Isaiah Buggs played more snaps and had a more pivotal role with the Detroit Lions last season than he did in his first three years in the NFL combined. When it came time to test free agency this week, the run-stuffing defensive tackle made no secret about where he wanted to be.

Buggs signed a two-year extension to stay with the Lions on Monday, hours before the start of the free agent negotiating period.

The deal includes $2.1 million fully guaranteed and could reach $6 million total, including incentives.

“I’m a firm believer, be a part of something that’s trying to be built here,” Buggs said at a news conference to announce the deal. “So we’re going to build something great here and I want to be a part of it when it happens and I didn’t want to go into free agency wondering about where I was going to be, where I was going to end up. When Detroit called me and they said we want you back, I wanted to be back. I always wanted to be back, so I’m glad we made that happen.”

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A sixth-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2019, Buggs signed with the Lions last summer and emerged as an unexpectedly key player on the team’s defensive line.

He started 13 games at nose tackle, made a career-high 46 tackles and forced the first fumble and recorded the first sack of his career.

“Sometimes it’s better to have a fresh start,” Buggs said. “Me, when I got drafted with the Steelers, my career was up and down until I finally found a place where I can call home. So when you find a place that you can call home, you feel more comfortable. And when you get comfortable, you can do more things so I’m just glad to be back here in Detroit.”

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The Lions ranked last in the NFL in total defense and tied for 28th in scoring defense last season, but won eight of their final 10 games behind a much-improved run defense.

With Buggs and second-year tackle Alim McNeill anchoring the middle of their line, the Lions held five of their final eight opponents to less than 105 yards rushing and went 5-0 in those games.

Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn said late in the season Buggs "doesn't probably get all the praise that he should" but "we know how valuable that player is for us."

"He’s found a home," Glenn said. "We’re happy with him, and I know for a fact that he’s happy being here."

Buggs, 26, should remain a key cog in the Lions' young defensive line going forward, though the team could look to add another rusher in free agency or the draft

Along with Buggs and McNeill, rookies Aidan Hutchinson and Josh Paschal will return in key roles next season, and the Lions could bring back Charles Harris, Romeo Okwara and John Cominsky as well.

Cominsky is one of 15 Lions slated to become unrestricted free agents at 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Buggs said he planned to reach out to some of those pending free agents Monday and encourage them to stay in Detroit, a place he said he "fell in love with" last season.

"This is a blessing and an honor for me to be back here," he said. "It means a lot to me. And my heart is just heavy right now from where I started from to how I’m finishing out right here, man, it just means a lot because where I’m from many don’t get this opportunity and I just want to be that leader, that guy to show everybody it can happen. "

Contact Dave Birkett at dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Lions sign DL Isaiah Buggs to 2-year contract