Detroit Lions Re-Sign DL Benito Jones to Exclusive Rights Contract

Benito Jones returns to the Detroit Lions for the 2023 NFL season.

The Detroit Lions announced they have brought back defensive lineman Benito Jones, signing the 25-year-old to an exclusive rights contract. 

Jones was undrafted, and eventually signed with the Miami Dolphins following the 2020 draft. 

The inexperienced lineman only had six games of experience prior to joining Detroit, as he spent the entire 2021 season on Miami's practice squad.

Jones joined Detroit's roster after being cut near the end of training camp by the Dolphins. 

In his first season with Detroit, Jones recorded 1.5 sacks, and secured 16 total pressures.

Detroit is hoping its young core of defensive linemen, combined with a top prospect or two acquired via the draft, will serve to improve its run defense and pass rush in 2023. 

"To me, it starts with an attitude and mentality," new Lions defensive line coach John Scott told reporters, prior to the draft. "Coach (Dan Campbell) has created that attitude and mentality here. Coach Campbell, you guys have seen him, how he works and just applying that to being a technician and finishing plays and things like that. So, I think it starts with the mentality. We have that here, and we're just going to continue to work to be great technicians at what we do. I think that's a key for it. I know that's what helped us this year at Penn State." 

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