Will the Lions’ trade for Williams affect the top of the draft?
A deal between the Browns and Lions for defensive tackle Corey Williams might not seem like headline news, but it’s a trade that could inevitably affect the top of the draft.
Williams is expected to return to his former defensive tackle position after playing end in Cleveland’s 3-4 scheme. With Grady Jackson (whom the Lions signed to a three-year, $8 million contract last year) occupying the defensive tackle position next to Williams, there’s a chance that Detroit will pass on a DT at No. 2 come April’s draft.
That said, Jackson is also 37 year’s old, so the Lions might view Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy as his eventual replacement for 2011. Plus, Jackson isn’t an effective pass-rusher, so he could be replaced on obvious passing downs in order to give Suh or McCoy playing time in their rookie season before they took over as a starter.
But it would be interesting to find out that the Lions made this deal for Williams in order to go in another direction on draft day. They also have a huge need at offensive tackle and might target Oklahoma State’s Russell Okung at No. 2 instead of a DT.
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I THINK THE LIONS WOULD BE CRAZY TO PASS ON KINGKONG SU IF HE IS AVAILABLE. THIS GUY IS GOING TO BE A MONSTER ON THE TURF. SU PLAYS WITH FIRE AND HEART.I FEEL WITH HIS PLAY HE WILL PUMP UP THE ENTIRE TEAM TO PLAY BETTER.AND THIS IS WHAT THE LIONS HAVE BEEN LACKING FOR A LONG TIME ON THIS TEAM. PLAYER’S THAT PLAY WITH PASSION FOR THE GAME. THE LIONS ALSO NEED BIG OFFENSIVE LINEMAN TO GIVE STAFFORD TIME TO THROW THE BALL AND PROTECT HIM FROM GETTING HURT.
Grady jackson was cut before they announced the trade so why is he mentioned in this article at all?
Aragorn5261,
No he wasn’t. Chris Mortensen reported that the Browns would trade Williams on Thursday and Jackson was cut on Friday afternoon. In fact, the trade was officially was announced (at least publicly) on Friday around 1:30PM ET. Jackson was cut (again, publicly) on Friday around 3:30PM ET.
Regardless, I wouldn’t have mentioned Jackson in the article if I knew he were already or was going to be cut.
Hope that clears things up.
hard to figure if williams was acquired to be a mentor or reason to not to have to draft a DT. I agree that Suh is a monster, but so was dan wilkinson. This also allows a trade down if an opportunity arises. Without a decent DT on the roster, they might not have traded down even if wash or sea inquired.