Veteran cornerback Travis Fisher, one of the top second-tier players available in the unrestricted free agent market, signed a one-year contact with the Detroit Lions on Tuesday.
Fisher's one-year deal is for $2.25 million and includes a $1 million signing bonus.
Fisher, 27, played his entire five-year career with the St. Louis Rams before going into the free-agent market and was a productive starter when healthy. Given the fairly modest price, the acquisition is a good one for the Lions because Fisher is an aggressive, cover 2-type cornerback who should fit Detroit's scheme well if he is healthy.
The past two seasons, however, Fisher appeared in just 17 games. He suffered a groin injury in 2005 that limited him to eight appearances. After starting the first nine games in 2006, his season was prematurely ended by a fractured forearm.
His recent injury history aside, Fisher generated strong interest in the free-agent market and met with several teams in the first two weeks of the signing period. In Detroit, he figures to have a chance to fill the vacancy created by the recent trade of starter Dre' Bly to the Denver Broncos.
By signing just a one-year contract, Fisher will have a chance to re-establish himself as a starting caliber cornerback in the league and then go back into the free-agent pool again next spring.
In 56 appearances with the Rams, including 45 starts, the former Central Florida standout registered 221 tackles, seven interceptions, 22 passes defensed, two forced fumbles and three recoveries. A second-round pick in the 2002 draft, he earned a starting spot as a rookie.
Senior writer Len Pasquarelli covers the NFL for ESPN.com.