March 9 (UPI) -- The Detroit Lions tendered contracts to all three of their exclusive rights free agents on Wednesday, including defensive ends Kerry Hyder.
Defensive end Brandon Copeland and wide receiver TJ Jones also were tendered before the end of the league year on Thursday.
The 25-year-old Hyder, after spending the majority of the 2015 season on the Lions' practice squad, emerged last season to lead the Detroit defense with a career-high eight sacks. He recorded two multi-sack games and finished the season with 36 total tackles, one fumble recovery and one pass defense.
Hyder entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Texas Tech in 2014 and spent his rookie season on the New York Jets' practice squad. He received the Lions' 2016 Chuck Hughes Most Improved Player Award as voted by his teammates.
Related
Copeland, 25, enters his third NFL season after appearing in all 16 games the last two seasons for the Lions. He made his first-career start in 2016 and finished the year with 11 tackles and one forced fumble, as well as five special teams tackles.
An undrafted rookie free agent with Baltimore in 2013 out of Pennsylvania, Copeland spent time on the practice squads of the Ravens (2013) and Tennessee Titans (2013-14) prior to Detroit. His career totals include 32 games (one start), 19 tackles, one forced fumble and 11 special teams tackles.
Jones, 24, appeared in three games in 2016 after beginning the season on the Lions' practice squad. He finished the season with five receptions for 93 yards.
The Lions' sixth-round draft selection in 2014 out of Notre Dame, Jones has appeared in 13 career games after missing his rookie season due to injury. His career totals include 15 receptions for 225 yards and one touchdown.
