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The Detroit Lions have made it clear that they'd prefer to retain free agent tight end Brandon Pettigrew.

(Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

INDIANAPOLIS -- The Detroit Lions want Brandon Pettigrew back.

Talking with local reporters at the NFL scouting combine on Friday, Lions general manager Martin Mayhew confirmed re-signing the free agent tight end is a priority this offseason.

"Yeah, definitely," Mayhew said. "We had our free agent meeting and the coaches liked him, liked what he can do. He's an all-around guy."

Mayhew said he intends on meeting with Pettigrew's agent while in Indianapolis.

The general manager also wouldn't rule out the unlikely scenario of using the franchise tag, a move that would guarantee the veteran tight end a one-year deal worth $6.7 million.

"Never say never," Mayhew said. "You never know how these things are going to go. If we chose to do that we could create the room to make that happen."

Mayhew's remarks came one day after coach Jim Caldwell was far more coy about the team's interest in retaining Pettigrew.

"We've got to look at every option," Caldwell said. "We've got to have contingencies for every single thing. So we look at it on both sides of it, and we'll see how things work out."

Caldwell called Pettigrew a "talented guy" with a "real fine skill set," but when asked if his preference was re-signing the former first-round pick, all Caldwell would say is, "My preference is to put ourselves in the best position to win."

Pettigrew has played five seasons with the Lions. Over the past four, he's averaged 63 catches and 620 receiving yards.

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