The Detroit Lions broke their free agency silence on Monday morning as the team announced they had signed defensive tackle Jordan Hill:
#Lions sign unrestricted free agent DT Jordan Hill: https://t.co/C0YGeOFqSA pic.twitter.com/ucLSXP65KH
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) March 20, 2017
Hill, 26, is a former third-round pick by the Seattle Seahawks. In his three years with the team, he only started one game, but picked up 7.0 sacks in three years. He also got himself a Super Bowl ring in 2014. However, injuries became a regularity with Hill. Out of 48 possible regular season games with the Seahawks, Hill only saw the field in 27. Last year the Seahawks waived him with an injury designation and placed him on injured reserve after suffering a hamstring injury in the preseason. In October, he was released from the team and then spent some time with Washington and Jacksonville, playing in just four games in 2016 as a fringe rotational player with the Jaguars.
Hill’s skill set is one of a versatile interior rusher. Here’s what our friends at Field Gulls had to say about him back in September:
“Hill’s the best of both worlds as a defensive tackle. He has the foot speed and lateral agility of an outside guy to work anywhere along the line, while possessing the power of a Clinton McDonald to give opposing quarterbacks nowhere to climb when the edge rushers are racing around the tackles.”
But his injury history apparently caught up with him and Seattle decided to move on. In Detroit, Hill may have an opportunity to compete for the starting 3-tech defensive tackle job. It would be a huge leap in opportunity for the youngster, but considering the Lions’ lack of a pure pass-rushing defensive tackle, Hill should easily see significant playing time. That is, of course, if he can remain healthy.