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Grade Detroit Lions sign Avonte Maddox
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Sentiment Analysis
A-
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Lions re-sign Maddox as a solid depth move for their secondary. Five headlines frame this as a practical retention of a versatile contributor. Maddox's ability to play multiple defensive back positions addresses Detroit's depleted secondary needs. Fans view this as a sensible backup plan rather than a blockbuster addition. Expect Maddox to serve as a rotational safety and cornerback option in 2026.
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Contract Value Index (CVI)
B-
Good Value
OverpayFair ValueGreat Value
Detroit's one-year, $1.42M signing of Avonte Maddox earns a B- Contract Value Index (CVI), reflecting a low-cost depth acquisition that makes financial sense for a team sitting at 9-8 and clinging to playoff positioning in the NFC North. The CVI grade acknowledges that Maddox carries modest salary-cap commitment with minimal dead-money risk—this is the type of move that costs almost nothing and can be undone without consequence if he doesn't stick. At this price point, the Lions are banking on reclamation value or rotational depth rather than a franchise cornerstone; a one-year deal signals they're evaluating his fit in-season without long-term obligation. The transaction's true test lies in execution: if Maddox contributes as a defensive chess piece in the secondary rotation, the Lions extracted efficiency; if he rides the bench, they've lost nothing. With the regular season 91 days away and Detroit needing to shore up their roster in the preseason window, this signing represents pragmatic, low-stakes roster management—exactly the kind of deal that separates disciplined front offices from those overpaying for the same production tier.
Contract Details
- Length
- 1 year
- Total Value
- $1.4M
- AAV
- $1.4M
- Guaranteed
- $1.2M
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About this NFL transaction
The Detroit Lions signed Avonte Maddox on April 6, 2026. FanVerdicts covers every reported NFL move — and asks fans to weigh in on each one. Cast your Fan Verdict on this move, see where the crowd lands, and argue the call. FanVerdicts brings its own read too — sentiment and Contract Value Index — as one honest input alongside the crowd's. Where FanVerdicts has weighed in so far: Contract Value Index B-, Sentiment A-.
Contract details below show the years, total value, average annual value, and guaranteed money behind the Contract Value Index read. That read does not change once written — it reflects market expectations at the moment of signing, recomputed only if the contract is restructured.
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