The Detroit Lions are making another addition to their tight end depth chart following their release of Eric Ebron earlier this offseason. After signing veteran Luke Willson last week, they’ve now landed the former Atlanta Falcon Levine Toilolo, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.
Lions signing veteran TE Levine Toilolo to one-year deal, per source. Veteran spent last five years with Falcons.
Toilolo, 26, spent his first five years in the NFL with the Falcons, who drafted him in the fourth round in 2013. After spending his rookie year as a backup, he started 53 out of the last 63 games. The Falcons just gave him a three-year, $12 million extension last year, but decided to cut him this offseason for cap purposes.
Like Willson, Toilolo doesn’t offer much as a receiver. In 79 career games with the Falcons, he caught just 74 balls for 723 yards and seven touchdowns. His best offensive year came in 2014, when he had 31 catches for 238 yards and two touchdowns. However, he is a capable run blocker just like Willson and should contribute to the Lions' subpar run game, which added veteran running back LeGarrette Blount.
The additions of Toilolo and Willson indicate that the Lions appear to be serious in their goal to get the ground game up and running once again. Although, it remains to be seen whether they’re still interested in adding another tight end who could provide more of a receiving threat to replace that part of Ebron’s game.
If the Lions opt not to look for that receiving tight end, more pressure will be placed on their wide receivers and pass-catching running backs to be the team's main playmakers.
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