Tim Twentyman is reporting that the Detroit Lions have extended contract tenders to three of their restricted free agents. Here is what level tender each player has received:
- OT Corey Hilliard - original-round tender (sixth round) worth $1.26 million
- DT Sammie Hill - original-round tender (fourth round) worth $1.26 million
- LB DeAndre Levy - second-round tender worth $1.927 million
What this means is that if one of these players were to sign an offer sheet with another team, the Lions would receive the corresponding draft pick as compensation if they declined to match it. In Hill's case, for example, the Lions would get a fourth-round draft pick if they declined to match an offer Hill received from another team.
The only restricted free agent who wasn't tendered, as reported last month, is linebacker Ashlee Palmer. That doesn't mean he won't be back with the Lions, though. Twentyman reports that the Lions hope to re-sign him, so it appears they want Palmer back, just not at the salary a restricted free agent tender would have given him.