Lions general manager Bob Quinn wasn’t kidding when he told reporters he wouldn’t roll into 2017 with an offensive line comprised only of rookies and second-year players. But most surmised that meant he’d make a serious effort to keep either guard Larry Warford or tackle Riley Reiff from leaving.

Instead, per reports, he’s blown off the top of the right-tackle pay scale by lavishing over $9 million per year on former Baltimore Ravens right tackle Ricky Wagner.

Per Pro Football Focus, Wagner immediately becomes the Lions’ best offensive lineman; his 18th-ranked 84.5 grade supercedes even left tackle Taylor Decker’s 82.4 mark.

Wagner, who turned 27 in December, is a four-year veteran who’s started the last three seasons in Baltimore. At 6-foot-6, 308 pounds he’s got plenty of size, if a bit leaner than Reiff. He was a much better pass protector in 2016, having worked hard to improve there.

The signing is more than just addition by addition, it’s addition by subtraction from NFC North rivals. Per NFL Media’s Kevin Patra, both the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears were in on Wagner.

That the Lions were able to outspend both, solidify their own line, keep the Vikings from patching their biggest weakness of 2016 and prevent the Bears from bolstering their biggest strength? It’s a huge coup.

Of course, it comes as at a major premium; no other pure right tackle makes as much as $7 million per year. But this season is all about re-setting markets that have been flat for ages, and as I wrote last month the Lions shouldn’t be afraid to spend big.

The question becomes, how much of their healthy amount of cap space is left to bolster the defense?