Lions make offer to Packers' linebacker

ALLEN PARK, Mich., March 24 (UPI) -- The Detroit Lions announced Monday that they have signed restricted free agent Na'il Diggs, a starter at strongside linebacker for the Green Bay Packers, to a four-year offer sheet.

Financial terms of the offer sheet, which was officially signed on Saturday, were not disclosed.

Diggs, 24, has started 44 games in three seasons with the Packers and finished second on the team in tackles last year with 111. He also had three quarterback sacks and two interceptions.

Green Bay recently waived starting weakside linebacker Nate Wayne for salary cap purposes and signed Hannibal Navies, but is in danger of losing unrestricted free agent defensive end Vonnie Holliday, who turned down a multi-year deal by the Packers.

Green Bay has room under the salary cap and was concerned that restricted free agent defensive end Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila would get an offer sheet from the Philadelphia Eagles. But Gbaja-Biamila left Philadelphia without an offer and now the Packers will ponder matching Detroit's offer to Diggs.

The 6-4, 238-pound Diggs visited the Lions' training facility last week along with unrestricted free agent linebacker Wali Rainer.

If the Packers do not match the offer by Saturday, Diggs will likely start at strongside linebacker ahead of Brian Williams in Detroit.