With free agency coming very soon, the Detroit Lions have made a decision not to keep one of their own. According to a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the Lions will not make a contract tender offer to restricted free agent cornerback Jerry Jacobs
The report comes a day after Jacobs posted a cryptic message on his social media that indicated some change was on the way.
Jacobs started 29 games over the last three seasons at outside CB after making the team as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Arkansas. He started 12 games in 2023 before suffering a knee injury.
He did not play well in 2023, giving up a completion rate over 66 percent and surrendering seven touchdowns, per PFF’s tracking. His tackling and run defense also regressed from his first two years.
As a restricted free agent, the Lions simply needed to extend a qualifying contract offer to Jacobs. That would have allowed the team to match any offer from an opposing team and get compensation in return if Jacobs left. Now, he is an unrestricted free agent and the Lions get nothing in return if he signs elsewhere.
