Lions Claim QB Brad Kaaya Off Waivers, Cut DL Datone Jones & George Johnson

Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reports that the Lions have claimed rookie QB Brad Kaaya off of waivers from the Panthers on Wednesday.

• According to Field Yates, the Lions have released DE George Johnson and DL Datone Jones.
• The Lions also signed DE Jacquies Smith and OT Bryce Harris and released DL Caraun Reid.

Kaaya, 22, was drafted by the Lions in the fifth-round of this year’s draft after electing to leave the University of Miami early and enter the 2017 NFL Draft, even though some evaluators believe it was in his best interest to return to school for another season.

Kaaya is in the first year of a four-year, $2.52 million rookie contract that included a $123,356 signing bonus and is set to make a base salary of $465,000 this year.

The Lions waived him as they cut their roster down to 53-players and he was later claimed off of waivers by the Panthers. However, Carolina cut him loose on Tuesday to make room for LB Andrew Gachkar.

During his college career, Kaaya has thrown for 9,968 yards while completing 60.6 percent of his passes to go along with 69 touchdowns and 24 interceptions. He’s posted a passer rating of 146.2 during his three years at Miami.

Jones, 26, was taken with the No. 26 overall pick back in 2013. He played out the final year of his four-year, $7.71 million rookie contract that included a base salary of $1 million for the 2016 season.

Last year, the Packers declined to pick up Jones’ fifth-year option that would have run them $8 million for the 2017 season.

Minnesota signed him to a one-year, $3.75 million deal back in March but he was, unfortunately, placed on injured reserve and later released with a settlement. The Lions signed him to a contract last week.

In 2016, Jones appeared in 15 games for the Packers and recorded 22 tackles, one sack, and two pass defenses. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 61 edge rusher out of 109 qualifying players.