signing Lucas, who has a healthy free agent market.

If Detroit could have just offered him an ERFA tender that would have basically ensured his return to Detroit at the lowest possible cost, then why would they be interested in signing him? It’s an intriguing scenario and a really good question. The Lions’ agreement to allow him to test the free market is the only plausible reasoning.