The Lions drafted 10 players last week and are in the process of adding several undrafted free agents, but general manager Bob Quinn found a player with NFL experience to add to the roster on Monday.
Linebacker Zaviar Gooden, a third-round pick by Tennessee in 2013, signed a deal with the Lions, the team announced Monday.
Gooden appeared in nine games as a rookie, making 12 tackles, and in 15 games in 2014, he had 24 tackles.
But Gooden tore his hamstring in a 2015 preseason game and landed on injured reserve before being released with an injury settlement last September.