Lon Horwedel-USA TODAY Sports

Brock Wright and the 49ers put the Lions in a very rare position

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Mike Payton | Last updated 3/29/24

The Detroit Lions gave a restricted free agent tender to tight end Brock Wright at the beginning of the month. That was supposed to be that and Wright was expected to be back on the Lions in 2024. Now that is in doubt.

A player with an RFA tender can still be offered contracts. It just doesn't happen a whole lot. With Wright it has. The 49ers have given Wright an offer sheet. The Lions now have five days to match that offer sheet, or Wright can move on and sign with the 49ers.

Some rare RFA action: #Lions restricted free agent Brock Wright has signed an offer sheet from the #49ers, sources say. Detroit now has five days to match. pic.twitter.com/cLFT3OSJPV
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 29, 2024

There are times in which teams decide not to match and they are given compensation. In this case since Wright was brought in as an undrafted free agent by the Lions, there will be no compensation for the Detroit if Wright signs with the 49ers.

How rare is this? The last time it happened was in 2022 when the Bears had an offer sheet for Bills offensive lineman Ryan Bates. The Bills ultimately matched. What will the Lions do? For what it's worth, the last time I could find that a team declined to match was in 2017 when the Bills declined to match an offer sheet with the Patriots for running back Mike Gillislee.

The Lions sent out an offer sheet not too long ago. In 2019 they signed running back Malcolm Brown to an offer sheet. The Rams matched the deal and the Lions lost out on Brown.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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