By Adeniyi Precious 
The Detroit Lions made a move late on the second day of free agency, signing defensive lineman Roy Lopez to a one-year contract worth up to $4.25 million. Lopez, a 27-year-old who was drafted in the 6th round by the Arizona Cardinals in 2021, has spent his career playing with both the Houston Texans and the Cardinals. The 6-foot-2, 318-pound tackle started all 16 games in 2024, mostly at nose tackle, finishing with 28 tackles, a fumble recovery, three pass deflections, and three quarterback hits.
Lopez isn’t the splashy signing some fans might have been hoping for, but he adds much-needed depth to the Lions’ defensive line. He’s played 63 games, starting 50, and has logged significant time at nose tackle. Detroit had some injury setbacks last season with Alim McNeill and Mekhi Wingo, but both are expected to return. Meanwhile, Myles Adams and Marcus Davenport also re-signed with the team, and Levi Onwuzurike remains unsigned. With the defense continuing to take shape, the Lions are hoping Lopez can help bolster their front line.