Lions Trade Gerald Alexander to Jaguars for Dennis Northcut
by Sean Yuille on Jun 26, 2009 8:19 PM EDT
in Detroit Lions Roster
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PrintAccording to John Clayton, the Lions have traded safety Gerald Alexander to the Jaguars for wide receiver Dennis Northcutt. Apparently Northcutt found out a trade was imminent earlier in the week, but nothing happened until today. The Lions weren't interested in parting with a draft pick, so they decided to send Alexander to Jacksonville.
Alexander was drafted in 2007 and started every game during his rookie year. A neck injury ended his season early last year after only starting one game. Although Alexander has recovered well from his injury, he became expendable after Louis Delmas was drafted and Marquand Manuel was signed. I was actually just thinking earlier today that the safety position was getting a bit crowded, so I'm not too surprised that Alexander was dealt to the Jaguars. This leaves the Lions with Delmas, Manuel, Kalvin Pearson, Daniel Bullocks, Stuart Schweigert, and LaMarcus Hicks at the safety position.
Northcutt is entering his tenth season in the league. He played for the Browns from 2000 to 2006 before signing a five-year deal with the Jaguars in 2007. He put up solid stats at receiver in Jacksonville and occasionally returned punts.
In other news, the Lions signed undrafted rookie wide receiver Kenneth Harris, who played at Georgia, and released offensive lineman James Blair, formerly of Western Michigan.
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hmmm
so where would this put Bryant and Curry?
I dont like it...
I just saw this cross the banner while playing tiger woods 10…Props again Sean for fast and accurate reporting as mlive, si.com,detnews have not posted anything about this yet..
Northcut is older, …I believe has had legal issues and hasnt been productive for 2-3 years, also while alexander wasnt spectacular he was a second or third round pick who showed potential and had the physical tools to play cb as well….like sean said tho safety is crowded…i would have preffered k pearson… that guy sucks
He was
pretty good in the end of last year. He has back-to back 100+ yards games, worked really hard.
The reason why he is been traded because the new drafed rookie receivers looks so good, that our front office want to give them more and more chance to develop.
Don’t worry, Dennis is a decent player.
by Zoltan from Budapest on Jun 26, 2009 9:50 PM EDT up reply actions
he wasent in the plans.....
…..With the new coaching staff
by BennieBladesFan on Jun 27, 2009 10:00 AM EDT up reply actions
Something is up at WR it seems like
Or the Lions simply realized they were eventually going to have to get rid of a safety and decided to get someone for him.
Pride of Detroit, SB Nation's Lions Blog
Wide Recievers
Guys what do we do at Wide Recievers. I mean in the past we have only been 4 strong at best and thats only if you include Furrey and McDonald. This position probally has the most depth out of any position but yet again we also drafted this position ALOT in the past. What Prod1gy said was write that those wide recievers would be it. I have a guess though that we would be carrying 6 because i would want at least some young bloods to get in there.
by Liontotheextreme on Jun 26, 2009 11:01 PM EDT reply actions
My .02
Dennis Northcutt came here because:
a) Jags have a dearth of talent at S. Sean Considine is a gap replacement from Philly who was never all that great. Reggie Nelson hit a sophomore slump after a pretty impressive rookie year, but they have no depth, either. Gerald Alexander could be a solid starter for them, as he showed flashes before being injured here.
b) The biggest one, in my opinion: Shack Harris. He was bound to have some influence on a few personnel decisions, and probably liked what he saw out of Northcutt. I remember being impressed with him in Cleveland, didn’t watch him in Jax though.
I really think Northcutt is here for veteran presence in a young WR corps, along with the fact that he’s a returner. I think you MIGHT see him in as the #3, as I think he might be an insurance policy for Williams, but I’ll be willing to bet the two of ’em will be returning punts and kicks.
All told, decent depth pickup. At this point, we’re just shuffling paperwork. Sad to see Alexander go, as I thought he had the drive to be a starter, but I won’t lose sleep over it.
also Nate
if we would of kept him, I think that would of put Cunningham in a predicument with the drafting of Delmas and all, Everyone must be very impressed with him in order to make this move, I just don’t understand why we traded for another WR, Northcut has never been an upper eshelon WR, at best a possesion WR for the slot. But hey he’s ours for now, at least until camp starts.
good point(s) Nate
that is just what I was thinking. depth, kick return ability, more vet presence….another good move that reinforces the philosophy of every position being up for grabs.
Not a bad move....
Northcutt is a servicable WR. Not spectacular, but don’t be surprised if he moves up the depth chart.
I think late in the season we’ll apreciate this move more.
Dennis Northcutt
Used to be a very good return man but has been a disapointment as a reciever with other teams but then again he played for Cleveland and Jacksonville neither of which have a quality passing QB. It could be a good move.
by phlint phantom on Jun 27, 2009 12:21 AM EDT reply actions
i love this move
Northcutt is a great slot reciever and Alexander was bench bound on this team
Ricky Rubio has become my new man crush
I'm still undecided about this
I just don’t see WR as a position we need help on right now. I’ve got no qualms with Northcutt as I think he’ll be a help here, I just don’t know if this move was needed. Also, I didn’t mind Alexander so I’m sorta sorry to see him go, but as Sean said, the safety position was becoming fairly crowded.
2009 = The start of the Lions Golden Age (We hope).
Kelvin Pearson Sucked????
….He was the only one that played well in the secondary last year…..I know the team was tough to wactch last year…..But did you watch any games????
by BennieBladesFan on Jun 27, 2009 10:02 AM EDT up reply actions
And Also.....
…….This coaching staff knows what they are doing.
by BennieBladesFan on Jun 27, 2009 10:03 AM EDT up reply actions
hey Bennie
First off hello again, second I have to ask this how in the world can we as fans tell who was good on D-fence when everyone seemed to be outta places or whiffing on tackles left and right? Not trying to argue your point cause I to thought he was one of the better players we had on D but man I’m happier now that we have basically overhauled the entire D-fence.
i like northcutt
i used to use him in my madden leagues, would confuse every other guy in my league until i hit him on a crossing route. but…i just don’t know…i love the whole competition at every spot…but i have this feeling like i just watched a car crash. even trade i think…alexander if healthy has potential. i guess i just worry know that there is cj and 3 other slot receivers…plus williams. don’t get me wrong, i love the depth, but i feel there is something up with one of curry/b johnson/williams. i have never been a fan of curry so wouldn’t be sad if its him. i like bryant johnson & would love to see him not just show sparks of potential. i don’t know is all i can say…i got a wierd feeling on this one…
london
Curry and Johnson are legit number 2’s, let the rest of the WR’s fight it out for the slot spot. This is how I feel it will fall out, at least as of now: Megatron, Curry only cause he’s never really been an over the middle kind of rec, but still has the speed to be a threat on the outside; and then I would of said Johnson as the slot but now I think Northcut is now going to be the slot just because he’s got the better hands I feel.
I Noticed
In one of the Schwartz quotes on the official site that during the 4 minute drills in the minicamp he was hampered by the reciever position he just didn’t have the numbers available to get the rotation he wanted I guess they added a guy to make those drills run smoother. I guess they were over crowded at safety and had to many people for the rotation there. Hats off to Mayhew for getting Schwartz what he needs to make his practices run smoothly.
by Runnin' Rebel on Jun 27, 2009 2:57 PM EDT reply actions
Just one of the Quotes I read there are others
today’s practice after a rough start yesterday
“I thought they responded well today. You see the pace in practice. There’s not a whole lot of standing around in between plays and things like that. We put the pressure on them to get in and out of the huddle. Our numbers are down a little bit, particularly in the wide receiver position, but we were able to get through it pretty well.
by Runnin' Rebel on Jun 29, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions
howdy REV
this is actually for the running rebel thou,we are still not set at the D-line position, would still like to see another D-end or D-tackle if not both.
What's up davis
I’m sure we’ll be adding more veteran players after the first cuts in training camp after the two-a-days veterans start flocking to teams and I’m sure we’ll sign other teams cut players Mayhew has shown he’s not afraid to make a move. And I agree with you on the needs.
by Runnin' Rebel on Jun 29, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Don't be shocked...
if we all end up regreting this trade if Alexander goes into a decent defense like Jacksonville and become a pro bowl type player. Maybe not like a perennial pro bowler but I just have a feeling that he might make it there a couple of times in his career which is more than we will be able to say about most of our safties now. Look at his rookie year. In that pathetic Marinelli Tampa 2 system that killed our DB’s he had 81 total tackles, 6 pass deflections, and 2 interceptions. Thats as a rookie in a horrible defense just to reiterate. He was one of the players I was most excited to see play this year just to see how he would progress with a better system, better coaching, and better supporting players around him. I think he is just a player that when he is one the field just gets it and is physically talented to go along with it. I DO NOT like this trade one bit. Trading a young talented player at a position we need the most competition at for an underachieving, journeyman player. I’m sure if Schwartz needed WR’s to run practice more smoothly we could have picked up a free agent anywhere just for practice squad purposes. Bad trade.
Why Bad Trade.....
……maybe its a bad trade for Jax……Maybe Alexander wasent cutting it with the new staff
by BennieBladesFan on Jun 27, 2009 3:46 PM EDT up reply actions
I explained why it’s a bade trade cause Alexander is young with a ton of potential and Northcutt had potential at one point and never did anything with it. What more do I have to say. Look at the rookie season stats for Alexander and tell me in that year he wasn’t better than Bullocks has been or Piearson. Maybe we should have gotten rid of Stuart Schweigart and give the young talent a chance to prove themselves in camp and the preseason. What happened to the team getting younger. I’ll say it again BAD TRADE.
I tend to agree
I think a younger player with promise is better than an older player who has reached his top. Especially when that top is only good enough to be our 3rd or 4th option at WR.
I caveat this with the fact that we don’t know how he has recovered from his injury. He had to of recovered pretty well or he wouldn’t pass the physical for the Jags, but the coahces may have seen something in practice.
I also agree with Kdawg that if we did this to get something of value for a guy who we were going to cut anyway, why not grab a DT or DE.
northcutt trade
im not stoked about this trade either. if they were going to trade alexander, i dont think receiver depth was the way to go. i would have liked to see them acquire a d-tackle, as it looks like jackson will have to sit the first 4 games of the season, and not much else on the roster outside of fluellen.
truthfully, i too, liked alexander’s upside, and think he would have been a better answer at strong safety for us than bullocks, since bullocks doesnt have top end speed. you also have to wonder how northcutt was so expendable, when the jaguars needed someone opposite torry holt.
Big Smooth
I would of rather seen a draft pick come back for alexander but I think we took northcut due to Salary cap.
I was about to check on this
I wondered if we traded to get out of some cap numbers.
What info do you have on this? Is Northcutt that much less than Alexander?
I like the georgia connection
Looks like they want staff to succeed. Sorry pepper. you are only a 2 game starter if that.
by proud to bleed light blue on Jun 27, 2009 4:42 PM EDT reply actions
It's not like this guy will make the team
He’s a training camp body and nothing more.
Pride of Detroit, SB Nation's Lions Blog
preach on Pope Sean Paul III
At best he might make practice squad,I don’t see it happening but hey they might have bought him in as a favor to #9 to help out one of his college buddies get some reps on tape.
Sean
Are you saying that Northcutt will not make the team? I’ll be really pissed if he doesn’t. I think he will make the team with ease. I just do not like the fact that we traded a safety for a WR when we need DT’s and CB’s.
hey Rev
I think that Pope Sean Paul III was refering to the rookie from Georgia not making the team not Northcutt.
I was referring to the Georgia WR
Pride of Detroit, SB Nation's Lions Blog
by Sean Yuille on Jun 29, 2009 12:29 PM EDT up reply actions
Can't say I remember much about Alexander in 2007.
Although he did have some nice stats for that year. I do agree with fm though, I don’t like giving up youth for veterans. Especially at a position like WR.
I will trust that Schwartz et al did not like what they saw from Gerald in the practices so far.
Oh yeah, another second round pick comes to nearly nothing. Thanks Millen.
I guess they aren't too thrilled about...
their receiving corps. That’s the only way this makes some sense. I’ve gotta think that the injuries and lack of time for Johnson and Williams are big factors. And what does this say about Curry, Colbert and others? They can’t want Northcutt for a returner… I believe he’s beyond his abilities there. So they have to be looking at him to be the number two or three receiver. That’s a little disconcerting.
Think about it this way, if receiver wasn’t a need, why give Alexander – regardless of how crowded the safety position was getting – for another receiver? Get a corner or D-lineman or something else of need. This tells me that the trade wasn’t a luxury “we-have-too-many-safeties” trade. This was an “Oh, s@#t! We got nothing outside of CJ at receiver…. we better find one” trade. That’s the only was this makes sense to me.
Or.......
Alexander was really sucking it up out on the practice field and they thought they should try and get something before his eventual release. I guess it’s possible.
OR
They saw some potential that everyone else saw last season that they thought might not be realized, and decided to get something for him now than sit on him and get nothing later, in the same vein that Kitna and Williams were dealt.
Mayhew, you’re a shrewd man.
I wish he was shrewd enough to grab a DE or DT
Though I still have hopes that Schwartz has a Foote-like deal waiting for Kevin Carter to help at DE.
mmmm...
I think we should have looked for a DT or DE which I feel are our weak spots.
I believe that for this move to happen they must not have liked him, he must not have been performing as well as the others.
They must have been planing on cutting him and got the best player they could via trade, i think northcut will help just too bad they couldnt get a DT
"If your not with us...
you're with the terrorists!!"
I'm gonna wash that Millen right outta my hair
God I can’t beleave I just mentioned him by name. As long as we keep washing out all of those guys that were associated with that horrible D-fence from last year are any of us really that mad? Not me personnally but I know It does suck that we had 8 years of picks that are basically no longer with us, Keep on washing them outta here Swartz. Let me remind you guys how this regime is doing all the right things and thats NOT listening to us crazed fans, Alpha lion I feel like you get us another DT or DE if not both and 1 more CB would be the cherry on top for me.
The Jacksonville fans love this trade!
I checked out the SB Nation site and they are pretty surprised that they got anything for him. There were articles before the trade claiming he was about to be cut outright.
Northcutt is under contract through 2011. Per NFLPA records, he’ll earn a base salary of $2.45 million this year, $2.95 million in 2010, and $3.95 million in the final year of the deal.
Alexander was due $450K and $550K in 2009 and 2010.
Unless Alexander is damaged goods, or Northcutt has a career year, this trade does not look good on the surface. Hope for the best!
If the staff saw the WR position as the biggest weakness, how can you argue against making it stronger? Especially if they felt that Alexander was expendable.
Yeah, I agree BigWalt...
They have to be nervous about their receivers right now. Nothing else really makes sense. I think maybe we were all putting too much stock in Alexander’s rookie year and maybe the injury really set him back. The safety position was crowded and it appears they are not satisfied the their receiver group beyond CJ.
Not sticking up for Mayhew on this one… just trying to make some sense of the move.
what about this
I am just bthrowing this out there. Maybe the lions have been shopping this guy around for awhile and no one was interested in him and Northcutt was the best player they could get for him. So instead of getting nothing and releasing him for anyone to pick up for free they got Northcutt instead who can hlp in return game and also WR if needed or just to add depth and experinece. I think it was good trade myself.
by MotorcityMaddogg on Jun 29, 2009 10:01 AM EDT reply actions
You be the Judge.
Northcutt - WR/PR – 31.5 Yrs old, 10 years in the NFL pretty much injury free [missed sixteen games total over that span], salary of $2,450K in 2009, $2,950K in 2010. Best season was arguably 2002, although the last two years have been okay receiving wise [44 catches, 13 YPC, 3TD]. Second round [#32] by Cleveland in 2000. One of the best receivers from that year [Plaxico, L. Coles, D. Jackson the rest sucked].
Alexander - FS – Just turned 25 years old, 2 years in the NFL with a serious neck injury in 2008 [Chris Hope of the Titans apparently had similar injury and recovered to play again], salary of $450K in 2009, $550K in 2010. Only season was 2007 with 81 tackles and 2 INTs [pretty good for a rookie]. A Millen second round pick [#61]. Has the size [6’2" 205 pounds] to possibly play SS. Has been criticized for poor tackling. Although 81 tackles seems high for a safety.
Good deal or not?
NL
Correct me if I am wrong, but I think Northcutt is going into his 9th season in the NFL.
I am really on the fence with this trade, but I am leaning towards the why side of the fence, and the it was not a good trade side.
NFL.com said it was his tenth year.
He was drafted in 2000 and played every year. That would be nine years played, going into his tenth.
KDawg, I am not totally against this trade because [as usual] I don’t think we have all the facts or insights that the coaches and Mayhew have. I have always liked Northcutt [I remember watching the draft when he was picked] and always felt he was a guy who could make plays. The Jacksonville fans were pretty set against him, mainly because of a dropped TD pass in the playoffs two years ago. They lost that game to New England 31 to 20.
Thanks
Wherever I read that must have been wrong, and I didn’t care to look. Somewhere I read that he was going into his 9th season. 9th or 10th…..gold jacket, green jacket……doesn’t make a difference. I will agree, NL, that I am sure there was SOME reason for the trade. However, I am simply questioning that logic and reasoning.
It's probably more or less a wash...
if Alexander was fighting to make the final roster and Northcutt seems like a lock for at least the number three WR role. The reason I call it a wash is that you are giving up the potential of future seasons for the productivity of this season. That I don’t like so much. Especially when we a year or two away from being a contender.
So… good move for this year potentially… bad move long-term potentially. The Lions are always so full of potential, right?
Potentially
I think Northcutt could contribute to the offense. However, I also do not remember hearing anything about Pearson competing for the starting role at safety until very recently. I had been hearing it was between Alexander and Bullocks. I think what is really happening here is that they were trying to avoid paying Alexander more money in the future to be a backup for Delmas. I really liked Gerald Alexander though, and I felt that he had a legitimate chance to come back strong and play this year. I am hoping that Bullocks wins the job over Pearson now. I just do not have any confidence in Pearson, regardless of what some people say he did last year. Whenever I watched him, he was getting beat. He may have made a few plays here and there, but I think his play lacks any consistency.
I agree that Northcutt is a shoe in for the #3 WR role in Detroit. Is he really an upgrade over McDonald though, and couldn’t we have gotten Northcutt for less? We gave up a young guy who could very well end up in the pro bowl at safety, a guy who was not even making 1 mill per year, for a seasoned vet who makes over 2.5 mill per year? I just have to question the validity of the trade, because it doesn’t make a bunch of sense to me. Is Curry or Colbert so bad that they can’t catch a ball in traffic? Is Northcutt going to compete with Bryant Johnson for the #2 WR? Was Northcutt brought in solely to be a returner? What does that say about Derrick Williams?
Without Alexander, we have Schweigert, Tra Battle, Manuel, Pearson, Hicks, Bullocks, and Delmas. From what I have read, Manuel is a liability in pass coverage. My opinion is that he is far superior to Schweigert, Battle, and Hicks, and he might be equal to Pearson (with Pearson having the edge). If Delmas and Bullocks are the starters, what happens if Bullocks goes down again? We no longer have Alexander to rely on, and we are forced to rely on Manuel and Pearson. I definitely do not like those apples.
Don't count out Bullocks just yet
I think he’s still got a shot. If not, I think Manuel will get the other spot. None of it is ideal.
But I’m not sure about the Lions losing Alexander to avoid a future payout. If he’s got a future and some talent, there is a roster spot. There must be something they didn’t like. My guess is it’s his injury progression – or lack thereof.
Bullocks
Had some A++ games last year, often the only bright spot on the defense. It seemed, at times, he was the only one out there that came to play.
Not sure I'd say A++...
He got lost in a lot of those games. He pulled a Boss Bailey and disappeared for a while. I think he was still bothered by the injury (which it sounds like he still is this year).
I don’t know man, I thought he played pretty weak for most of the season.
I seen some good in there
He had some pretty solid games and I do recall him forcing a few fumbles with some big hits.
2009 = The start of the Lions Golden Age (We hope).
by Hyperion Ecta on Jun 30, 2009 6:21 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm gonna wait to see both these players play before judging the merits of the deal
I’ve always liked Alexander so I’m a little upset to see him go, but I don’t mind Northcutt so as a straight trade, I don’t think it’s too bad.
2009 = The start of the Lions Golden Age (We hope).
by Hyperion Ecta on Jun 29, 2009 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Don't like it....
unless the neck injury is a problem this makes no sense to me. Even if Alexander was in danger of making the team why not practice squad him or just release him instead of bringing in a bigger contract. The WR position must be in desperate need of help. I’ll lay my trust and faith with Schwartz, I’m sure it’s been done for a reason.
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