Category: Lions News

Report: Lions trading for Patriots Safety Duron Harmon, swapping late-round picks

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting that the Detroit Lions are trading for New England Patriots safety Duron Harmon.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting that the Detroit Lions are trading for New England Patriots safety Duron Harmon.

Immediate details of the trade compensation are not available but Rapoport is reporting that it is a mear exchange of late-round picks. Harmon is in the final year of his contract and will cost the Lions $4.25 million against the cap.

Harmon is capable of playing single-high safety and over the slot giving the Lions much-needed depth at a position of need. He will likely be a heavy contributor at the single-high position, due to his deep coverage range and ball-hawking skills.

His multiple years of scheme familiarity make him an instant impact player who is capable of starting the moment he sets foot in Allen Park.

Harmon is a terrific complement to the Lions Tracy Walker and Will Harris, who are both capable of playing at single-high, but their skill sets are more impactful in the box. This will allow a lot more movement and interchangeability from the Lions safeties than we have seen in the past two seasons.

Lions agree to sign DT Danny Shelton to 2-year deal

Lions agree to sign DT Danny Shelton to 2-year deal

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The Detroit Lions just got a lot bigger on the defensive line. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, the team has agreed to terms with defensive tackle Danny Shelton on a two-year contract. The deal will pay Shelton $8 million.

Shelton has spent the last two seasons in New England, first as a reserve before moving into a full-time starting role in 2019. He spent his first three seasons in Cleveland, where he was a first-round draft pick out of Washington in 2015.

The 6-2, 335-pounder is surprisingly agile for a man of his size. He has played both nose tackle and the upfield DT in his career, showing the positional versatility the Lions covet along the line. Shelton notched career-highs in 2019 with 61 total tackles and three sacks.

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How adding Jamie Collins impacts the Lions roster

Examining how agreeing to terms with hybrid linebacker Jamie Collins impacts the Detroit Lions roster.

The 2020 tampering period is just over a day old and the Detroit Lions have already agreed to terms with several players, including hybrid linebacker Jamie Collins.

Early predictions for where Collins will play in the Lions scheme are all over the map. And for good reason. Of the game film I studied when trying to ascertain where Collins would play, I arrived at one answer — everywhere.

Collins played for the New England Patriots last season, and because their scheme is as close to the Lions as there is in the NFL, it was easy to do an apples-to-apples comparison of how he would be used in Detroit.

In 2019, Collins lined up at all four of the Patriots linebacker spots, even shifting over the slot on occasion. In the games that I watched, he rarely lined up at the same position on back-to-back plays, illustrating his true versatility.

Collins is able to play at all these spots for three major reasons. He has a freaky level of athleticism, can effectively rush the passer, and is one of the better coverage linebackers in the NFL. This combination of skills makes him a unique player and one that fits the Lions like a glove.

Like in New England last season, I don’t expect Collins to stay put at any one position, and honestly, that will complement the way the other Lions linebackers are trending as well.

Lions LBs trending towards positional fluidity

After the conclusion of the 2019 season, I did a film study, examining how the Lions linebacker roles were changing. The results showed that while Jarrad Davis and Devon Kennard — who was released yesterday — held static roles, Jahlani Tavai and Christian Jones’ roles were more fluid.

Now the Lions have three fluid linebackers all signed to multi-year contracts. Collins just signed a three-year deal, Tavai’s rookie contract expires in 2022 and Jones got a mid-year extension that expires in 2021.

Meanwhile, the static off-the-ball linebackers that remain, Davis and Jalen Reeves-Maybin, are in the final year of their contracts. Reeves-Maybin has consistently made the final roster based on his special teams ability, while Davis began to expand his duties to the WILL position in the latter parts of the season, something he may need to do more moving forward.

Will the Lions add more LBs?

If they do, it will surely be a player who is positionally fluid so that they can mesh with the other linebackers currently on the roster.

The most obvious name remaining in free agency is Kamalei Correa, formerly of the Tennessee Titans, who was directly coached by new Lions’ linebacker coach Tyrone McKenzie over the last two seasons. Correa has experience playing the JACK linebacker role, can rush the passer and drop into coverage. He has been a career rotational player, but on the Lions roster, that’s what they likely need right now.

If the Lions look to the draft, there are four top-100 players they are surely watching. Zach Baun (Wisconsin) is an off-the-ball linebacker who has shown a knack for rushing the passer. Josh Uche (Michigan) is lightning quick off the edge and can drop into coverage better than most JACK linebackers. Bradlee Anae (Utah) is primarily a pass rusher but has shown the ability to win from his feet. While Curtis Weaver (Boise State), who at 6-63, 265-pounds, is physically as close to a Dont’a Hightower clone as you will find. Weaver is a junior, but Baun, Uche, Anae were all on the North roster at the Senior Bowl and were coached by the Lions staff.

Adding any one of these players would give the Lions front a significant boost in 2020, even if they are in a limited role to begin the season.

Updated Report: Lions to release EDGE Devon Kennard, QB Kyle Sloter

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo is reporting that the Detroit Lions are planning on releasing JACK linebacker Devon Kennard and QB Kyle Sloter.

NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo is reporting that the Detroit Lions are planning on releasing JACK linebacker Devon Kennard and reserve quarterback Kyle Sloter.

When the Lions hired coach Matt Patricia, the first free agent the organization targeted and signed was Kennard. After two seasons, both as a team-captain, Kennard’s time in Detroit is over.

Kennard set a career-high in sacks (seven) in 2018, then replicated those numbers in 2019 but overall he underperformed as a pass-rusher. Kennard is position flexible and has several elements of his game that are appealing, but at the end of the day, his primary job was to create consistent pressure on the quarterback and he fell short.

After the Lions came to a contractual agreement with Jamie Collins, who is now poised to take over the Lions JACK linebacker role, making this move easier on the team.

Kennard was set to earn $7.42 million this season, but after his release, the Lions (only) absorb a $1.75 million cap hit, and in turn, free up $5.67 million in salary-cap space.

After signing quarterback Chase Daniel, it pushed Sloter into the fourth quarterback position and made him expendable. Sloter had no guaranteed money on his contract and the Lions will not incur a penalty for releasing him.

Both Kennard and Sloter are immediately free agents who can sign with any NFL team.

UPDATE

Ian Rapoport is amending his college at NFL network’s report that the Lions are releasing Kennard at this time and suggest the Lions are attempting a trade. This will be difficult now that teams know the Lions are considering releasing Kennard, but not unprecedented.

How adding Chase Daniel impacts the Lions roster

Examining how agreeing to terms with quarterback Chase Daniel impacts the Detroit Lions roster.

The 2020 tampering period is less than a day old and the Detroit Lions have already agreed to terms with several players, including quarterback Chase Daniel.

Daniel won’t challenge for Matthew Stafford’s starting job, but early expectations are that he will take over the reserve quarterback role vacated by Jeff Driskel,

With a reported 3 year deal worth $13.05 million, the money says Daniel will enter the clubhouse as the expected QB2, but the Lions won’t be afraid to open this competition up as they still have high expectations for David Blough after trading for him last year. The Lions also won’t shut the door on preseason standout Kyle Sloter and his chances of earning a role.

Now with four quarterbacks on the roster, it’s highly unlikely the Lions will acquire another player at the position in free agency or use any of their valuable draft capital on more competition.

It is possible, that if a quarterback they like goes undrafted, that they could bring him in to compete for a reserve or practice squad role. Names to keep in mind are Anthony Gordan (Washington State), Nate Stanley (Iowa), James Morgan (Florida International) or even Shae Patterson (Michigan).

The wild card here is Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama). If the Lions are concerned over the future of Stafford, he could be in the mix — but most indications are he’s not going to end up in Detroit.

How adding Halapoulivaati Vaitai impacts the Lions draft plans

The Detroit Lions signed right tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai, but this shouldn’t stop the Lions from picking a tackle later in the draft

When the Detroit Lions released Rick Wagner, most people immediately jumped on the thought the Lions will fill the right tackle position through the draft where there are a plethora of tackles that could dominate the top of the draft, but GM Bob Quinn had other plans.

With their first agreement in the tampering period, the Lions agreed to terms with right tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai. The Lions love versatile players and no surprise Vaitai fits the bill, logging snaps at both tackle positions and some at guard. He was seldomly used while in Philadelphia playing behind Jason Peters and Lane Johnson, two very good players. With the contract, the Lions are signing him to, all expectations are he will slide right into the right tackle vacancy.

Even before the Lions signed Vaitai it was highly unlikely the Lions were going to use a high pick on an offensive tackle like Tristan Wirfs, Jedrick Willis, or Andrew Thomas to replace Wagner, but this doesn’t count them out for getting one later in the draft.

Right now the Lions’ tackle depth is very bare with only Tyrell Crosby, Dan Skipper, and Matt Nelson in the wings. With Taylor Decker’s contract on its last year, the Lions could look to bring in a tackle to learn behind just in case the two sides are unable to work out an extension. Look for the Lions to take a tackle prospect no earlier than Day 3 of the draft.

Some prospects to keep your eye on would be Charlie Heck from North Carolina, Alex Taylor from South Carolina, and Auburn tackles Jack Driscoll and Prince Tega Wanogho. Wanogho and Taylor played on the South team at the Senior Bowl and the Lions got a first-hand look at Heck coaching the North squad.

Even though some of these players will need some coaching to reach their potential at the NFL, they won’t be expected to jump into the fire and will be able to learn from the veterans and be more than capable swing tackles for the Lions.

How adding Nick Williams impacts the Lions roster

Examining how agreeing to terms with defensive tackle Nick Williams impacts the Detroit Lions roster.

The 2020 tampering period is less than a day old and the Detroit Lions have already agreed to terms with several players, including defensive lineman Nick Williams.

Early expectations are that he will be part of the rotation at defensive tackle, splitting time with Da’Shawn Hand (my projected starter) and Kevin Strong. Williams is capable of seeing some snaps at the 1-technique spot but won’t be a heavy contributor there.

Athletically, Williams is very similar to Hand as you can see below in a comparison of Pride of Detroit’s Kent Platte’s RAS cards:

Williams is very athletic, but as a late bloomer, he also needs to show that he can use that athleticism to be productive beyond just what he showed last season in Chicago.

Factoring in the reported contract the Lions gave Williams — 2 years, $10 million — it appears the Lions believe he can be a consistent part of the rotation and will likely assume the role vacated by A’Shawn Robinson.

With Hand and Strong returning and the expectation of Williams to contribute, the Lions look to be content to open the season with this three-man rotation at the 3/5-technique position. Although, if the Lions are concerned about the injuries to Hand/Strong, it’s still possible they look to add one more veteran defensive tackle — potentially re-signing Mike Daniels.

While they appear set at 3/5-technique, there is still a starting job open at the nose tackle position and that position is very much open to adding a quality player. That could mean the Lions try to add a player like D.J. Reader, Marcell Dareus, or Michael Pierce in free agency, or look to the draft by targeting Derrick Brown (Auburn) or Leki Fotu (Utah).

Lions agree to terms with QB Chase Daniel to back up Matthew Stafford

Daniel spent the last two seasons as the backup QB in Chicago

The Detroit Lions have found Matthew Stafford’s new backup at quarterback. Per Adam Schefter of ESPN, the Lions have agreed to sign Chase Daniel to a 3-year deal to back up Stafford.

The deal is for a reported $13.05 million over the three years and includes voids that protect the team. Daniel played the last two seasons with the Chicago Bears as Mitchell Trubisky’s primary backup, starting three games.

One of those starts came on Thanksgiving in Detroit in 2018, and Daniel carved up the Lions defense for 230 yards, two TDs and a 106.8 QB Rating in a Chicago win.

The 33-year-old Daniel has also played for the Saints (two tours of duty) and the Chiefs in his 10-year career.

 

Report: Lions agree to terms with DT Nick Williams

NFL insider Adam Caplan is reporting that the Detroit Lions have agreed to terms with defensive tackle Nick Williams.

NFL insider Adam Caplan is reporting that the Detroit Lions have agreed to terms with defensive tackle Nick Williams.

Drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the seventh round of the 2013 draft, Williams spent his rookie season on injured reserve. The next season he was signed off the Steelers practice squad by the Kansas City Chiefs, where he stayed for two seasons. Then off to the Miami Dolphins for a year, and after spending 2017 out of the league, he joined the Bears for the last two seasons.

Williams is the definition of a late bloomer. Of his career 869 defensive snaps, 532 came last season. Why did he see such a big jump at age 30? Situation, scheme fit, opportunity, and he produced.

Capable of playing from the 1- to the 5-technique, Williams is a well-rounded player, capable of stopping the run and pressuring the pocket. He looks most comfortable as a 3-technique and could easily step into the role assumed last season by A’Shawn Robinson.

What may separate Williams from Robinson is Williams’ ability to get to the pass rusher. The consistency can improve, but he managed to secure six sacks over his 16 games last season, including notching one against the Lions in Week 10.

In addition to his six sacks, Williams had 42 tackles, two fumble recoveries, and two passes defended with the Bears last season.

Williams was a player the Bears were hoping to retain, but the Lions reported 2 years $10 million offer pried him away from the division rival. The structure details of the contract have yet to be released but it’s a solid deal for a player who will rotate — and potentially start at times — through the Lions defensive front.

Despite the addition of Williams, the Lions are still on the lookout for a nose tackle to anchor the defensive line and that position could still be filled in free agency.

How adding Halapoulivaati Vaitai impacts the Lions roster

Examining how agreeing to terms with offensive lineman Halapoulivaati Vaitai impacts the Detroit Lions roster.

The Detroit Lions opened the 2020 tampering period of free agency by agreeing to terms with offensive lineman Halapoulivaati Vaitai and the early expectations are that he will take over the vacated starting role at right tackle.

Playing behind Eagles tackles Jason Peters and Lane Johnson, it’s not surprising that Vaitai’s starting experience was limited to only 20 games. But over his career he saw starts at both right and left tackle, even seeing some snaps at right guard.

Despite his limited starting experience, Vaitai (6-6, 320 pounds) is an underrated athlete — he meets all the Lions preferred benchmarks identified in my QIB system — and is an ideal scheme fit in the Lions offense, as mauling run blocker.

So how does Vaitai impact the rest of the Lions roster?

With the money the Lions are investing in Vaitai — reportedly averaging $10 million a year for five years — it’s fair to assume he is penciled in at right tackle. With left tackle Taylor Decker playing on the fifth-year option of his rookie contract, the starters are in place.

Tyrell Crosby will likely be given a shot to win the right tackle job in training camp, and the Lions love his versatility to reliably back up both tackle spots. He is at worst, their third offensive tackle and primary backup.

Currently, the Lions’ fourth offensive tackle is Dan Skipper, while defensive end convert Matt Nelson is still learning the position and doesn’t appear to be in the mix at this time.

Will the Lions add any more offensive tackles?

Probably not in free agency, but with Decker in the final year of his contract, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Lions add a developmental tackle in the draft — a prospect that could compete for a potential OT4 role with Skipper this season and a potential starting role in 2021.

While tackles may be limited to the draft, the Lions still have a starting right guard position open and that role could be filled in free agency or the draft.