If you missed it, late Friday night news leaked that the Detroit Lions had agreed to a one-year deal with former Vikings running back Matt Asiata. The team has not confirmed the signing nor have they announced a corresponding move, but the transaction has been corroborated by local beat reporter Justin Rogers.
This move comes after the first week of organized team activities, in which Lions players had three practices to make an impression before Memorial Day weekend. Apparently, the Lions running backs didn’t make a good enough impression, so the Lions decided to bring in Asiata, who worked out for Detroit a few weeks back during rookie minicamp.
Today’s Question of the Day is:
Do you approve of the Lions adding Matt Asiata?
My answer: While this move doesn’t get me very excited, I simultaneously see very little downside. Asiata will likely cost less than $1 million, and will be completely expendable if he doesn’t work out. I would have liked better competition for the power runner in the lineup, but at this point in free agency there aren’t really any better options—for the record, I wanted LeGarrette Blount to sign in Detroit, but I’m not sure he was worth the contract he got with the Eagles.
Overall, this move doesn’t mean all that much to me. I don’t think this necessarily means the team doesn’t believe in Zach Zenner or Dwayne Washington, but at the same time Asiata certainly has a chance to make the final roster. That’s why there’s little-to-no downside. Anything could happen and the cost is little. So I have no problem with the transaction.
Your turn.