Grading the Detroit Lions early free agency moves

Detroit Lions secondary moves

Desmond Trufant, CB

Many of the Detroit Lions’ moves seem to replace a player that has been let go of and this move is similar. Darius Slay is nearly impossible to replace one-for-one but Trufant is a very good cornerback that offers good coverage ability and experience. Trufant, the 6-foot, 190-pound cornerback just left the Atlanta Falcons after being their first-round pick in the 2013 NFL draft.

Trufant had four interceptions in 2019 but only played in nine games, stats from Pro Football Reference. Hopefully, the 29-year-old can get back to playing his normal full season in 2020. On the plus side, if he plays his 2-year, $21 million dollar contract will be quite a bit cheaper than Slay’s 3-year, $50 million dollar deal he received from Philly.

Grade: B-, the Detroit Lions got a bigger name free agent, saved some money, but didn’t get any younger with Slay’s replacement. Trufant wasn’t healthy last year, part of the reason that older cornerbacks are usually devalued in the first place. If he can play well, it gives the Lions a stop-gap player that allows them to develop other players for the future.

Duron Harmon, S

Duron Harmon is a 29-year-old safety who started eight games and played in sixteen for the New England Patriots. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound defensive back was originally a third-round pick in 2013 and has been a key backup and special teams player for Bill Belichick, as well as playing for head coach Matt Patricia. He was primarily a rotational safety and will likely provide some depth to deal with the Detroit Lions deciding not to re-sign Tavon Wilson.

Grade: C, Harmon was traded for by Quinn with a fifth-round pick, where the Lions received Harmon and seventh-round selection back. Harmon has a $5.75 million dollars cap hit in the last year of his current deal, according to the Over The Cap website. The pick swap isn’t that bad but Wilson played for just over $2 million dollars, although it does represent an upgrade in talent, the cost is again steep.