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Detroit Lions News & Rumors

Minor NFL Transactions: 12/27/19

December 27th, 2019 at 3:52pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Friday’s minor moves:

Cincinnati Bengals

Detroit Lions

  • Promoted from practice squad: LB Anthony Pittman

Indianapolis Colts

New York Giants

San Francisco 49ers

Washington Redskins

Packers, Aaron Rodgers Rework Deal

December 27th, 2019 at 1:57pm CST by Zachary Links

The Packers carved out some future cap room on Friday, with some help from Aaron Rodgers. The quarterback agreed to convert $14.26MM of his $19.5MM roster bonus into a signing bonus, which allows the club to prorate the hit over five seasons, including 2019 (Twitter link via ESPN.com’s Field Yates). 

It’s a common move in the NFL – Yates notes that the Lions recently agreed to a similar adjustment with Matthew Stafford‘s 2020 roster bonus, which was slated to count for $6MM against the cap.

With the move, the Packers have carved out $11.4MM in cap space for 2020. The Lions, meanwhile, have $4.8MM to work with.

Rodgers is signed through the 2023 season thanks to the four-year, $134MM extension he inked with the Packers just prior to the 2018 season. Before the deal was revised, his contract was slated to count for more than 16% of the Packers cap next year.

With a little extra breathing room, the Packers will have more dollars to fortify their roster on the open market and retain key players, including right tackle Bryan Bulaga and defensive tackle Kenny Clark.

2020 NFL Draft Order As Of Week 17

December 25th, 2019 at 8:34am CST by Zachary Links

With one week remaining in the regular season, the 2020 NFL Draft order is starting to take shape. The 1-14 Bengals have locked up the No. 1 overall pick, but the rest of the board will be dependent on the outcome of Week 17’s games.

Here’s a look at where things stand:

1. Bengals: 1-14
2. Redskins: 3-12
3. Lions: 3-11-1
4. Giants: 4-11
5. Dolphins: 4-11
6. Jaguars: 5-10
7. Chargers: 5-10
8. Panthers: 5-10
9. Cardinals: 5-9-1
10: Jets: 6-9
11. Broncos: 6-9
12. Browns: 6-9
13. Falcons 6-9
14. Raiders 7-8
15. Cowboys 7-8
16. Colts 7-8
17. Buccaneers 7-8
18. Raiders (via Bears) 7-8
19. Dolphins (via Steelers) 8-7
20. Jaguars (via Rams) 8-7
21. Eagles 8-7
22. Titans 8-7
23. Bills 10-5
24. Vikings 10-5
25. Dolphins (via Texans) 10-5
26. Chiefs 11-4
27. Seahawks 11-4
28. Packers 12-3
29. Patriots 12-3
30. Saints 12-3
31. 49ers 12-3
32. Ravens 13-2

Giants, Lions Wanted Sharif Finch

December 24th, 2019 at 11:35am CST by Zachary Links

The Bengals snagged outside linebacker Sharif Finch off the waiver wire, but they weren’t the only team gunning for him. The Giants and Lions also tried to claim him, a source tells Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

The Bengals’ league-worst 1-14 record had them at the top of the pecking order, but all three teams were eyeing Finch as a young and athletic pass rusher who could be developed. The Bengals won out, giving them a prospect that can be retained and groomed on the cheap.

Finch, 24, appeared in 23 games (three starts) for the Titans between 2018 and 2019. He notched 3.5 sacks in that span – including two sacks this year – and 40 total tackles.

The former UDFA out of Temple showed promise at times, but injuries held him back in 2019. He was also a healthy scratch for some games, which was odd, given the team’s need in that area following Cameron Wake‘s season-ending injury. Finch missed time in the offseason due to a shoulder injury of his own and that might have hurt his standing in Tennessee. Now, he’ll look to turn the page and stick with the Bengals, who figure to overhaul their roster this offseason.

NFL Workout Updates: 12/23/19

December 23rd, 2019 at 8:47pm CST by Ben Levine

Passing along some notable names from today’s workout circuit:

Detroit Lions

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Seattle Seahawks

Lions Place Jahlani Tavai On IR

December 23rd, 2019 at 1:40pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Linebacker Jahlani Tavai‘s rookie season is over. The Lions are placing the second-round pick on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, head coach Matt Patricia announced to the media Monday.

The injury is to the same shoulder that cause Tavai to miss time during his senior season in college, making it slightly more concerning, according to Tim Twentyman of the team’s official site (Twitter link). Patricia didn’t know yet whether the injury will cause Tavai to miss some of the offseason program. A Hawaii product, Tavai was drafted 43rd overall back in April.

He played a large role as a rookie, appearing in all 15 games and making six starts. Overall he played just a tick under 60 percent of the defensive snaps while also contributing on special teams. He’ll finish his first campaign with 57 tackles, two sacks, an interception and a forced fumble. He’ll be back in camp next year to compete for a starting job.

Broncos, Lions Discussed Chris Harris Jr., Darius Slay Swap

December 22nd, 2019 at 5:44pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Broncos and Lions are playing Sunday afternoon, and they apparently discussed a potential blockbuster trade a couple of months back. The teams discussed a swap of cornerbacks Chris Harris Jr. and Darius Slay, sources told Mike Klis of Denver 9 News (Twitter link).

We had heard that the Lions were the only team to make a formal offer for Harris, but this is the first we’ve heard of Slay being included in those discussions. Klis adds that Detroit was asking for more in addition to Harris, which killed the talks. When big name players get traded in the NFL it’s usually for draft picks, so a deal centered around two star players of the same position would’ve certainly been unusual. Harris originally demanded a trade or extension back around the draft, which resulted in a weeks-long standoff between the two sides.

There were murmurs of a potential deal during draft weekend, but eventually Denver agreed to give him a raise on his 2019 salary while not adding on any additional years. As the Broncos once again got off to a losing start, his name came up in trade talks at the deadline.

The Eagles pursued Slay heavily at the deadline, but a deal couldn’t get done. We didn’t hear anything about him heading to the Broncos, although reports at the time indicated the Lions’ asking price was sky-high. Both corners are having down years, and while Harris is going to enter unrestricted free agency, Slay still has one more year on his deal.

North Notes: OBJ, Meyer, Roman

December 22nd, 2019 at 10:20am CST by Rory Parks

Browns WR Odell Beckham Jr. recently shot down rumors of a trade demand, but the team never had any intention of trading him anyway, as Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. Cleveland gave up a great deal to acquire OBJ last offseason, and the club fully intends to keep the mercurial wideout on board for what it hopes will be a rebound campaign in 2020.

With respect to Beckham’s potential sports hernia surgery, he has scheduled a January 13 consultation with a core specialist, and that is one of several opinions he’ll gather before deciding whether to go under the knife (Twitter link via ESPN’s Josina Anderson).

Now for more from the leagues’ north divisions:

  • Urban Meyer has been connected to the Cowboys’ and Redskins’ head coaching vacancies in recent weeks, and you can add the Browns to that list. It’s still unclear whether Cleveland will part with first-year HC Freddie Kitchens, but if it does, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports expects Meyer to get heavy consideration. Browns owner Jimmy Haslam and Meyer enjoy a strong relationship, and despite what he has said publicly, Meyer is reportedly interested in returning to the sidelines.
  • Ravens offensive coordinator Greg Roman has engineered one of the league’s best and most exciting offenses around MVP candidate Lamar Jackson, and La Canfora says Roman is, unsurprisingly, expected to have several head coaching interviews. Though Jackson is a transcendent talent, teams will be looking to replicate Baltimore’s approach, and Roman’s success with Jackson and other athletic QBs like Colin Kaepernick and Tyrod Taylor will have him in high demand.
  • Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press takes a look at each of the Lions‘ 16 pending UFAs and offers his take as to whether Detroit will attempt to retain them. He believes wide receiver Danny Amendola is a near-lock to return, and he thinks OL Graham Glasgow may prefer to go elsewhere.
  • We took another swing around the north yesterday, including a look at Mitchell Trubisky‘s future with the Bears.

Darius Slay Could Fetch Round 2 Pick?

December 21st, 2019 at 3:25pm CST by Sam Robinson
  • Darius Slay was mentioned in trade talks before this year’s deadline. Were the Lions to attempt to unload their top cornerback in the offseason, the Detroit News’ Justin Rogers expects a second-round pick to be around the level of compensation for which the team could aim. However, with perhaps both Bob Quinn and Matt Patricia on the hot seat in 2020, it would probably behoove them to retain their top cover man rather than deal him for a Day 2 pick. Slay, however, skipped the Lions’ 2019 offseason program while lobbying for a new contract. His current deal expires after next season.
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