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The Lions have begun negotiating an extension with DeAndre Levy, who is entering a contract year.

(Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)

ALLEN PARK -- The loss of Ndamukong Suh was a huge blow for the Detroit Lions this offseason, but there is a silver lining.

They suddenly find themselves with a little extra change in the couch cushions. And one player who could get a chunk of it is DeAndre Levy.

General manager Martin Mayhew said Friday that the club has opened negotiations with the linebacker about an extension.

"We've had some dialogue with him," Mayhew said, "and I think it's ongoing at this point."

Levy, a third-round pick in 2009, is entering the final year of a $9.75 million deal he signed with the club in 2013.

Detroit was deciding between Levy and Justin Durant that offseason, and although Durant has been good for Dallas, Levy has been outstanding for the Lions.

He picked off six passes in 2013, which led all players not named Richard Sherman, and then finished with a career-high 151 tackles in 2014. That led all players not named Luke Kuechly.

Levy's maturation helped the Lions absorb the loss of middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch last year, and he was instrumental in Detroit's league-best rush defense.

All for the low, low price of about $3.25 million annually.

Levy, 28, won't be so cheap next time around. But the Lions appear willing to pony up to keep him in Detroit for the long term.



They have about $116 million in commitments on the books for next season, including the approximate $8 million price tag for Riley Reiff's fifth-year option. And there is no dead money.

The salary cap wii grow to more than $150 million.

"The cap situation we find ourselves in now is ideal for being able to execute that kind of strategy," president Tom Lewand said earlier this offseason. "Keep your own, and (be) selectively aggressive in free agency."

Detroit also hopes to sign defensive tackle Haloti Ngata to an extension, after giving up fourth- and fifth-round picks to trade for him, although the club seems to have prioritized Levy ahead of him.

Talks with Ngata have yet to begin.

"I think they know that we have an interest in doing something, and I think that we know they have an interest in doing something," Mayhew said of Ngata. "But he just got here for the offseason program. We're letting him get comfortable and get situated. At some point, we'll start that dialogue."

Martin Mayhew addresses the media 12 Gallery: Martin Mayhew addresses the media

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