Detroit Lions GM Brad Holmes made an effort to keep bolstering the defensive line, but the success of the team cost the Lions on this one.
The Lions placed a waiver claim on former Commanders DT Phidarian Mathis, who was released over the weekend. Alas, three other teams with waiver wire priority also claimed Mathis ahead of the Lions. Mathis, a 2022 second-round pick out of Alabama, is now a member of the New York Jets.
Waiver claims are processed in the same order as the current NFL Draft standings. The Jets currently sit at No. 7 and were the first team on the list to put in a claim. All the other teams who also placed a claim — the Bengals, Texans and Lions — lose out because they have a better record. Detroit sat 30th in the waiver claim order (and also first-round draft slot) at the time of the waiver processing on Monday afternoon.
Phidarian Mathis was a popular player on waivers, as four teams total tried to claim him: #Jets, #Texans, #Bengals and #Lions. He landed with NYJ. https://t.co/88mKgjEU5G
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 30, 2024
Mathis had been a major disappointment in Washington. He recorded 25 tackles and no sacks in 23 career games, with no starts.
