Dominic

Raiola

Raiola had a out-of-control heart rate that reached 180 BPM during games. The Lions are looking to sign their offensive line anchor long term.

Raiola typically plays around 290, but he’s up to 310 after eating healthy and spending extra time in the weight room over the winter. The 34-year-old is entering the final year of his contract, and the added weight should help him against the solid collection of defensive tackles in the NFC North.

Raiola, 34, and Peterman, 31, are both entering the final years of their respective contracts and will collectively count $9 million against the salary cap. Detroit’s 2013 money issues have been well-documented. The Lions could conceivably have four new starters along the offensive front, and the team’s official website names Riley Reiff, Bill Nagy, and Jason Fox as potential replacements.

Asked about Raiola’s future Thursday, coach Jim Schwartz was evasive. “Our roster is still a work in progress,” Schwartz said. GM Martin Mayhew added, "(If) I was going to restructure Dom’s deal, I would talk to Dom about it first before I talked to you guys about it.” Coming off his age-34 season, Raiola is due $4.05 million in 2013, and will count $6 million against the cap. It’s the kind of deal that would make perfect sense for the “reloading” Lions to part with.

Details are still unknown. Raiola’s roster spot was in the “danger zone” at this time last week, as he was scheduled to count $6 million against the cap in the final year of his contract. The restructuring makes a lot of sense for both sides. Raiola, 34, has been with the Lions his entire career, and he’s a team leader. Pro Football Focus graded Raiola as the league’s No. 13 center in 2012.

Raiola agreed to the restructure two weeks ago, and it will likely keep the 34-year-old around for the final year of his deal. The salary is not guaranteed, though. The reduction saves the Lions $3.1 million against the 2013 cap. Raiola has made 68 consecutive starts.

The four-year vet has started every game during the last three seasons. The big question here is who Raiola will be snapping to next season.

Raiola took a major pay cut to stay in Detroit last year, but turned in an excellent season, starting all 16 games and grading out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 2 center. Only Jason Kelce (Eagles) was rated higher. Raiola is 35 years old, but interior offensive linemen age better than most positions. Raiola was Rotoworld’s No. 4 free agent center, behind younger Alex Mack, Brian De La Puente, and Evan Dietrich-Smith. This is good news for Detroit’s 2014 offense.

“I got a couple more left in me,” Raiola said. The 35-year-old had arguably the best season of his career in 2013, as he played at a significantly higher weight than normal and didn’t allow a single sack. Raiola graded out as Pro Football Focus’ No. 2 center behind the Eagles’ Jason Kelce. Raiola said he wants to re-sign with the Lions but insisted he’s going to play somewhere if they don’t want him back.

The future is now at the pivot for the Lions, who have moved on from veteran mainstay Dominic Raiola. Swanson, the No. 76 overall pick a year ago, brings good size (6'5/312) and NCAA experience (50 starts at Arkansas) but lacks athleticism. Still, he can’t be much worse than Raiola was last year.