The 49ers tried poaching Brock Wright, but the Lions wouldn't have it.
The Lions are matching the three-year, $12 million offer sheet Wright signed with the 49ers last week, keeping the tight end in Detroit. The right of first refusal belonged to the Lions after they originally signed Wright to a one-year, $2.985 million deal earlier this offseason. He was a restricted free agent.
The deadline for the Lions to match the 49ers' offer was Wednesday.
$4 million per year feels like a lot of money for a backup tight end who made less than $1 million last season. But the salary cap is rising dramatically this year and Wright has been a steady, reliable player for the Lions and a key cog in their excellent rushing attack. The 49ers, who snuck past Detroit in the NFC championship game last season, clearly saw the same thing.
Wright hasn't been much of a pass-catcher, especially last season playing behind Pro Bowler Sam LaPorta. He caught 13 of 14 targets for 91 yards and a touchdown in 2023. But he's delivered when called upon, including a 29-yard catch-and-run that extended a touchdown drive in the Lions' divisional round win over the Buccaneers.
Wright, 25, later broke his forearm in that game, which ended his season. But he's earned the trust of Dan Campbell, Ben Johnson and the Lions' offensive coaching staff over his three seasons in Detroit, and he's turned that into a substantial new deal.