Detroit Lions adding experienced veteran linebacker to offseason roster

With Alex Anzalone skipping the voluntary portions of the offseason program and Malcolm Rodriguez still working his way back from last season's torn ACL, the Detroit Lions felt the need to add some veteran linebacking depth to the offseason roster ahead of this week's OTAs. According to the NFL Network, the team is signing Zach Cunningham.

The former two-time All-SEC defender was a second-round pick out of Vanderbilt in 2017. The 6-foot-3, 238-pounder showcased high-end athleticism prior to entering the league, with above-average results in the 40-yard dash, broad jump and agility drills.

Cunningham spent the better part of his first five seasons with the Houston Texans, where he started 66 games. He racked up more than 100 tackles in a season three times during that stretch, including a league-leading 164 stops in 2020.

After violating team rules related to punctuality and COVID testing in 2021, Cunningham was released by the Texans midseason. He finished that year with the Titans, sticking with the franchise for another season. However, he missed much of the 2022 campaign due to an elbow injury.

Cunningham started 10 games for the Eagles in 2023 and was a reserve in Denver last season, seeing just 15 defensive snaps in seven appearances for the Broncos.

Cunningham joins a deep group in Detroit, headlined by the absent Anzalone, Jack Campbell and Derrick Barnes, who re-signed with the Lions this offseason.

The depth chart is rounded out by newcomer Grant Stuard, Rodriguez, Trevor Nowaske, Anthony Pittman, Ezekiel Turner, Abraham Beauplan and DaRon Gilbert. Most of that group are proven special teams performers.

Cunningham played more special teams early in his career, peaking with 210 snaps with those groups as a rookie in 2017. He's logged only 92 reps on special teams over the past four seasons.