Lions sign Isa Abdul-Quddus to one-year deal

When the Detroit Lions claimed safety Isa Abdul-Quddus off waivers earlier this month, the move seemed a bit odd considering he was not under contract for the 2014 season. Abdul-Quddus was actually set to become a restricted free agent on March 11, but the Lions decided to add him via waivers anyway.

The move to claim Abdul-Quddus makes a lot more sense now that we know the Lions have already signed him to a one-year deal. Rather than tender him as a restricted free agent or wait until after free agency opens to sign him, the Lions simply gave him a one-year deal worth $695,000 (with a $50,000 signing bonus), according to Dave Birkett.

Abdul-Quddus spent three years with the New Orleans Saints before coming to Detroit. He appeared in only 11 games last season, but he made four starts in his first two seasons in New Orleans. With the Lions, it seems likely that he will serve as one of their backups at safety and contribute on special teams, especially with John Wendling not in the team's future plans.

With Abdul-Quddus under contract, the Lions now have two restricted free agents (Joique Bell and Dorin Dickerson) to go along with 14 unrestricted free agents and five exclusive-rights free agents.