Lions trade for "a guy" and might sign one too

The Lions sent an undisclosed draft to Seattle for defensive end Lawrence Jackson. The former 2008 first round pick out of USC was dealt to the Leos for what is believed to be a sixth round pick.

So why? And, because we're Lions fans, what's wrong with him?

Why?

Lions defensive end Jared Devries, 11 yr vet, was sidelined for all of last season with a ruptured achilles tendon. This year, although he is on the active list of players, he has yet to play a down of practice or exhibition games. It is most likely that he has either strained that achilles or incurred another debilitating injury. The biggest problem with this lies in the fact that he is an 11 year vet...ie "very old." His days may very well be over. I'd feel bad for Devries, a player picked by Bobby Ross, lived through all of the worst years and now that perhaps the team is ready to start making their way back to respectability, Devries may be on his way out.

So what's wrong with Jackson?

There are a lot of worrisome issues with Jackson.
1. He was a first round pick just two years ago, 25th overall, and the Seahawks have no problem getting rid of him for a pack of Spearmint gum. That's not a good sign.

2. Not only are the Seahawks getting rid of him, new coach Pete Carroll, formerly the coach of USC who coached Jackson throughout his college career is the guy who thought it'd be a good idea to ditch Jackson for a pack of Spearmint gum.

3. Jackson, as a defensive end, has registered only 6 and a half sacks in two years--4 last season. This is less than an impressive total...but on the bright side, that total would have put Jackson among the team leaders on the Lions.

4. He didn't come with any cheerleaders.

Nick Harper?

Now, I know that the Lions are very, very thin at the cornerback position and that the position has been hit by every kind of injury imaginable--I think somebody was attacked by locusts in yesterday's afternoon session, but I haven't gotten that confirmed--but Nick Harper?

Harper is 36 years old and wasn't all that good when he was supposedly in his prime. This brings back images of Matt Millen trying to use 40 year old defensive backs like Otis Smith.

Sad days...

Look for the Lions to start scouring the waiver lists, especially when the Bengals start cutting some very serviceable NFL DB's when rosters need be cut down to 53.