Detroit Lions NFL 2015 Trade News, Rumors: Lions Trade for Haloti Ngata
The Detroit Lions will lose DT Ndamukong Suh, and they know it. Suh has yet to sign with the Miami Dolphins and the Lions are not waiting around for him to do so. In a some what panicked maneuver, the Lions sent fourth and fifth round picks to the Baltimore Ravens for DT Haloti Ngata. The move reunited Ngata with the Defensive Coordinator Terly Austin in Detroit who use to work for the Ravens.
This is a significant move as Ngata has been very agile all along the D line in his career. When paired with the news that the Lions will not seek to retain the services of DT Nick Fairley it is fair bet that the Lions will switch from a 4-3 base defense to a 3-4 defense with Ngata as the nose tackle.
Even if they do not switch defense Ngata has been brought to Detroit primarily s a run defender. The Lions defense, in whatever form it becomes, will rely on its young speedy Defensive ends and Line backing corps to make disrupting plays in the opponent's backfield.
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Ngata was set to count for around 16 million of the Ravens 2015 Salary Cap. He balked at reworking his deal there, which made the five-time pro bowler available. Since a lot of his 2015 cap charge was higher to salary bonus prorations he only counts $8.5 million against the cap for the Lions in 2015.
However, he did not come cheap. The Lions have dealt away the middle of their 2015 draft for a player, who is 31-years-old. Although he has been pretty healthy throughout his career this was a move to secure the short term success of the team. The Lions will not have to use the NFL draft to help secure its longer term success.
