The Detroit Lions have signed veteran defensive lineman Ricky Jean Francois to a one-year deal, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.

Jean-Francois played for new Lions head coach Matt Patricia with the New England Patriots last year after he was cut by the Green Bay Packers. Jean Francois played six games for the Pats, recording 10 tackles, and played 12 games overall last year.

The 31-year-old Jean Francois is a former seventh-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 2009. He spent his first four years in the league with the Niners. He also spent two years apiece with the Colts and Redskins before he split time between New England and Green Bay last year.

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Over his nine-year career, Jean Francois has played 121 games (37 starts), recording 12 sacks with 176 tackles.

The Lions have been in contact with Jean Francois throughout the offseason. A deal was reportedly struck between the two parties in March, but Jean Francois denied the report over Twitter.

But now that Jean Francois is finally a Lion, he will add a much-needed veteran presence to what is a relatively young Lions defensive line. Ziggy Ansah and Sylvester Williams are the oldest defensive linemen on the team at 29 years old.

He will provide more depth in the interior of that line that also includes A’Shawn Robinson, Jeremiah Ledbetter, Da’Shawn Hand and Sylvester Williams.