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As things roll along on Day 2 of free agency, the Detroit Lions are still active players on the wire. Their latest move, reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, has Detroit signing veteran backup quarterback Chase Daniel:
Former Bears' QB Chase Daniel, who beat the Detroit on Thanksgiving Day last season, reached agreement with the Lions today on a three-year, $13.05 million deal that includes a voidable clause, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2020
According to the report from Schefter, the Lions and Daniel are in agreement for a three-year, $13.05 million deal. On the surface, this looks like Detroit’s attempt to insulate themselves from another wasted season of football should franchise quarterback Matthew Stafford be put on the shelf with another injury. After Stafford’s injury, the Lions lost eight straight games en route to a 3-12-1 record in 2019.
Daniel is a career backup who has played 10 seasons in the NFL for four different franchises—Chicago, New Orleans, Philadelphia, and Kansas City. And although he’s played 10 seasons, Daniel hasn’t seen much of an NFL field, attempting only 218 passes over the decade he’s been in the league.
In his two most recent seasons with the Bears, Daniel is 1-2 in three starts in place of Mitchell Trubisky, with one of those victories coming against the Lions on Thanksgiving Day in 2018.
With both Jeff Driskel and David Blough taking snaps in place of the injured Stafford last season, Detroit had an opportunity to get an extended and thorough look at both quarterbacks, but still opted to bring Daniel into the fold. Daniel will compete with both Blough and Kyle Sloter for the backup job in 2020.