Detroit Lions Strike Savvy Haloti Ngata Trade, But Next Moves Most Important

By Max DeMara | Mar 10, 2015

How’s that for a start to the 2015 offseason for the Detroit Lions? Just days after it was revealed Ndamukong Suh was leaving, the team struck unexpectedly to bring in his replacement Haloti Ngata.

Ngata had been in contract trouble with the Baltimore Ravens, and the parties reached an impasse. As a result, the Ravens had to either cut Ngata or try and gain some type of assets while shipping him out. Clearly, there was no circumstance in which the lineman was coming back to Baltimore next year.

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Enter the Lions just after 4 p.m. on Tuesday. Arguably, they made the move to nab Ngata because they knew none of the free agent defensive tackles on the market brought the unique blend of talent, age, quality leadership and top-flight winning experience that Ngata already had under his belt. As far as winning moves go, it was the perfect storm.

From that standpoint, it’s easy to view the trade as a win-win. Ozzie Newsome won his standoff and got to take picks home as a result, forcing many to claim the Lions overpaid and he’ll look like an evil genius in the end. Detroit plugged the hole left by Suh confidently and relatively cheaply, gaining an all-pro player in the prime of his career that Baltimore knows they’ll miss for middle round picks.

With Ngata in the fold, there will be little dropoff from Detroit at the defensive tackle position. An explosive run stuffer, Ngata can also create plenty of havoc in the middle of the line and attack the quarterback, as evidence of his 25.5 career sacks. He makes an impact in the passing game with five interceptions and 32 passes defended in a history full of complete impact from the middle of the line.

That’s pretty darn good news for the Lions.

What’s the most important move, though? Whatever is yet to come for Detroit. The Lions saved money in the long run by watching Suh walk, and now they have to figure out a way to put it to good use. They need to sign a cornerback (names like Chris Culliver, Tramon Williams and Brandon Browner still exist), likely another rotational defensive tackle and possibly a running back or offensive lineman. Some of those additions, of course, can happen through the draft.

What’s the most important move, though? Whatever is yet to come for Detroit. The Lions saved money in the long run by watching Suh walk, and now they have to figure out a way to put it to good use.

Martin Mayhew quietly and confidently managed to hit a home run in trading for Ngata to fill a major spot of need, but that move won’t mean as much in the grand scheme unless the Lions take steps to improve in their other needy spots, too. It will help make the team more solid throughout, and perhaps push them forward.

Like Suh, Ngata is only one, impactful man on a team that needs plenty of impactful men. Adding Ngata is a solid rebound, but it needs to be far from the last significant move if Detroit’s to get better this offseason.

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