With the NFL draft less than a week away and the 2015 Detroit Lions roster -- at least from a salary-cap perspective -- taking a semblance of shape, the team can start to look a little bit toward the future.
It appears the team has.
General manager Martin Mayhew said Friday the team has started to have conversations with linebacker DeAndre Levy's agent about possibly extending him beyond 2015, the final season of his deal.
"It’s ongoing at this point," Mayhew said.
Levy (pictured) is due $3.5 million in cash this season with a $4.5 million cap number. He has turned into one of the top 4-3 outside linebackers in the league. He led the NFL in solo tackles last season and was second in the league in interceptions in 2013.
With Ndamukong Suh off to Miami, Levy becomes one of the Lions’ biggest defensive leaders and strongest pieces. The 28-year-old has improved his tackle numbers each year since 2012 and also had a career-high 2.5 sacks last season.
Though there have been discussions with Levy’s representatives about an extension, Mayhew said there haven’t been talks with Haloti Ngata or his agent, Mike McCartney, about a possible extension. It doesn’t mean there is not an interest in getting something done, though.
"I think they know we have an interest in doing something," Mayhew said. "And I think we know they have an interest in doing something, but he just got here for his offseason program. Letting him get comfortable, get situated, and at some point we’ll start that dialogue."
The Lions are also making some progress on one of their holes for this season, too. Mayhew said Friday the Lions offered a contract to left guard Rob Sims, but he has yet to hear back from Sims’ agent.
"We’ve had some discussions with Rob," Mayhew said. "I really don’t know the answer to that. I spoke to his agent about three weeks ago. We had an offer out to him and that’s kind of where we are right now, going to have to wait and see what happens."
