Detroit Lions continue to add New England’s offspring

The Detroit Lions traded for yet another former New England Patriot yesterday.  Bob Quinn continues to add depth but has failed to find an impact player in free agency or on the trade market.

The revolving door of former New England Patriots continues for the Detroit Lions.  This time general manager Bob Quinn has traded for three-time super bowl champion, safety Duron Harmon.  The organization is littered with Patriot offspring.

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, the compensation is a ‘flip of late-round picks.’  Harmon, 29 years old, is heading into the final year of his current contract that will have a cap hit of $5.5 million.

It’s a Lions organization with a plethora of holes to fill, primarily on the defensive side of the football.  Quinn continues to pluck the leftovers from New England.  Of course, not Tom Brady or anything near that caliber of a player, more of the depth-type athletes.  I will add, I can’t help but be a little bit concerned with constantly adding players Bill Belichick is willfully giving away.

More from Detroit Jock City

• Tigers Sign Manager A.J. Hinch to Long-Term Extension
• Lions vs. Bears Week 14 Opening Odds Disrespect Detroit
• Former Tigers Celebrate Jim Leyland Hall of Fame Call
• This Pistons Team Could be the Worst in Detroit Sports History
• 4 Free Agents Tigers Should Sign During Winter Meetings

Recently the Detroit Lions signed linebacker Jamie Collins and nose tackle Danny Shelton in free agency–both areas of need.  Entering the regular season just a year ago, the Detroit Lions had plenty of safety depth being anchored by captain Quandre Diggs.  Diggs led a group of youngsters (until he was oddly traded away for peanuts)–young but prospects on the rise.  Tracy Walker appears to be the best of the bunch; you don’t have to watch much film to see the talent spewing onto the screen.

Trading Diggs instantly turned a position full of depth into a sparse group.  The jury remains out on Will Harris and C.J. Moore, but both have the potential to become reliable starters.  The hope is Harris leaps forward, earning himself a full-time starting role alongside Walker in 2020.

That will leave the newly acquired Harmon the perfect replacement to Tavon Wilson.  Harmon played as New England’s third safety behind standouts Patrick Chung and Devin McCourty while thriving in the role of being a center fielder earning himself the nickname of the ‘closer’ as he regularly reeled in interceptions late in ball games.

While Wilson thrived playing in the box as added run support, Harmon is more of an over the top safety, something the Lions needed to add.  Harmon has accumulated 10 interceptions over the last three seasons, and 17 spanning over his seven-year career.

According to Pro Football Focus (PFF), Harmon earned himself a very respectful overall grade of 73.7, which included a solid 74.7 mark in coverage.  As previously mentioned he’s not the type of safety who will thrive in run support, last season he was awarded a below-average 65 grade defending the run.

Harmon made 25 tackles and 2 interceptions last season and was targeted just nine times in the passing game allowing five receptions totaling 54 yards, none of which were a touchdown.  He broke up 2 passes.

Similar to Shelton and Collins, Harmon is a substantial addition by Bob Quinn to the Detroit Lions.  It’s a locker room that will be very familiar with one another; that’s for sure.