Detroit Lions find their center, reaching three-year agreement with Cade Mays

(Getty Images)

Allen Park — The Detroit Lions filled one of their top roster needs within the first two hours of Monday’s negotiating window, reaching a three-year agreement with Carolina Panthers center Cade Mays.

The deal is reportedly worth up to $25 million with $14 million guaranteed. Contracts with outside free agents can be finalized at the start of the new league year, Wednesday at 4 p.m.

Mays, 26, is a behemoth on the interior. Standing at 6-foot-6 and weighing 325 pounds, he was selected by the Panthers in the sixth round of the 2022 draft out of Tennessee.

Mays began his college career at Georgia, and between the two schools, he saw playing time at all five offensive line positions. After primarily logging snaps at right tackle as a senior in 2021, he saw work at right and left guard his first two seasons in Carolina, before moving to center ahead of the 2024 campaign.

Making 25 appearances, including 20 starts since 2024, Mays didn’t allow a sack in more than 800 pass blocking snaps. He did miss some time with injuries during the stretch, including a shoulder joint issue in 2024 and a ankle sprain last season.

Mays should be plugged into the center spot held by Graham Glasgow last season and Frank Ragnow the six before that.

Glasgow was released earlier this month. He had shifted over from left guard, replacing Ragnow after he retired last offseason.

The signing of Mays should also end the talk of moving Tate Ratledge from right guard, where he started all 17 games as a rookie and played almost exclusively during his college career at Georgia.