Lions Bring In Vet LB Zach Cunningham, Say Goodbye to Abraham Beauplan
The Detroit Lions made a roster move on Tuesday, signing veteran linebacker Zach Cunningham and letting go of second-year LB Abraham Beauplan.
Cunningham, 30, is no rookie to the game—he’s heading into his ninth NFL season. He’s bounced around a bit, playing for the Texans, Titans, Eagles, and most recently the Broncos. Drafted back in 2017 by Houston, he’s racked up an impressive 709 tackles, 6.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries over 95 games. His standout season was in 2020, when he led the entire league with 164 tackles.
Last year, Cunningham suited up for seven games with Denver, though he only managed four tackles. Now, he lands in Detroit and joins a linebacker room that includes rookie first-rounder Jack Campbell, seasoned vet Alex Anzalone, and third-year guy Malcolm Rodriguez. With minicamp right around the corner, this gives new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard another experienced piece to work with.
As for Beauplan, the 25-year-old is moving on after a short time with the team. He joined Detroit in August 2024, spent most of the year on the practice squad, and appeared in three regular-season games, mostly on special teams.
The Lions are now down to seven linebackers on their 90-man roster, as GM Brad Holmes keeps tweaking the mix of young talent and veteran experience heading into training camp.
