Paula Pasche

Lions waive Anthony Zettel; awarded DE Romeo Okwara via waivers

Zettel had 6.5 sacks in 2017

In the past two years, Lions GM Bob Quinn has proven that he is not shy about dumping his own draft picks.

It happened again on Wednesday when Quinn waived defensive end Anthony Zettel who was a sixth-round pick in Quinn’s first draft class in 2016.

The Lions were awarded DE Romeo Okwara via waivers from the New York Giants. Okwara, 23, played in six games for the Giants in 2017 due to a knee injury and finished with no sacks. As a rookie he played in all 16 games with four starts and one sack. He was signed by the Giants as an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame in 2016.

In 2016 with Kerry Hyder out, Zettel started all 16 games and was second in sacks (6.5) only to Ziggy Ansah (12). As a rookie he played in 13 games with no starts.
Zettel, who is from West Branch, Mich., was listed as Hyder’s backup on the depth chart released this week.

In the final game of the 2017 season, the defensive line starters were Zettel, Ansah, A’Shawn Robinson and Akeem Spence who was traded to the Dolphins in May. Ricky Jean Francois and Sylvester Williams are expected to start at defensive tackle with Robinson as a backup. Hyder and Ansah will start at defensive end.

The Lions open the season on Monday night against the New York Jets.

Lions’ versatile DB Quandre Diggs calls 3-year extension a blessing

ALLEN PARK — When Quandre Diggs was drafted in 2015’s sixth round, he came to Detroit ready to show he belonged in the Lions’ secondary.

He was a standout from the get-go.

That fight, that desire has not let up.

On Monday, the Lions defensive back received his reward in the form of a three-year contract extension reportedly worth $20.4 million.

“It’s a blessing, it’s a huge relief but at the end of the day you still have to put in work and show the Lions that you deserve every penny of it,’’ Diggs said after Monday’s practice. “My whole mindset hasn’t changed. I continue to go out and work, I think we had a good day today. Even though I signed the deal I still had to get to work.’’

(Photo courtesy of the Detroit Lions)

Diggs finished last season starting at safety but he’s just as comfortable at nickel and can also play corner. It’s unknown where he’ll start in Monday’s season opener against the N.Y. Jets and, in fact, that might change game to game depending on the opponent.

Patricia called him a “critical” part of the defense.

“However we decide to use him, it’s always going to be in the best of our ability to put us in the chance to win. But certainly with his ability to do that and handle the mental part of it, which is a big part of it — the instinctual part of it to, again, when you’re lining up in a safety position, you’re looking at the defense maybe from the top down,’’ Patricia said on Monday. “When you’re closer to the box, it’s maybe a little bit more peripheral, kind of all around you. So, that’s kind of a rare trait and that’s something that we identify that he has that he’s able to do at a high level. So, certainly that was a good opportunity for us to use it all the way through camp.”

Patricia has tried to fill the roster with versatile players on both sides of the ball.

“I’m really excited, we’re in a great situation where we have a lot of guys who can play a lot of positions. I’m really excited about the DB room of course it’s a brotherhood, we’ve all come together,’ Diggs said.

Patricia noted Diggs’ leadership skills.

“It’s growing on me a little bit. At the end of the day I’m going into my fourth year I’ve beat the odds, sixth-round pick, 200 (overall), I’ve beaten the odds from what I was supposed to be,’’ Diggs said. “When I got here I had great guys like Rasheen Mathis, GQ (Glover Quin) of course, Don Carey. I’ve always had great leaders, great mentorship, including Josh Wilson and James Ihedigbo. For me it’s a blessing. I take these guys under my wing, even the guys who are around the same age as me, I try to teach them as much as I can and try to be there for them.’’

Since his rookie season he has played in 44 games with 19 starts. Last year was his best with 11 starts, 3 interceptions, one sack, nine pass defenses and 55 tackles.

“It’s a blessing,’’ Diggs said. “I’m just happy to be here, I appreciate the Lions and Mrs. Ford and everybody for believing in me.’’

Lions, Diggs agree to $20.4 million extension; Marquis Flowers signed

Flowers played for Patricia with Patriots in 2017

ALLEN PARK — Quandre Diggs got his payday. Today the Lions announced a contract extension for the defensive back through the 2021 season. The three-year deal is worth $20.4 million according to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport.

The Lions’ made a roster move on Monday morning when they signed linebacker Marquis Flowers. He was at practice wearing No. 59. Flowers spent last season with the New England Patriots where Lions coach Matt Patricia was the defensive coordinator.

“Quandre has developed into one of our core defensive players and we are excited to come to this agreement that will have him as a Detroit Lion for the next four seasons.” GM Bob Quinn said. “I also want to thank Quandre and his representatives for their work in making this extension a reality.”

Diggs, 25, played five games at safety to end last season. He’s expected to play nickel and corner. Obviously his versatility is a huge plus.

“He’s a another guy who’s obviously a critical part of our team defensively. A guy that has worked extremely hard since he walked in the door,” coach Matt Patricia said on Monday. “Someone since I got here who has embraced everything that we’ve been doing and has taken a big leadership role for us.”

Diggs, a sixth-round pick in 2015, has appeared in 44 career games with 19 starts. His career totals include 131 tackles (110 solo), three interceptions, 16 pass defenses, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and one sack.

Flowers, 26, was a sixth-round pick in 2014 by the Cincinnati Bengals. He’s played in all 16 games in each of his first three NFL seasons. He started two games for the Patriots in 2017 and finished with 3.5 sacks and 32 tackles.

Latest practice squad roster:

QB Jake Rudock, WR Chris Lacy, OT Dan Skipper, CB Cre’von LeBlanc, CB Mike Ford, S Rolan Milligan, LB Darnell Sankey, DE Alex Barrett, DE Eric Lee and DT John Atkins.