The Detroit Lions added an experienced long snapper to compete with Scott Daly.
Right after Sunday’s bombshell, the Detroit Lions reaching an agreement with defenseman Chauncey Gardner-Johnson was a somewhat significant special team move by the team. According to several reports, the Lions are there Long snapper Jake McQuaide signed to a one-year deal worth $1.3 millionincluding a $152,500 signing bonus.
McQuaide is a key signing because the Lions had some long snapper issues last season, as Pride of Detroit special teams expert Hamza Baccouche outlined in his free-agent profile of current Lions long snapper Scott Daly:
It’s been a rollercoaster ride of a season for Daly. Continuing a carousel at Kicker, the Lions nearly had to start one at Long Snapper due to a tough midseason stretch for Daly. After a week 7 punt snap (his only fumble) slid across the floor and a week 9 PAT snap did the same, special teams coordinator Dave Fipp came to Daly’s defense.
Though the Lions have offered Daly a tender for exclusive free agent rights — essentially guaranteeing he’s on the roster during off-season training — McQuaide can be seen as a significant upgrade. He’s 35 after spending 10 years as a long snapper for the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams, where he crossed paths with current Lions general manager Brad Holmes. He has also made it to the Pro Bowl twice (2016, 2017).
Last year, McQuaide was the Cowboys’ long snapper, but he suffered a torn tricep in Week 4 and missed the rest of the season.
So it seems the Lions are going to have a long snapper camp fight this year.
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