Lions add defensive linemen Akeem Spence, Cornelius Washington
After splurging on the best right tackle on the free-agent market, the Detroit Lions are filling out their defense with a number of mid-level signings.
The Lions agreed to terms with two defensive linemen at the start of free agency Thursday, landing end Cornelius Washington and tackle Akeem Spence.
Spence, who had 5.5 sacks in four seasons as a part-time starter with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, posted a good-bye message on his Twitter account to his old team but did not mention the Lions in his post. He signed a three-year, $9 million contract that included a $2.25 million signing bonus.
Washington, who signed a two-year deal that ESPN reported was worth $6 million, told the Free Press in a phone interview that he was excited to play in a system that will emphasize his pass-rush abilities.
"I think the whole Detroit D-line is going to be good," Washington said. "All these guys that they have that can just (get) up the field. The system that they run, I'm tailor-made for it. Without me having to talk to too many people, just off my own basic instinct, I thought it was a great fit."
Lions new DE Cornelius Washington bulked up, played well in 2016
Both Spence and Washington should be rotational players on a retooled Lions front.
The Lions return three defensive line starters in Ziggy Ansah, Haloti Ngata and A'Shawn Robinson, but left end Devin Taylor is an unrestricted free agent, as are backup tackles Tyrunn Walker and Stefan Charles.
Spence made 19 tackles in four starts last season while playing in a rotation with Gerald McCoy and Clinton McDonald.
Washington had two sacks in 15 games with the Chicago Bears. He missed most of the 2015 season with a quadriceps injury, but said he's excited to play for Lions defensive line coach Kris Kocurek, who coached him at the Senior Bowl in 2013.
"I'm excited to come in and get to work, excited for a new chapter in my life and I appreciate everything the Lions will do for me," Washington said. "It's just a chapter in my life that I'm ready for."
More Lions coverage:
New Detroit Lions DT Akeem Spence was suspended after drug charge
Detroit Lions release veteran LB DeAndre Levy
Riley Reiff goes to Vikings; T.J. Lang to visit Detroit Lions
NFL free agency tracker: It's bonkers!
Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.