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Report: Lions, veteran CB Rashean Mathis agree to 1-year deal

Rashean Mathis was a second-round pick of the Jags out of Bethune-Cookman. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Rashean Mathis (Jason Miller/Getty Images)

The Lions were 27th in the league last season against the pass, allowing an average of 251.9 passing yards per game. But last season Rashean Mathis emerged as one of the better players in Detroit's secondary, and so this year the Lions will bring Mathis back on a one-year deal, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter on Monday.

Mathis made 47 tackles last season in 15 games (13 starts) and also had 16 pass deflections.

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The 11-year veteran, who'll be 34 at the start of next season, played his first 10 seasons with the Jaguars before signing with the Lions midway through training camp last year. He has 30 career interceptions but none since 2011.

Mathis was added to provide depth, but he ended up taking the starting job from rookie Darius Slay in Week 3.

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