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Detroit Lions Trade For Cornerback Johnthan Banks

By Colton Wesley

Dec 7, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions running back Reggie Bush (21) attempts to complete a pass while being pressured by Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Johnthan Banks (27) and outside linebacker Lavonte David (54) during the second quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 7, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Lions running back Reggie Bush (21) attempts to complete a pass while being pressured by Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Johnthan Banks (27) and outside linebacker Lavonte David (54) during the second quarter at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Detroit Lions traded for cornerback Johnthan Banks in a deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Tuesday.

The Detroit Lions acquired former second-round cornerback Johnthan Banks in a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Tuesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. In exchange for Banks, the Lions reportedly traded away a conditional seventh-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Banks had been reported as likely to be released by Tampa Bay on Monday until news broke on Tuesday, the NFL’s trade deadline day, that he had been dealt to Detroit. The pick the Lions sent to the Buccaneers in exchange for Banks is conditional on Banks’ presence on the Lions’ roster, so if Banks underperforms and is cut by Detroit, the Lions will keep the pick.

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Banks was drafted by Tampa Bay in 2013 out of Mississippi State, where he was a first-team All-American, won the Jim Thorpe Award as college football’s best cornerback and was teammates with current Lions cornerback Darius Slay. Banks started all 16 games for Tampa Bay during his rookie season but saw less playing time as his career has progressed in Tampa, appearing in only five Buccaneers’ games this season and starting in none. Current Lions linebackers coach Bill Sheridan and cornerbacks coach Tony Oden were in Tampa Bay with Banks when he was drafted.

He has 109 career tackles, 19 passes defended, and seven interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown, in 50 games with 37 starts. Banks lacks speed, but is tall at 6″2.”

The Detroit Lions have one of the NFL’s lowest-ranked pass defenses—conceded a league-high 113.7 passer rating to opposing quarterbacks—and were without Slay, their best cornerback, in Sunday’s loss to the Houston Texans. Slay welcomed his former college teammate to Detroit on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/_bigplayslay23/status/793486016900374528

Next: Lions Receivers Doing Just Fine Without Calvin Johnson

The Lions will be on the road on Sunday, taking on the division-leading Minnesota Vikings (5-2) at 1:00 on FOX.

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