New Lions C Cade Mays Excited for 'Physical' Style of Play

Mays believes he and the Lions are a perfect fit after signing a 3-year, $25 million deal

Mar. 13, 2026 at 9:07am

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Newly signed Detroit Lions center Cade Mays is eager to join the team, saying the Lions' physical brand of football and coach Dan Campbell's leadership style are a great match for his own playing style. Mays, who started 20 games at center for the Carolina Panthers over the past two seasons, studied tape of former Lions center Frank Ragnow to help with his transition to the position.

Why it matters

The Lions are overhauling their offensive line this offseason, cutting longtime starters Taylor Decker and Graham Glasgow. Mays is expected to step in as the new starting center, bringing experience and a physical playing style that aligns with the team's identity under coach Dan Campbell.

The details

Mays, 26, signed a 3-year, $25 million contract with the Lions after playing the last two seasons as the Panthers' starting center. He said he was drawn to the Lions because of their 'hard-nosed' and 'physical' brand of football, as well as coach Dan Campbell's leadership. Mays started games at tackle, guard and center during his college career at Tennessee and Georgia, but has played center full-time for the past two seasons. He studied tape of former Lions center Frank Ragnow to help with his transition to the position.

  • Mays signed with the Lions on March 12, 2026.
  • Mays started 20 games at center for the Panthers over the past two seasons.

The players

Cade Mays

A 26-year-old center who signed a 3-year, $25 million contract with the Detroit Lions in 2026 after playing the last two seasons as the starting center for the Carolina Panthers.

Dan Campbell

The head coach of the Detroit Lions, known for his physical, hard-nosed coaching style that Mays says aligns with his own playing style.

Frank Ragnow

The former starting center for the Detroit Lions, whom Mays studied tape of to help with his own transition to the center position.

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What they’re saying

“I love the brand of football they play. Coming into free agency I felt like this was a team where they fit what I do and I fit what they do. So, really looking forward to it.”

— Cade Mays, New Lions Center (Detroit Free Press)

“My kind of guy. And I feel like I'm his kind of guy. So you look at stuff like that, you look at the brand of football they play, like I said, hard-nosed and wanting to move people vertically and get the run game going. All that stuff kind of goes into play.”

— Cade Mays, New Lions Center (Detroit Free Press)

“Hell of a player. Got an incredible career here. Loved what he put on tape. Was really a guy I studied when I moved to center, just the way that he played and tried to model my game after that. Just my kind of guy in the sense of how he plays the game and how he goes about his work.”

— Cade Mays, New Lions Center (Detroit Free Press)

What’s next

The Lions will look to integrate Mays into their offensive line this offseason as they continue to overhaul the unit.

The takeaway

The addition of Cade Mays at center aligns with the Lions' identity under coach Dan Campbell, as Mays brings a physical, hard-nosed playing style that should mesh well with the team's offensive philosophy.