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Linebacker Paul Worrilow had three straight seasons with at least 100 tackles for the Atlanta Falcons before falling into a backup role and then signing a one-year deal with the Detroit Lions.

(AP File Photo)

ALLEN PARK -- The Detroit Lions were weaker at linebacker than just about anywhere last season, then released eight-year veteran DeAndre Levy before the start of free agency.

It sure seems like they need another starter at the position.

But judging by the contract they handed Paul Worrilow, it seems the Lions think they have already found one.

The Worrilow deal is for $3 million, with all but $270,000 of that guaranteed according to the National Football Post. He also got a $750,000 signing bonus, and another $1 million in play-time incentives.

That's a lot of money to pay a guy to sit the bench. For comparison, the one-year deal Josh Bynes signed last year was worth $760,000. So here's betting the Lions believe Worrilow will be a contributor beyond special teams this year, and probably a starter.

He has done it before, after all. Worrilow went undrafted out of Delaware in 2013, then quickly worked his way into Atlanta's lineup and started 12 games that year. He missed only one start the next two years, and has made 44 starts overall.

His best season was in 2014, when he finished fifth in the league with 142 tackles (just nine off Levy, who had a career-high 151 that year). But that fell to 95 tackles in 2015, then Atlanta drafted two linebackers in 2016 and he lost his job.

He played in 12 games during the Falcons' march to the Super Bowl, starting one, and had 21 tackles. He did play in the Super Bowl, but did not record a statistic.

With Levy out, Worrilow could take over at the weak-side position. But he's also open to playing the middle, where Tahir Whitehead returns from a productive first season as the starter, but also struggled to generate big plays.

That was a problem with the defense overall, and given Worrilow's career statistics, he doesn't seem like the remedy either. The Lions might have to look for that in the draft, where they're expected to address the defensive front seven. But for now, given the personnel and especially the money, it sure seems like Worrilow could be heading for a starting assignment.

Detroit also has Antwione Williams back after a promising rookie season, and Glover Quin is high on his chances to have a breakout season in 2017. Thurston Armbrister is also on the roster, though his contributions are mainly on special teams.