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When the NFL free agency period opened last week the Seattle Seahawks were quick to sign former Carolina Panthers tight end Ed Dickson, and in looking at the contract the team gave to Dickson on Tuesday I wrote that it appeared Luke Willson’s time in Seattle had come to a close. That suspicion appears to have been confirmed late Tuesday when Willson sent out the following goodbye from his Twitter account.
— Luke Willson (@LWillson_82) March 21, 2018
As of now there have not been any reports regarding which team will be adding Willson to the roster, however it appears as though former Seahawk Golden Tate may have let the cat out of the bag that Willson is headed to the Detroit Lions when he responded to Willson’s goodbye with a welcome.
Signing with the Lions would not be a surprise, as they are one of the teams that Willson has visited since free agency started, having also reportedly met with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Further, Willson’s hometown of LaSalle, Ontario is just across the Detroit River from his new employer, meaning he’ll be playing close to home for the first time in nearly a decade after spending five years at Rice and five years in Seattle.
In any case, best of luck and great success in Detroit to Luke with the Lions and with his future endeavors! Except, of course, for when the Seahawks come to town next season, and that week I hope he and the Lions get steamrolled.
UPDATE:
In what comes as no surprise, word has now leaked out that Willson is indeed signing with the Lions.
The #Lions are signing former #Seahawks TE Luke Willson to a 1-year deal worth $2.5M, source said, with some upside potential in his deal.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 21, 2018