NFL free agency news: Devon Kennard signing 3-year deal with Cardinals

It didn’t take long for former Detroit Lions linebacker Devon Kennard to find a new home. Less than 24 hours after the Lions announced that Kennard had been released, the veteran linebacker is reportedly signing with the Arizona Cardinals.

The Lions released Kennard shortly following the announcement that they had agreed to terms with former Patriots linebacker Jamie Collins Sr. The move made Kennard expendable, as he was on the last year of his contract and saved the Lions $5.7 million in cap space.

Kennard gave a classy farewell to Detroit on Tuesday night via social media.

“My goal in life is to always leave a place better then I found it. I believe I did that in Detroit with the @detroitlionsnfl,” Kennard wrote on Twitter. “Thank you to my teammates, coaches, the support staff and fans that made my experience in Detroit one that I will cherish forever.”

Terms of the deal with the Cardinals have not yet been released, but Kennard is from Phoenix, Arizona, so it will be a nice homecoming for the 28-year-old veteran.

Update: Per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the three-year deal is worth $20 million with $12.25 million guaranteed. For reference, the Lions gave him a three-year, $17.25 million deal ($8.5M guaranteed) two years ago.