Detroit Lions News and Rumors from Pro Football Insider

Detroit Lions

Tuesday Sep 7th, 2010

The Seahawks have sent Pro Bowl linebacker Julian Peterson to the Lions (boys isn't he thrilled) for defensive tackle Cory Redding and a 5th round pick. The Seahawks had wanted Peterson to take a pay cut and were considering releasing him if they didn't find a trade partner. So Redding has been in the league 6 years and has 16 sacks and Peterson has 46 sacks in 9 years. Yes Redding is younger but this was a bad move for the Seahawks. Peterson is a proven pass rusher and while Redding will help against the run and means BJ Raji is out as an option in the first round it leaves a void at linebacker. Peterson was a three down player and his versatility a huge plus. The Seahawks could draft a replacement in Aaron Curry, but he won't likely last until number four. With the resigning of Ray WIllis, tackle looks out, so wide receiver... or a surprise... quarterback. Others will speculate trade, but not many teams want to trade up into the top 5... don't believe the Eagles so called rumors. Anytime a team has two first rounds picks airheads in the media claim there are rumors they are trying to move up. They have no news and just guess because they have the ammo. The move is huge for the Lions adding a dynamic player who went to school at Michigan State. It likely means they won't draft Aaron Curry with the top pick... The draft of 2006 was supposed to be a highly stocked draft... Reggie Bush, Vince Young, Matt Leinart... now Young and Leinart are riding the pine with limited chance to get back on the field as a starter with the team that drafted him. Bush didn't find the NFL as easy to run through as he did in college. Young and Leinart each are behind veterans who just signed a two year deal to start for the Titans and Cardinals so neither of the youngsters appears to be getting on the field soon. If Leinart would have come out as a junior he may have been the #1 choice instead of Alex Smith, who for a number of reason is deciding if he wants to redo his deal and try and compete for starting spot but most likely be the backup as well. Not so easy for teams drafting high and investing a lot of money in these quarterbacks. Will the Lions see this or Matt Ryan? Is one of the tackles their future on the left side and a safer pick like Jake Long? Increasingly the top of the draft is looking for safety considering the money involved... So there is a new regime in Detroit but they are still after former Bucs... they have signed cornerback Phillip Buchanon to a 2 year $8.5 million deal to add more depth to the secondary. They signed Eric King from the Titans already and acquired Anthony Henry in the trade for Jon Kitna so the secondary will look much different next year. Henry will likely slide to safety and Buchanon will have one of the starting corner spots... The Lions getting up getting someone of value in return for QB Jon Kitna. Instead of a mid to late round pick the Cowboys sent corner Anthony Henry to the Lions. Henry should fit well with the new defense and can play safety as well. It was a good move for a team help in the secondary and needed to unload Kitna... The Lions kept dealing Saturday... QB Jon Kitna has been traded to the Dallas Cowboys who have been looking for a backup to Tony Romo. No word on what the Lions get in return, but likely not much. The Lions also announced the signing of former Titans CB Eric King to a 2 year deal... The Lions have been targeting receivers in free agency, much focus has been on Steelers WR Nate Washington, but the team has signed former Cardinals and 49ers receiver Bryant Johnson to a 3 year $9 million deal. Johnson had some injury issues last year and didn't break out as he hoped for to earn a big contract... The Lions have signed former Seahawks RB Maurice Morris to a 3 year $7 million deal. Morris will be an excellent compliment in the backfield. He isn't well know after playing in the great northwest but has been a solid contributor for the Seahawks for years...
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