The Detroit Lions will not reach a deal on a long-term contract for franchised star defensive end Ziggy Ansah by Monday’s 4 pm Eastern deadline, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
This is consistent with an earlier report from Ian Rapoport of NFL Network that Ansah is expected to play on the franchise tag worth $17 million this season.
It had been reported as early as March that the Lions were unlikely to hand Ansah a long-term extension. The Lions can opt to tag Ansah again next season, which would be worth over $20 million.
Ansah, 28, was the No. 5 overall pick by the Lions in the 2013 NFL Draft. He’s played in 73 out of a possible 80 games over his first five years in the league and has recorded 44 sacks, 207 tackles, and 10 forced fumbles.
After a disappointing two-sack campaign in 2016 where injuries slowed him down, Ansah bounced back last season to record 12 sacks in 14 games for the Lions. He also had a career-high 14.5 sacks in 2015, which is his lone Pro Bowl season to date.
Despite the absence of a long-term deal, Ansah will still be expected to be the main man on a Lions defense which is sorely lacking in other consistent edge rushers. Anthony Zettel was a distant second to Ansah last season with 6.5 sacks, and no one else on the roster had over three.
It will be up to new Lions head coach Matt Patricia to improve that aspect of the Detriot defense this season and prepare for the possibility of Ansah moving on in free agency next offseason.
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