Embed from Getty Images The Detroit Lions who are on a 3 game winning streak ranked 30th against the run. Giving up 139.3 yards per game. Today made a trade that will shore up the defensive line.
The New York Giants have waived the surrender flag and will enter a long pain-staking rebuild. Yesterday the Giants traded corner back Eli Apple to the New Orleans Saints.
Needing more push up front the Detroit Lions were going to shop for a nose tackle this off-season. With the New York fire sale they got one of the best in the game.
Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn, taking a page from the New England Patriots stole Damon “snacks” Harrison. Quinn gave up one of the Lions two 5th round draft pick which they obtained when they traded Laken Tomlinson to the San Francisco 49ers . A tremendous value trade to be sure.
Damon Harrison is a game changer. He has an overall 89.9 grade. Harrison 6′ 3″, 341 lbs is a run stuffer. His size and strength allows him to shove offensive linemen out of the way and attack the ball carrier.
The Detroit Lions are ranked third in quarterback sacks. They are very good vs the pass. Now with Damon Harrison they should improve vs the run. Harrison makes up for the oft injured Ezekiel Ansah.
For the second half playoff push Bob Quinn knows his team is playing better and is within striking distance of the division leading Minnesota Vikings. They have 2 games against them and also 2 games against the Chicago Bears. While the Lions beat the Green Bay Packers a couple weeks ago they still have to travel the cheese state which is never easy to win in.
Harrison has lead the NFL in run stuffs each of the past three seasons. Damon signed a 5 year $46.25 million dollar deal with the Giants three seasons ago. Detroit is on the hook for $4.1 millions and $7 million next season.
That is not bad for one of the NFL’s best defensive interior linemen. Not to mention Damon Harrison is just 29 years old. To get a player of this caliber for a 5th round draft pick shows that the New York Giants are desperate to shed talent and payroll. It also shows that Bob Quinn made a savvy deal.
This sets Detroit up nicely for the remainder of the season. It also give Matt Patrica a key player and a disruptive force in the middle. Making the Detroit Lions defense more physical. Something Quinn vowed to do after last seasons final game.
