Former Vikings safety reportedly signing with the Lions

Former Minnesota Vikings safety Jayron Kearse is on his way out of town as he has reportedly agreed to terms with the Detroit Lions.

Jayron Kearse has a new home after a four-year stay with the Minnesota Vikings. The 26-year-old will remain in the NFC North after penning a one-year deal worth $2.75 million with the Detroit Lions according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.

Kearse was selected in the seventh round by the Vikings in 2016 after a standout college career with the Clemson Tigers. He made $760,000 in base salary in Minnesota last season and he has earned a significant pay raise with his contract with the Lions.

The safety played in 15 games last season for the Vikings, securing 28 tackles, six pass deflections, and an interception after being used in a rotational role by head coach Mike Zimmer.

Kearse was also involved in a serious off-the-field incident back in October. The player was arrested after he was pulled over on a Minnesota freeway and arrested on suspicion of 4th Degree DWI and possession of a firearm without a permit.

He now joins a Detroit roster that finished at the bottom of the NFC North with a 3-12-1 record in 2019 and is looking to make strides in Matt Patricia’s third season at the helm.

The safety knew his time was up in Minnesota long before the season ended. With Anthony Harris receiving the franchise tag from the Vikings in a shocking move earlier this week, they still have their elite tandem on the back end of the secondary intact barring a trade.

Kearse earned a total of $2.34 million during his four years with the Vikings while making 62 regular-season appearances with the franchise. He notched 59 combined tackles, eight pass deflections, an interception, and 0.5 sacks in his tenure with Minnesota.

He is the latest player to depart the Vikings since the start of free agency. Experienced duo Xavier Rhodes and Linval Joseph were shown the door, former first-round cornerback Trae Waynes joined the Cincinnati Bengals, and guard Josh Kline was also released after just one season with the franchise.