DETROIT - The Detroit Lions reached an agreement Monday, March 9, with former Carolina Panthers center Cade Mays on a three-year contract. The deal has a maximum value of $25 million and addresses one of the team’s primary roster needs at the start of the 2026 NFL free agent negotiating period.
Mays, who turns 27 in April, started 12 games at center for the Panthers last season after starter Austin Corbett suffered an early-season knee injury. The Lions moved quickly to secure the veteran lineman as they look to restructure their offensive front.
The contract includes $14 million in guaranteed money, according to KPRC-TV in Houston. Before his full season as a starter in Carolina, Mays briefly joined the New York Giants practice squad during the 2024 season before returning to the Panthers to start eight games.
The addition of Mays allows the Lions to keep Tate Ratledge at his preferred position of right guard this fall. Lions coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes had considered moving Ratledge to center, the position he practiced at after the team selected him in the second round out of Georgia last spring.
Detroit also agreed to terms with offensive tackle Larry Borom, according to reports from NFL Media. Borom, 27, spent last season with the Miami Dolphins on a one-year, $2.5 million deal, where he started 11 games. The financial terms of his new deal with the Lions were not disclosed.
Borom previously played four seasons for the Chicago Bears, who selected him in the fifth round of the 2021 draft. He made 27 starts during his time in Chicago before moving to Miami.
These offensive line additions, combined with a trade for Juice Scruggs last week, are intended to fill gaps following the departures of Taylor Decker, Frank Ragnow and Graham Glasgow.
While adding to the offense, Detroit lost two pieces on defense to other teams on Monday. Linebacker Alex Anzalone agreed to a two-year, $17 million deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Lions also lost defensive back Amik Robertson, who reached a two-year, $16 million agreement with the Washington Commanders.