Report: Lions to release Trey Flowers

The Detroit Lions told defensive end Trey Flowers they plan to release him on the opening day of free agency next week, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press.

Flowers signed a five-year, $90-million contract with the Lions in 2019. He was set to earn $16 million in base salary and carry a $23.2-million cap hit. Detroit will create $10.3 million in cap space with the move, according to Over the Cap.

The 28-year-old recorded 97 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and 10.5 sacks across three seasons with the Lions, including 51 tackles and seven sacks in 2019. However, injuries have limited Flowers to just 14 games over the last two campaigns.

The Alabama native began his career with the New England Patriots, who selected him in the fourth round of the 2015 NFL Draft. Flowers racked up 100 tackles and 21 sacks and was a member of two Super Bowl-winning teams during his New England tenure.

Flowers is set to join Chandler Jones, Von Miller, and Haason Reddick as veteran free-agent pass-rushers this offseason.