Report: Northcutt Traded To Lions

[Kamakzie]

Posted by Aaron Wilson on June 26, 2009, 8:03 p.m. EDT

Dennis Northcutt is no longer a Jacksonville Jaguar.

According to John Clayton of ESPN.com, the Jaguars have traded the veteran wide receiver to the Detroit Lions.

And the Lions have compensated the Jaguars by sending them safety Gerald Alexander.

Alexander and Northcutt share the same agent, Jerome Stanley. Per the report, which cited sources, Stanley was surprised that Alexander was included in the trade.

Per the report, the Lions were unwilling to give up a draft pick. So, that’s how the rare player-for-player swap developed.

According to Clayton, the trade terms were completed today. However, the deal won’t be official until next week when it’s ratified by league officials.

ProFootballTalk.com - Report: Northcutt Traded To Lions

[sportz4life]

Like it..home run ability..specialty player..excellent returner...I am actually shocked..these guys have made more decent moves in a 6 month period than Millen made in the whole decade.

[detroitdan]

Too bad, I liked Alexander. Hopefully Northcutt will make an impact.

[EatEmUpTigers711]

I liked Alexander too. Without the injury last year, doubt they'd include him in the trade, but then again, after drafting Delmas, it seems like Alexander was just the odd man out.

[Scottwood]

Good trade. Solidifies our WR core. Johnson and Northcutt are a decent #2 and #3 pairing. Having Johnson taking the double teams will open up some space for them, as well. Plus, he's only 31. Tail end of his prime? Yeah, but he is rarely injured and should have a few more years at a 40-45 catch pace with 500 or so yards.

[cruzer1]

I'm not crazy about Northcutt; since he'd take away much of what Derrick Williams is there for. I've always liked his speed, though; and I'm glad the Lions are really emphasizing speed with their receivers.

[jake]

Northcutt wishes he was Mike Furrey as far as production. This doesn't bode well for our initial evaluation of Derrick Williams.

[EatEmUpTigers711]

Originally Posted by jake

Northcutt wishes he was Mike Furrey as far as production. This doesn't bode well for our initial evaluation of Derrick Williams.

Maybe not right away, but I'm still hoping for Williams to eventually get some shots. Perhaps they're hoping Northcutt can teach the kid a thing or two in his time here....

[cruzer1]

Mike Furrey wishes he had enough speed to stay here.

[Corky]

Originally Posted by cruzer1

Mike Furrey wishes he had enough speed to stay here.

I think K2F wishes that also.

[djhutch]

Williams has been nursing some injuries thru mini-camp, so I like this move to make sure that we've got more speed at the WR/Returner positions. Nothing wrong with competition. & we didn't have to give up a draft pick. Smart move.

[jonjd]

Ugh. Dropcutt. Nonetheless, a lot of decent depth at WR.

[Edman85]

Originally Posted by cruzer1

I'm not crazy about Northcutt; since he'd take away much of what Derrick Williams is there for. I've always liked his speed, though; and I'm glad the Lions are really emphasizing speed with their receivers.

Wrong. Catching and route running are much more important than speed.

[Buddha]

Originally Posted by jake

This doesn't bode well for our initial evaluation of Derrick Williams.

That's what I thought. Williams has always been more hype than anything else.

Northcutt is nothing special, then again, Alexander wasn't either.

[cruzer1]

Originally Posted by Edman85

Wrong. Catching and route running are much more important than speed.

Those are trainable assets. Give me a fast guy, teach him how to catch and run routes.

[El Gato Pollo Loco!!]

Don't we also have Ronald Curry?

This move is alright. Not huge, and maybe this will help Williams develop.

[Porcelain God]

Just based on age and potential, I'd rather have Alexander. He was a strong point in a very weak defense on a bad team. On the other hand, Northcutt is much better than B. Johnson and may help Stafford (lets face it, starter by week 5).

[GuitarGod19]

I don't like this trade...

[slim pickens]

This trade is fine. A player for a player is all it was. Neither was a stud, helps out both teams and is just fine.

[jake]

Originally Posted by cruzer1

Mike Furrey wishes he had enough speed to stay here.

Yeah, we know. Speed is everything.

[jake]

Originally Posted by cruzer1

Those are trainable assets. Give me a fast guy, teach him how to catch and run routes.

You can teach a guy to catch a football like an NFL wide receiver about as easily as you can teach a guy to run fast. Both are skills that are mostly God-given.

[slim pickens]

Originally Posted by jake

You can teach a guy to catch a football like an NFL wide receiver about as easily as you can teach a guy to run fast. Both are skills that are mostly God-given.

i agree with this in a sense. You can teach to catch more than you can teach to run fast.

northcutt will be fine here, and Alexander wont be missed.

[cruzer1]

Originally Posted by GuitarGod19

I don't like this trade...

The Lions had a million safeties. Delmas will obviously start, probably with Bullocks, then theres Marquand Manuel, Schweigert, Pearson, Tra Battle, etc...

[djhutch]

Originally Posted by cruzer1

The Lions had a million safeties. Delmas will obviously start, probably with Bullocks, then theres Marquand Manuel, Schweigert, Pearson, Tra Battle, etc...

You had me `til Schweigert. Dude was playing intramural flag football last year.

[cruzer1]

Originally Posted by djhutch

You had me `til Schweigert. Dude was playing intramural flag football last year.

He's an NFL player, not a flag football player. Football obviously matters to him.

[GuitarGod19]

Originally Posted by cruzer1

The Lions had a million safeties. Delmas will obviously start, probably with Bullocks, then theres Marquand Manuel, Schweigert, Pearson, Tra Battle, etc...

Schweigert sucks, Manuel and Pearson are over 30, Tra Battle is camp fodder and would be lucky to backup. I really don't see why we traded a decent young safety that can play corner for an old WR. We're supposed to be getting younger not older. I like Bullocks, but Alexander was a good player that was young and cheap...I don't see the logic. Especially when we draft 2 return men.

[cruzer1]

Originally Posted by GuitarGod19

Schweigert sucks, Manuel and Pearson are over 30, Tra Battle is camp fodder and would be lucky to backup. I really don't see why we traded a decent young safety that can play corner for an old WR. We're supposed to be getting younger not older. I like Bullocks, but Alexander was a good player that was young and cheap...I don't see the logic. Especially when we draft 2 return men.

Alexander cannot play corner. Not in the NFL. I consider him damaged goods, with his broken neck last year. Tra Battle played on the Cowboys last year, all are legit players. The Lions are not hurting for safeties right now. I don't even see Henry moving over to safety, which is another option. I see Delmas at the free, and Bullocks at the strong safety. I don't know if they'll flip, which is what a lot of teams do. I also think that Delmas will be in coverage more often, with Bullocks having an impact closer to the line of scrimmage.

[GuitarGod19]

Originally Posted by cruzer1

Alexander cannot play corner. Not in the NFL. I consider him damaged goods, with his broken neck last year. Tra Battle played on the Cowboys last year, all are legit players. The Lions are not hurting for safeties right now. I don't even see Henry moving over to safety, which is another option. I see Delmas at the free, and Bullocks at the strong safety. I don't know if they'll flip, which is what a lot of teams do. I also think that Delmas will be in coverage more often, with Bullocks having an impact closer to the line of scrimmage.

He can play corner, how can you possibly say that when he's never tried it? He's the same size as Henry who's been a successful physical corner in the league for years. You have nothing to base that on so that is your opinion...he played corner a lot in college so he obviously has the skill set to do so.

Tra battle appeared in 5 games, starting none, and making a whopping 14 tackles...nothing more than a special teamer which is why he's on his 3rd team in 3 years.

Also, if Alexander is damaged goods because of a neck injury, I say Bullocks has been crap since his knee injury. He wasn't good at all last year, especially against the run.

We signed 2nd and 3rd recievers and drafted another...we need to get younger, remember?

[cruzer1]

Originally Posted by GuitarGod19

He can play corner, how can you possibly say that when he's never tried it? He's the same size as Henry who's been a successful physical corner in the league for years. You have nothing to base that on so that is your opinion...he played corner a lot in college so he obviously has the skill set to do so.

Tra battle appeared in 5 games, starting none, and making a whopping 14 tackles...nothing more than a special teamer which is why he's on his 3rd team in 3 years.

Also, if Alexander is damaged goods because of a neck injury, I say Bullocks has been crap since his knee injury. He wasn't good at all last year, especially against the run.

We signed 2nd and 3rd recievers and drafted another...we need to get younger, remember?

There's a reason why he hasn't played corner in the NFL...he lacks the hip flexion necessary for coverage. Even as a safety, he's got poor coverage technique. He's better against the run, and is a liability in coverage. Bullocks has much more ability imo.

[GuitarGod19]

Originally Posted by cruzer1

There's a reason why he hasn't played corner in the NFL...he lacks the hip flexion necessary for coverage. Even as a safety, he's got poor coverage technique. He's better against the run, and is a liability in coverage. Bullocks has much more ability imo.

Bullocks blew out his friggen knee...I know you said it's your opinion, but film doesn't lie, he doesn't move like he did before the injury. Heck even Killer noticed that his quickness and explosiveness isn't there and that he wore down as the year went on in '08...

Alexander posted good numbers, his passes defended and interceptions are on pair with the likes of Brian Dawkins and LaRon Landry (top 10 pick in the same draft as Alexander). He was a quality player that got injured. I just hate seeing a promising young player traded away for a old slot reciever.

[kgeorge78]

Originally Posted by GuitarGod19

Schweigert sucks, Manuel and Pearson are over 30, Tra Battle is camp fodder and would be lucky to backup. I really don't see why we traded a decent young safety that can play corner for an old WR. We're supposed to be getting younger not older. I like Bullocks, but Alexander was a good player that was young and cheap...I don't see the logic. Especially when we draft 2 return men.

I agree, horrible trade.

[cruzer1]

Another point is, I think the Lions are going to use a spread offense at times this year, which explains the depth in receivers.

[GuitarGod19]

Originally Posted by cruzer1

Another point is, I think the Lions are going to use a spread offense at times this year, which explains the depth in receivers.

Where are you getting this info from? Opinion or fact because I haven't read or heard anything about using a spread...link?

[Yoda]

Would he have said "I think" if it were known as fact????

[GuitarGod19]

Originally Posted by Yoda

Would he have said "I think" if it were known as fact????

No, but why would he think that if he hadn't heard or read it somewhere...which is why I asked where he was getting that from.

[Buddha]

Originally Posted by GuitarGod19

Bullocks blew out his friggen knee...I know you said it's your opinion, but film doesn't lie, he doesn't move like he did before the injury. Heck even Killer noticed that his quickness and explosiveness isn't there and that he wore down as the year went on in '08...

Alexander posted good numbers, his passes defended and interceptions are on pair with the likes of Brian Dawkins and LaRon Landry (top 10 pick in the same draft as Alexander). He was a quality player that got injured. I just hate seeing a promising young player traded away for a old slot reciever.

The Lions were giving up huge pass plays left and right. One of the big reasons was that their safeties were terrible. Alexander was not that good, he might have had promise at one point, but then he suffered a serious injury. He was overdrafted because he had "moxie" or "character" or "it" or whatever intangible Millen was in love with that year. But he wasn't a very good football player.

Neither is Norcutt, but again, it's not like they gave up anything to get him. And they have Delmas now, they don't need Alexander.

Again, my biggest concern is what this says about their feelings on Derrick Williams.

[GuitarGod19]

Originally Posted by Buddha

The Lions were giving up huge pass plays left and right. One of the big reasons was that their safeties were terrible. Alexander was not that good, he might have had promise at one point, but then he suffered a serious injury. He was overdrafted because he had "moxie" or "character" or "it" or whatever intangible Millen was in love with that year. But he wasn't a very good football player.

Neither is Norcutt, but again, it's not like they gave up anything to get him. And they have Delmas now, they don't need Alexander.

Again, my biggest concern is what this says about their feelings on Derrick Williams.

I agree about Derrick Williams...but I stand pat that I think this is a poor trade, giving up a young player with "promise" for an old player at a crowded position.

[cruzer1]

Originally Posted by GuitarGod19

Where are you getting this info from? Opinion or fact because I haven't read or heard anything about using a spread...link?

Just an intuition that it will be part of the offense, based on the WR's the Lions have picked up, and based on the fact that both Linehan and Horton have roots in college football.

I think it's way too early to write off Williams. He'll likely return punts at the very least, and could factor in the offense a bit.

[Hongbit]

Originally Posted by cruzer1

Just an intuition that it will be part of the offense, based on the WR's the Lions have picked up,

My intuition is that Bryant Johnson, Dennis Northcutt, Ronald Curry, and Derrick Williams are not the kind of WR acquisitions that cause you to make radical changes in your system.

Originally Posted by cruzer1

and based on the fact that both Linehan and Horton have roots in college football.

A much, much better reason for why they may try running more things from a spread.

[Hongbit]

I'm not a Northcutt fan. He's a consumate underachiever with a talent level way higher than his production. I'm not buying that after 9 years and two teams everything is just going to suddenly click now that he's with the Lions.

I would've preferred they not give up on Alexander this early but safety is a position of depth right now and I don't believe that he could be converted to corner. Safety is also going to become even more crowded once it's determined that Anthony Henry is too old & slow to play CB in a system that doesn't play some type of zone 85% of the time.