Lions add veteran tight end and former Central Michigan standout to reunite in Detroit with Drew Petzing

An underated signing buy the Lions

Mike Payton — Detroit Lions Beat Writer
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Nov 9, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers tight end Tyler Conklin (83) carries the ball defended by Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Payton Wilson (41) during the third quarter of the game at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images

Coming into the off-season, one of the Detroit Lions’ biggest needs was tight end. With the addition of Drew Petzing, who likes to run 12 and 13 personnel, the addition of more tight ends made sense. That’s why on Friday, they signed one of the guys we’ve been saying would fit.

Lions sign tight end Tyler Conklin

Like the recently signed Larry Borom, Conklin is a Michigan native. He was born in Chesterfield and played his high school ball at nearby L’Anse Creuse North High School. After that, he played at Northwood College, where Lions receiver Isaac TeSlaa also played, before transferring to Central Michigan.

Conklin was drafted in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft by the Vikings (where he was with Petzing), and he’s spent time with the Jets and, most recently, the Chargers.

What do the Lions get in Conklin?

Conklin is one of the better blocking tight ends in the NFL. Pro Football Focus had him graded out at 73.6 in 2025 for the Chargers. That’s in the high 20’s among 200 tight ends graded. What the Lions really get here is a receiving tight end. In New York, he was one of the Jets’ biggest targets. He had four seasons in a row where he put up 450 yards or more receiving and was their starter there.

This makes a lot of sense for the Lions because they need a pass-catching tight end. Not just because Sam LaPorta could potentially miss some time early in the 2026 season, but because a lot of what Petzing runs requires that you have two tight ends who can catch passes. Jared Goff is going to have some weapons for sure in 2026.

The concern is that he didn’t have the best time in Los Angeles. Part of that was because he was not their starter, and they just don’t utilize two tight end sets the way Detroit is planning to. The Chargers were 32nd in usage of 12 personnel, and barely ever ran 13 personnel. If anything, Conklin probably should have just never signed there. He’ll get a lot more action in Detroit.

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