After one-year sojourn to Detroit, DT Roy Lopez gets raise to return to Arizona
Allen Park — Roy Lopez turned a successful one-year stint with the Detroit Lions into a notable raise from his former employer. The veteran defensive tackle has reached a two-year agreement with the Arizona Cardinals.
The NFL Network is reporting the package is worth up to $11.5 million with $7 million in guarantees. Lopez earned a fully guaranteed $3.5 million during his one year with the Lions.
Lopez played the previous two seasons with the Cardinals, starting 16 games for the team in 2024. Despite serving in a reserve role for the Lions last season, he logged nearly as many snaps, appearing in all 17 games.
He finished the year with 30 tackles and 2.0 sacks and five quarterback hits.
Despite being a good fit, Detroit couldn’t justify the cost of bringing Lopez back with a well-stocked cabinet at the position. The team is returning Alim McNeill, who missed the first half of last season while recovering from an ACL injury, as well as 2025 first-round pick Tyleik Williams.
Levi Onwuzurike, who missed all of last season recovering from a knee injury, also remains under contract, providing quality depth.
Bonus draft pick
The NFL announced compensatory draft picks on Monday afternoon, with the Lions earning a late third and fifth-rounder.
The third, tied to former defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn being hired as head coach of the New York Jets, is going to the Jacksonville Jaguars as part of last year’s draft-day trade that saw the Lions move up 32 spots in the third round to select wide receiver Isaac TeSlaa.
The Lions also scored a fifth-round pick on Monday, No. 181 overall, as part of the compensatory formula for free agents lost vs. free agents signed last offseason.
Factoring into the formula were the departures of cornerback Carlton Davis III, guard Kevin Zeitler and defensive back Ifeatu Melifonwu, offset by the additions of cornerback DJ Reed and Lopez.
With the newly added pick, the Lions now hold a first, second, two fourths, two fifths, two sixths and a seventh-round selection in this April’s draft.
Curious if this changes things with Reader.
That one hurts. I get that we could not pay him that much. But I hate to lose a solid player who actually was available to play. It seems like the Lions are going to be depending on a lot of guys who are recovering from one or more injuries.