Lions Sign Former Vikings Playmaker
A plethora of former Minnesota Vikings players found new teams last week during free agency’s first wave, and among them, tight end Tyler Conklin picked a Vikings rival as his next destination: the Detroit Lions.
Detroit added depth and veteran experience to its tight end room with Conklin.
Conklin feels like a “Dan Campbell guy,” and now that pairing has come to life.
Detroit Gets a Dependable No. 2 Tight End Behind Sam LaPorta
It’s Conklin’s fourth NFL team.
Conklin Signs with DET
It’s back to the NFC North for Conklin, where he began his career as a Viking.
Detroit Free Press‘ Rainer Sabin wrote Friday, “During a three-week stretch last fall, the Detroit Lions’ top three tight ends were out with injuries, exposing a lack of depth at a vital offensive position. The organization took the first step toward addressing the problem Friday, March 13, by adding ninth-year veteran Tyler Conklin to the fold.”
“The Chesterfield native and former Central Michigan player agreed to a one-year deal, according to his agent, Michael McCartney. Financial terms were not disclosed. Last season, Conklin appeared in 13 games with Jim Harbaugh’s Los Angeles Chargers, hauling in seven passes and producing 101 receiving yards.”
Minnesota will now see Conklin twice per year.
The Lions’ Updated TE Room
Following the transaction, Detroit’s evolving TE group looks like this
- Sam LaPorta
- Brock Wright
- Tyler Conklin
- Zach Horton
- Thomas Gordon
The Lions will likely keep three of those players, perhaps four, for the September roster, so this summer at training camp, Conklin must box out Horton, Gordon, and any rookies that Detroit may onboard in April or May. He should not have a major obstacle.
Pride of Detroit‘s Tyler Knapp gave the move an ‘A’ grade over the week and explained:
With Petzing taking over as the offensive coordinator, the tight ends are going to be expected to do it all. You’ll need to catch and block, as being talented in just one alone won’t be enough. Last year, the Lions had only two tight ends who could do both, with the rest specializing in one or the other. Conklin can do both, and he should give Wright some competition for the TE2 role.
While Wright doesn’t catch many passes and is a better blocker, Conklin is a fair player at both. Conklin has caught 270 passes in his career compared to Wright’s 70, as Conklin has been in the league since 2018, with Wright being around since 2021. Conklin is a better blocker than Wright and succeeds more in pass blocking than run blocking. With the ability to both block and catch and 69 career starts, he is a great fit for Detroit.
Conklin’s Career to Date
In 2021, Tyler Conklin led the Vikings’ tight ends with 593 receiving yards on 61 receptions and three touchdowns. Despite Minnesota acquiring Chris Herndon before that season, Conklin quickly became the more reliable receiving option, prompting a welcomed change in the team’s TE strategy.
Conklin’s breakout season resulted in a significant payday the following spring. As a free agent in 2022, he signed a three-year, $20.5 million contract with the New York Jets after the Vikings declined to match the offer and shifted their focus to Irv Smith Jr. However, Smith’s season-ending injury led to a midseason trade for T.J. Hockenson.
Through 127 career games (69 starts), Conklin has recorded 270 receptions for 2,645 yards and 11 touchdowns. As a starter, he consistently averages around 30 receiving yards per game, a performance that defines him as a dependable TE2 or TE3.
Former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman selected Conklin in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Here’s his full NFL resume through seven seasons:
- Minnesota Vikings (2018–2021)
- New York Jets (2022–2024)
- Los Angeles Chargers (2025)
- Detroit Lions (2026–now)
Lions FA Moves So Far
Detroit has been much busier than Minnesota (the Vikings have signed just two new players through one week of free agency), hoping to get back on track after a disappointing last-place finish in the NFC North.
These are the Lions’ main free-agent moves to date:
- Larry Borom (RT) CHI → DET
- Teddy Bridgewater (QB) TB → DET
- Tyler Conklin (TE) NYJ → DET
- Christian Izien (S) TB → DET
- Tom Kennedy (WR) DET → DET
- Cade Mays (C) CAR → DET
- Roger McCreary (CB) TEN → DET
- Trevor Nowaske (LB) DET → DET
- Isiah Pacheco (RB) KC → DET
- Malcolm Rodríguez (LB) DET → DET
- Rock Ya-Sin (CB) LV → DET
And these players have departed Detroit:
- Kyle Allen (QB) DET → BUF
- Alex Anzalone (LB) DET → TB
- Roy Lopez (DL) DET → ARI
- Al-Quadin Muhammad (ED) DET → TB
- Kalif Raymond (WR) DET → CHI
- Amik Robertson (CB) DET → WAS
- Grant Stuard (LB) DET → LAR
- Tyrus Wheat (ED) DET → DAL
Conklin will turn 31 this summer, and his career is presumably on the back nine.
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