National Football League

AP Source: Eric Wright agrees to terms with Lions

Published Jul. 29, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Detroit Lions have agreed to terms with free agent defensive back Eric Wright.

Wright, who has played all four of his NFL seasons with Cleveland, has agreed to leave the Browns and join the Lions, according to a person familiar with the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because the team hadn't announced the move.

Wright started all 16 games in 2008 and 2009, and 10 games last season.

Detroit did announce several other signings, some of which seemed like formalities after agreements were confirmed earlier in the week by agents or the players themselves. Teams could talk to veteran free agents, but couldn't sign them until Friday.

The Lions signed free agents Justin Durant, Rashied Davis, Maurice Leggett and Quinn Pitcock. Durant, a linebacker, played four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars. Davis, a wide receiver, played six years for the Chicago Bears.

Leggett, a cornerback, hasn't played since 2009, when he was with the Kansas City Chiefs. He injured his neck during last year's preseason.

Pitcock was drafted by the Colts in 2007 and played for them that year. He abruptly left the sport at age 24 and sought treatment for what he said was anxiety and mild depression. He resurfaced last year, signing with Seattle, but he was released before the regular season.

Detroit also signed several of its own free agents Friday, including center Dylan Gandy, kicker Dave Rayner, quarterback Drew Stanton, safety John Wendling, fullback Jerome Felton and defensive tackle Andre Fluellen.

The Lions released linebacker Jordon Dizon and wide receiver Bryant Johnson and signed the following exclusive rights players: linebacker Korey Bosworth, linebacker Caleb Campbell, offensive tackle Corey Hilliard, wide receiver Stefan Logan, cornerback Prince Miller, linebacker Ashlee Palmer, safety Randy Phillips and cornerback Paul Pratt.

Although Detroit has an imposing defensive line anchored by Ndamukong Suh, the Lions can use a defensive back of Wright's caliber. Coach Jim Schwartz spoke to reporters Friday before the Lions could start announcing signings. He wouldn't discuss players by name, but he talked a bit about Detroit's hopes for improvement in the secondary.

''Every time we went to the podium after announcing a draft pick, the first question I got was, `How come this wasn't a corner?' So we had to get you guys off our back somehow,'' Schwartz said. ''I think that the one thing that happened last year with our cornerback position was we had a lot of guys get hurt.''

Detroit drafted five players this year, but no defensive backs.