Detroit Lions sign former Saints TE Alize Mack to futures contract

The Detroit Lions signed former New Orleans Saints tight end Alize Mack to a futures deal, the team announced on Thursday morning.

It’s easy to guess who may have made this roster decision, as Lions head coach Dan Campbell coached Mack in New Orleans his rookie season after being drafted by the team in the seventh round of the 2019 draft. That being said, Mack lasted just a couple months on the team, before being released from their practice squad a few weeks into the regular season.

Since then, he’s jumped around on the practice squad of the Steelers and Chiefs. However, he spent most of 2020 out of football after the Chiefs waived him shortly following the draft.

Mack played college at Notre Dame and was a mild contributor to their offense. His best year was his senior season, in which he hauled in 36 catches for 390 yards and three touchdowns.

Going into the draft process, Mack was a bit unpolished—as most tight ends are—but he had the athletic traits necessary to draw some attention.

In Detroit, he’ll join T.J. Hockenson, Jesse James and Hunter Bryant in the tight end room. The Lions also signed former Utah tight end Hunter Thedford to a futures contract earlier this offseason.