The Detroit Lions have tendered edge defender James Houston to a minimum salary, one-year exclusive rights free agent deal, per the NFL. Because Houston has fewer than three accrued seasons and was on an expiring contract, the Lions could tenderer him to a one-year, $915,000 contract, and Houston’s only options would be to sign the deal or sit out the 2024 season. That’s what Detroit did, and now it will be on Houston to take the deal or sit out the season.
Houston was a revelation in his rookie season. A sixth-round pick in 2022, Houston didn’t make the original roster, but was signed to the practice squad.