Hours after the Detroit Lions re-signed free agent cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, Woodward Sports media personality Eazy urged the team to bring back another defensive back. Quandre Diggs, the team’s former safety, left four and a half years ago.
The 31-year-old safety is seeking for a new team after being released by the Seattle Seahawks on March 5, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Following his release, Diggs commented “forever grateful” on X (previously Twitter). In response, Eazy quote tweeted Diggs’ piece, saying simply, “Before you ask, the answers are yes.”
Diggs spent four and a half seasons with Detroit from 2015 to 2019. The Lions traded him and a 2021 seventh-round pick to the Seahawks for a 2020 fifth-round pick.
In March 2022, Diggs signed a three-year, $39 million contract with the Seahawks. He was about to reach the final year of his contract before being released.
Quandre Diggs, a veteran safety, was released by the Seattle Seahawks.
He started his career as a sixth-round choice by the Detroit Lions in 2015. He made the roster and even started four games as a rookie.
Diggs spent his first two seasons as a rotational safety and special teams player. In 2017, he started 11 games, and in 2018, he became a regular starter.
Diggs recorded 215 combined tackles, including 12 tackles for loss, in 65 games with the Lions, 40 of them starts. He also recorded 24 pass defences and six interceptions.
The Lions traded Diggs in the middle of Matt Patricia’s second season as head coach of Detroit.
Diggs quickly rose to prominence in Seattle. He intercepted a ball in his Seahawks debut. In his fourth game with Seattle, Diggs got two interceptions, one of which he recovered for a touchdown.
Diggs made 324 combined tackles, including 3 for loss, during his four and a half seasons with the Seahawks. He also had 32 pass defences and 18 interceptions.
On March 5, Seattle released Diggs and two other veterans, fellow safety Jamal Adams and tight end Will Dissly, as part of a payroll dump. The Seattle Seahawks saved approximately $25.25 million in cap space by dismissing all three players.
Cutting Diggs alone saved Seattle $11 million on the salary cap.
Could the Lions bring back Diggs?
As Diggs hits free agency, the question remains whether he and the Lions are interested in a possible reunion.
On February 20, the Lions cut their own experienced safety, Tracy Walker. That trade saved Detroit approximately $5.5 million in cap space.
Even without Walker, the Lions have three safeties under contract through 2024: Kerby Joseph, Ifeatu Melifonwu, and Brandon Joseph. Detroit might still re-sign veteran safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
“That room is crowded,” Les White replied to Eazy on X. “Who sits?”
Eazy answered that Diggs may sit or rotate with the Lions’ other young safeties on the roster.
If the Lions lose Gardner-Johnson, Diggs would be an interesting addition from an experienced standpoint. Diggs has 137 games of NFL experience, which would be beneficial to the Lions’ still-young secondary.
However, the Lions are unlikely to want any experienced safety they sign to limit Joseph or Melifonwu’s playing time. If Detroit favours Gardner-Johnson, a reunion with Diggs is unlikely.
However, the option is accessible if the Lions decide to pursue it.
Leave a Reply