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In a move that was expected, the Detroit Lions announced Tuesday that they have designated defensive end Ziggy Ansah as their franchise player.

Ansah finished 2017 with a dozen sacks  44 total tackles (39 solo), one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Six of those sacks occurred in the final two games. It was an improvement from the 2016 season when he had two sacks but not quite enough to match his best year when he had 14.5 sacks in 2015.

His 44 career sacks rank fifth all-time in Lions history.

Ansah, 28, was the Lions first-round draft pick (fifth overall) in 2013. It was seen as a risky pick. Ansah’s size and athleticism fit a first-round profile, but he didn’t play football until in college at Brigham Young. He was raw but proved to be a quick learner.

He will be paid $17.5 million for 2018 once he signs his tender, according to Ian Rapoport, NFL Network Insider. Ansah’s agent and the Lions have until July 16 to work out a longer deal.

Ansah’s career totals also include 73 games (71 starts), 207 total tackles (155 solo), 10 forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

Bob Quinn has earned a contract extension in his first two years as general manager of the Detroit Lions. The team announced the deal today without, of course, sharing many details.

The extension matches the length of the contract of new coach Matt Patricia who was signed this week. At Patricia’s introductory press conference, team president Rod Wood said Patricia’s deal was “long term” but was not specific about the number of years.

With Quinn’s extension the Lions will have organizational stability for the next several years.

Five reasons why it was a good idea to give Quinn an extension:

1. He’s earned it with two solid drafts in his first stint as general manager of an NFL team. His first-round picks — linebacker Jarrad Davis and left tackle Taylor Decker — have proven themselves worthy. Through his drafts the Lions have found starters and depth that had been missing for years. Three of the 2016 draft picks — Decker, Graham Glasgow and Joe Dahl — could be starters on the offensive line in the fall. Defensive end Anthony Zettel was a huge find as a sixth-round pick. Many of the first- and second-year players (Kenny Golladay, Teez Tabor, Jamal Agnew, among others) are just scratching the surface.

2. Quinn has added depth through free agency and nabbed a few notables such as wide receiver Marvin Jones, right guard T.J. Lang, right tackle Rick Wagner and defensive tackle Akeem Spence.

3. Continuity is key to a successful NFL franchise.  That was echoed in team president Rod Wood’s statement: “It is also important for our entire organization to ensure stability as we move forward with Matt as our new head coach working in partnership with Bob. Moreover, I greatly enjoy my relationship and partnership with Bob. We both look forward to a bright future for the Detroit Lions.”

4. Quinn has done a respectable job so far but he needs more time to see this through. Quinn said: “My goals and vision remain unchanged and I will continue to work diligently at improving this team and every facet of the football operation. Coach Patricia and I will always work in close concert on any and all football-related matters. That process is underway as our coaching and player personnel staffs are collectively preparing for the roster building phase of the off-season.”

5. Displaying hard work and passion, Quinn has earned the extension. The Lions are not where they want to be yet, but they appear to be headed in the right direction.

ALLEN PARK — When the Lions hired Matt Patricia as the new head coach, it had to be a good match both ways.

It certainly helps that Lions general manager Bob Quinn and Patricia worked together for a dozen years with the New England Patriots.

“My meeting with Bob and Rod (Wood) I felt very comfortable, I felt immediately when I walked in the room things just clicked on the same level,’’ Patricia said at his introductory press conference on Wednesday.

“Ideas, philosophies, the way you wanted an organization or a football team to be run — the mentality behind it was similar. I know Bob’s and my working relationship has been outstanding … My comfort level with Bob was huge in all of this,’’ Patricia added.

That comfort level was a huge factor, but it was not the only reason the decision was made. Five reasons Patricia was hired the Lions:

1. Quinn said they set out to find a head coach who had five characteristics: Integrity, leadership, intellect, work ethic and innovativeness. Patricia hit the mark with all five. Quinn characterized it as a “seamless” interview. In fact, Quinn and team president interviewed him twice in Massachusetts — once prior to the playoffs and once during the Super Bowl bye week. Patricia was one of five candidates they interviewed.

2. Patricia and Quinn do not want to recreate the “Patriot Way” in Detroit. “I think it’s hard to categorize ‘a way’ in general. Bob and I have a lot of experience and history together. We believe in a lot of the same things as far as when you look at and evaluate players, how a team should be run, how it should be coached,’’ Patricia said. “There’s a great background we both share. And a common ground as how we both envision a team being run. … When you’ve had success you can start to call it the ‘Lions way.”’

3. Quinn said the interviews validated what he thought of Patricia. “Overall Matt’s answers really  were just aligned with what I believe in and what I really believe will take us to that next level,’’ Quinn said. “Going through the interview process with other candidates, I didn’t know all of those guys personally, I knew a few of them. The 12 years we worked together — a lot of long hours, long drives to look at players, long conversations late at night about players, how would you do this, how did this guy play, can this guy fit in this scheme. … The interview process was really seamless. It was like we were back in his office talking football again.’’

4. Quinn said he didn’t have to sell Patricia on coming to Detroit for his first head coaching job. Quinn said the organization sells itself. “It starts with Mrs. Ford and her family, the support they give us is incredible. When we talk about going into a situation and trying to build a team and trying to build the organization back to where we want it, those are the easy selling points. I didn’t have to sell Matt on much,’’ Quinn said.

5. Their goal is the same. “Matt and I want to win now but we’re going to win the right way. We’re going to build from what we have currently and hopefully improve the roster every year,  every day, every week, every draft, every free agent period til we get where we want to be,’’ Quinn said. “We’re not putting timelines or timetables on when we’re going to win what, but we have great aspirations of what we want to do with this organization.’’