Eagles Dodge Bullet After Lions Massive Overpay for Halapoulivaati Vaitai

The Detroit Lions didn't wait long to find a replacement for recently-released right tackle Rick Wagner, but we're no so sure that fans in the Motor City will love the signing.

In a wildly audacious move, the Lions signed former Philadelphia Eagles backup offensive tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai to a monster five-year $50 million contract.

Somewhere in the City of Brotherly Love general manager Howie Roseman is breathing a profound sigh of relief, and rightfully so.

OT Halapoulivaati Vaitai to the #Lions for $50m over five years, as @caplannfl said. Big money for Big V.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 16, 2020

The Eagles chose to make Vaitai a free agent, but rumors indicated that the team was eventually going to cough up the necessary money for a reunion if nobody on the open market offered him a starter's salary.

Detroit massively overpaying for the 27-year-old, who's started more than six games just once across his four seasons in the NFL, proves that Philly dodged a bullet.

This will stun some people: The #Lions are signing former #Eagles OT Halapoulivaati Vaitai to a 5-year, $50M deal, per @caplannfl. BIG TIME money.
— NFL Update (@MySportsUpdate) March 16, 2020

We have nothing against Vaitai. He performed admirably in place of Jason Peters 2017 during the Eagles' Super Bowl run during which he started all three playoff contests at left tackle. He's even proven to be incredibly versatile.

There's just no denying that the Lions miscalculated here. Roseman would have been disparaged by Eagles supporters had he splashed the cash on Vaitai, and he should be thanking his lucky stars that Detroit intervened.