Lions pick up Ansah’s $12.7M option for 2017

Ziggy Ansah will be with the Lions through at least 2017.

As expected, the team picked up the fifth-year option on Ansah’s rookie contract before the deadline Monday.

The NFL Network first reported that the Lions had picked up the option.

Under the option year for 2017, Ansah will make about $12.7 million, which is a relative bargain for a player who had 14.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in 2015.

Although Ansah’s camp would like there to be some negotiations, the Lions don’t need to extend a new contract to Ansah until the 2019 season. After he plays on the option that’s included in contracts for first-round picks, the Lions could use the franchise tag in 2018, though it’s too soon to project whether that’d be a better move than signing him to a new deal after his rookie contract expires.

Regardless, the Lions have their top defensive player in Detroit for the next two years.

jkatzenstein@detroitnews.com

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