Stevan Ridley to Lions: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

Veteran running back Stevan Ridley spent his first four NFL seasons with the New England Patriots, but he will be moving on to his third team in as many years.

Ridley announced on Friday that he officially won't be returning to the New York Jets, opting to sign with the Detroit Lions:

Ridley's deal is for one year, per Adam Caplan of ESPN. 

Ridley had issues with ball security as a member of the Patriots, yet flashed promise in his first three years as a pro. His peak came in 2012 when he ran for 1,263 yards and 12 touchdowns.

But a devastating setback occurred during the 2014 campaign when Ridley tore his right ACL and MCL, causing him to appear in only six games that year. As a member of the Jets last season, he played in eight contests and showed serious rust in averaging a meager 2.5 yards per carry.

Absent a demonstrated ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, Ridley's value to the Jets was rather minimal.

The 27-year-old may not be quite as explosive as he once was. The Lions have evidently seen enough to feel comfortable investing in Ridley, though.

This contract is a relatively low-risk, high-reward deal for Detroit. If Ridley returns to the level he showed early on in New England, he'll be quite the bargain. Otherwise, there are plenty of backs to be had at similar value, albeit probably not any quite as proven.

Being one full season removed from the major knee injury bodes well for Ridley's 2016 outlook. He accrued valuable game reps in 2015 and could well be in for a huge bounce-back year through this fresh start.

It's understandable for Detroit to want to bolster its backfield to better complement cannon-armed quarterback Matthew Stafford.

In the wake of legendary receiver Calvin Johnson's retirement, the Lions need to undergo an identity shift on offense and become a bit more balanced. Ridley figures to help the cause in that regard.

If he does wind up on the final 53-man roster, Ridley can expect to be behind rising second-year back Ameer Abdullah on the depth chart. The 2015 second-round pick boasts a superior all-around skill set, and Ridley will also have to vie for touches with pass-catching specialist Theo Riddick