Lions sign veteran safety Dean Marlowe

Dean Marlowe’s visit with the Lions will produce an agreement. The Lions signed the veteran safety Thursday, bringing him over from the Bills.

One of the numerous Panthers to trek to Buffalo during the current Bills regime’s time, Marlowe spent the past three seasons in western New York. He will now join a rebuilding Lions team.

Marlowe, 28, spent his first two NFL seasons in Carolina. But the James Madison product only played five games with the Panthers. He did not crack a team’s gameday roster more than five times until the 2019 season. Last year, however, Marlowe suited up for 15 Bills regular-season games and made four starts. Despite limited experience on defense, Marlowe intercepted two passes last season.

The Lions hosted veteran backup safety Will Parks on a visit earlier this week, but for now will go with Marlowe at the position. He will join a team in need at safety, having traded Quandre Diggs in 2019 and having seen Duron Harmon’s contract expire after last season.