Detroit Lions Showing Interest in Free Agent TE Jared Cook

According to a new report this morning, the Detroit Lions interest in the free agent tight ends includes Jared Cook, most recently of the Packers.

Free Agency got moving for the Detroit Lions yesterday as they agreed to terms with right tackle Ricky Wagner and linebacker Paul Worrilow. Things aren’t slowing down today as a new report this morning has the Lions showing interest in Jared Cook.

The report comes from NFL Network/NFL.com reporter Mike Garafolo.

This comes just a day after Jason La Canfora reported that the Lions had been checking in on tight ends, but didn’t specifically link them to any players. La Canfora did mention Cook, but only in that the Packers would like to keep him.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is one who has stated he wants Cook to remain in Green Bay, but the Packers may not be willing to pony up the money necessary to make that happen. Bleacher Report’s Jason Cole reported last Sunday that Cook and the Packers were having talks but without much progress.

Could the Lions steal an important player away from a division rival? We’ll see, and if they do it will mean they did so because they paid a higher price than Green Bay was willing to pay. Even so, the Lions have a definite need at tight end.

Cook brings a similar skill set as Ebron, but he graded out much higher last season by Pro Football Focus. Cook was ranked as the number 11 tight end by PFF; Ebron ranked 49th. A large portion of that difference can be attributed to PFF’s evaluation of each player’s run blocking.

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Cook played on a one-year, $2.5 million deal last season and is surely looking for a raise after posting a solid second half of the season that included a clutch catch to help the Packers beat the Cowboys in the playoffs. He earned a bigger deal but he will be 30-years old next season, so any team signing him should have a certain amount of caution in the terms of the deal.