Detroit Lions sign DT Aidan Keanaaina

Keanaaina's signing earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI), a grade that reflects the inherent uncertainty baked into a depth-level roster addition at the league minimum tier. At $1.04M AAV on a three-year deal totaling $3.12M, this is a low-cost, low-risk move that adds a developmental body along the defensive line without creating any meaningful cap burden for Detroit. For a team sitting at 9-8 and on the fringe of NFC playoff positioning, roster depth at DL carries real value — preseason and practice squad competition at this price point is how contending rosters stay healthy through a 17-game grind. The CVI lands in the middle tier rather than climbing higher because there's no established production profile to justify projecting Keanaaina as anything more than a rotational or roster-filler piece at this stage of his career. The three-year structure is notable — it suggests the Lions see some developmental upside worth retaining, but the minimal AAV signals this is a prove-it arrangement rather than a commitment to a defined role. At $1.04M annually, the financial exposure is essentially negligible, and the Lions can part ways cleanly if he doesn't emerge. The value equation here is entirely about ceiling optionality at near-zero cost, which is exactly the kind of organizational depth move that separates well-run front offices from reactionary ones.