While it was a quiet and modest day for the Detroit Lions on Monday, the first day of the NFL’s negotiating period of free agency, the team did address its biggest needs along the offensive line. Local fans may be getting impatient, watching more players leave than join the Lions, but the national perspective on Detroit’s Day 1 of free agency actually seem quite positive.
Here’s a look at how national analysts reacted to Detroit’s big signing of center Cade Mays, and some overall thoughts on their
full day.
Lions adding C Cade Mays on 3-year, $25M deal
Mays is solid in pass protection, having earned a 67.6 PFF pass-blocking grade in 2025, but has endured struggles as a run blocker. He ranked in the 20th percentile for negatively graded run-blocking plays last season. Given who the Lions want to be on offense, that is a bit of a concern. This deal could work out for the Lions, but it comes with a reasonable amount of risk.
The Athletic grade: A (Daniel Popper)
Considering how the center market exploded, getting Mays at this price is a great deal. Mays took over the Panthers’ starting job in Week 3 after an injury to Austin Corbett, and he played well, particularly in pass protection. Mays is a huge center at 6-foot-6, 325 pounds, and he uses that size to create a wall against rushers. He can match up with big nose tackles. Mays is a bit limited as an athlete, but he will improve the Lions’ interior pass protection.
Fox Sports grade: B+ (Henry McKenna)
The Lions lost Frank Ragnow before the 2025 season and never quite replaced him — until now. This year, Mays took over the Panthers’ starting center job after an injury to Austin Corbett in Week 3. Mays played well in relief of Corbett, helping the Panthers engineer a run-first identity for Rico Dowdle and Chuba Hubbard. Mays also didn’t allow a sack, per PFF.
Mays is 26 years old, and has 52 games of experience. On a three-year, $25-million deal, these should be his prime years of production for an ascending player.
Bleacher Report grade: B (Kristopher Knox)
The Lions’ offensive line was an issue in 2025, and it became a bigger issue when starting tackle Taylor Decker asked for and received his release from Detroit. On Monday, they found themselves a new starting center in former Carolina Panthers lineman Cade Mays.
Mays spent the first few years of his NFL career providing depth at guard and center. However, the 26-year-old emerged as a dependable starting center for the Panthers in 2025.
The 6’6″, 325-pound Mays should now provide a physical presence on the interior for the Lions.
The Sporting News grade: B (Vinnie Iyer)
The Lions recover well to work on rebuilding their offensive line in the wake of needing to replace Frank Ragnow, Graham Glasgow and Taylor Decker.
Underdog Network grade: B+ (Hayden Winks)
He wouldn’t be a fit for everyone given his size and lackluster mobility, but Mays’ mauling style fits Dan Campbell and this more gap-schemed offense. Detroit’s OL fell apart following retirements, injuries, and free agency losses, so getting help from LT to RG was required. Mays was a key part of Rico Dowdle’s big season with the Panthers and even has some experience at guard, too. This all coming at 30% of the cost of Linderbaum is an obvious win.
Full Day 1 grades/other analysis:
The Detroit Lions have been active early in free agency, focusing on reinforcing their offensive line. Center Cade Mays and tackle Larry Borom were added on free agent deals to provide stability up front, which was the Lions’ biggest need heading into the offseason.
CBS Sports’ Douglas Clawson pick the Lions’ signing of Cade Mays as one of the five “best fits” on Day 1 of free agency.:
Detroit’s offensive line took a step back in 2025 after the retirement of center Frank Ragnow. They went from second and 15th in PFF’s run and pass block grades in 2024 to 13th and 24th in 2025, respectively. Cade Mays will be an upgrade over Graham Glasgow after making a career-high 12 starts for Carolina in 2025.
Speaking of best fits, The Athletic’s Robert Mays and Nate Tice gushed over the Mays signing, as well:
