Wikipedia

Cade Mays

Cade Montgomery Mays (born April 26, 1999) is an American professional football center for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia Bulldogs and Tennessee Volunteers. Mays was selected by the Carolina Panthers in the sixth round of the 2022 NFL draft.

Cade Mays
Mays at the 2022 Senior Bowl
No. 64 – Detroit Lions
PositionCenter
Roster statusActive
Personal information
Born (1999-04-26) April 26, 1999 (age 27)
Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
Listed weight325 lb (147 kg)
Career information
High schoolKnoxville Catholic
CollegeGeorgia (2018–2019)
Tennessee (2020–2021)
NFL draft2022: 6th round, 199th overall pick
Career history
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Awards and highlights
Career NFL statistics as of 2025
Games played52
Games started27
Stats at Pro Football Reference

College career

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Mays started his college career at Georgia. As a freshman in 2018, he earned Freshman All-American honors as well as being selected to the SEC All-Freshman Team. During his two years with the Bulldogs, he had at least one start for each position across the offensive line.[1] After the 2019 season, he transferred to Tennessee.[2] He then played two years for the Volunteers, primarily at the right tackle position.[3] Following the conclusion of his final collegiate season in 2021, he earned a second-team All-SEC selection by the Associated Press and conference coaches.

Professional career

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Pre-draft statistics

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Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand spanWingspan40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 4+3⁄4 in
(1.95 m)		311 lb
(141 kg)		34+1⁄8 in
(0.87 m)		10 in
(0.25 m)		6 ft 10+1⁄4 in
(2.09 m)		5.24 s1.81 s3.02 s4.63 s7.57 s26.0 in
(0.66 m)		8 ft 6 in
(2.59 m)		21 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[4][5][6]

Carolina Panthers (first stint)

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2022

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Mays was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the 6th round of the 2022 NFL Draft, being selected 199th overall. He made his NFL debut in Week 7 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He made his first start in Week 12 against the Denver Broncos.[7] He appeared in 11 games and made two starts in his rookie season.[8]

2023

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In the 2023 season, Mays appeared in 16 games and started five.[9]

2024

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On August 28, 2024, Mays was released by the Panthers.[10]

New York Giants

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On September 10, 2024, Mays was signed to the New York Giants practice squad.[11]

Carolina Panthers (second stint)

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On October 8, 2024, Mays was re-signed by the Carolina Panthers off the Giants practice squad.[12]

On March 12, 2025, the Panthers placed an original-round tender on Mays.[13] He was named the starting center in Week 3 following an injury to Austin Corbett, and started 12 games on the season.

Detroit Lions

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On March 9, 2026, Mays signed with the Detroit Lions on a three-year contract worth $25 million.[14]

Personal life

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Mays enjoys fishing and is an avid hunter.[15] He collects turkey stones as a hobby.[16]

Both his father, Kevin, and younger brother, Cooper, played as linemen for Tennessee from 1991-1994 and 2020-2024, respectively.[17][18]

References

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  1. ↑ Schlabach, Mark. "OL Cade Mays transfers from Georgia to Tennessee". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 13, 2026.
  2. ↑ Schlabach, Mark (September 17, 2020). "Vols OL Mays granted transfer waiver by NCAA". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Cade Mays – Football". University of Tennessee Athletics. Retrieved April 30, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Cade Mays Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  5. ↑ "2022 Draft Scout Cade Mays, Tennessee NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved May 1, 2022.
  6. ↑ "2022 NFL Combine: Weigh-ins, measurements, and testing results from Indianapolis". ProFootballNetwork.com. Retrieved March 29, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Denver Broncos at Carolina Panthers – November 27th, 2022". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Cade Mays 2022 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  9. ↑ "Cade Mays 2023 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  10. ↑ Gantt, Darin (August 28, 2024). "Panthers claim six new players off waivers". Panthers.com. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  11. ↑ "Giants re-sign FB/TE Jakob Johnson to active roster". Giants.com. September 10, 2024. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  12. ↑ Gantt, Darin (October 8, 2024). "Panthers add offensive line and outside linebacker depth". Panthers.com. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  13. ↑ Gantt, Darin (March 7, 2025). "Cade Mays, LaBryan Ray return for 2025". Panthers.com. Retrieved March 13, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Lions sign unrestricted free agent OL Cade Mays". DetroitLions.com. March 12, 2025. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
  15. ↑ Nearhos, Diana. "Gone fishing: A morning with Tennessee Vols commit Cade Mays". knoxnews.com. Knox News. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  16. ↑ "Big Olivia Dean guy 🎵 Detroit #Lions #shorts". youtube.com. Detroit Lions. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  17. ↑ Hunte, Sydney (November 26, 2020). "Tennessee's Cade, Cooper Mays discuss bond as brothers, teammates on Volunteers football team". Saturday Down South. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Kevin Mays - 1994 Football Roster". utsports.com. University of Tennessee. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
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