A look back at Martin Mayhew's Lions trades

Earlier this year, we took a position-by-position and round-by-round look at all of Martin Mayhew's Detroit Lions draft picks. Now, with there being so much talk about the Lions potentially moving up in the 2014 NFL Draft, it feels like a good time to look back at all of the trades Mayhew has made since becoming Detroit's general manager. Check it out:

2008

Lions received:

First-round pick in 2009 (No. 20 overall) | Used to select TE Brandon Pettigrew
Third-round pick in 2009 (No. 82 overall) | Used to select WR Derrick Williams
Sixth-round pick in 2009 (No. 192 overall) | Used to select RB Aaron Brown

Cowboys received:

WR Roy Williams
Seventh-round pick in 2009 (No. 210 overall) | Later traded to Falcons

Mayhew's first trade was an amazing one simply because he got a first-round pick for Roy Williams. Brandon Pettigrew hasn't exactly lived up to his status as a first-round pick, but even so, this was a pretty solid trade.

2009

Lions received:

CB Anthony Henry

Cowboys received:

QB Jon Kitna

Mayhew's second trade was also with the Cowboys. He moved Jon Kitna for Anthony Henry, who appeared in 14 games in 2009 for the Lions.

--

Lions received:

LB Julian Peterson

Seahawks received:

DT Cory Redding
Fifth-round pick in 2009 (No. 137 overall) | Later traded to Eagles

Julian Peterson ended up spending two seasons with the Lions, and he started a total of 28 games.

--

Lions received:

Third-round pick in 2009 (No. 76 overall) | Used to select LB DeAndre Levy
Fourth-round pick in 2009 (No. 115 overall) | Used to select DT Sammie Hill
Seventh-round pick in 2009 (No. 228 overall) | Used to select OT Lydon Murtha

Jets received:

Third-round pick in 2009 (No. 65 overall) | Used to select RB Shonn Greene

The Lions moved back 11 spots in the third round and still got DeAndre Levy, who has been a starter since his rookie season. The Sammie Hill pick was also a good one, as he developed into a talented backup on the defensive line before leaving during free agency last year.

--

Lions received:

Seventh-round pick in 2009 (No. 235 overall) | Used to select LB Zack Follett
Fifth-round pick in 2010 (No. 146 overall) | Later traded to Browns

Broncos received:

Sixth-round pick in 2009 (No. 174 overall) | Used to select QB Tom Brandstater

The Lions turned a sixth-round pick into a 2010 fifth-rounder and a 2009 seventh-rounder. That fifth-rounder was later used to acquire Corey Williams, so this was another excellent trade.

--

Lions received:

WR Dennis Northcutt

Jaguars received:

S Gerald Alexander

Dennis Northcutt spent one season with the Lions and caught 35 passes for 357 yards and 1 touchdown.

--

Lions received:

DT Orien Harris

Rams received:

WR Ronald Curry

This was basically a trade of two camp bodies. Ronald Curry never appeared in a game for his new team, and Orien Harris never appeared in a game for the Lions.

--

Lions received:

S Ko Simpson

Bills received:

Seventh-round pick in 2010 (No. 209 overall) | Used to select QB Levi Brown

Ko Simpson played in eight games and made five starts in his one season with the Lions. He had 30 tackles, 4 passes defended and 1 interception.

--

Lions received:

Seventh-round pick in 2011 (No. 231 overall) | Later traded to 49ers

Jets received:

QB Kevin O'Connell

This was just a brilliant trade. The Lions claimed Kevin O'Connell off waivers and traded him just days later for a seventh-round pick that was later used to acquire Shaun Hill. Well done, Mr. Mayhew.

2010

Lions received:

DT Corey Williams
Seventh-round pick in 2010 (No. 214 overall) | Later traded to Vikings

Browns received:

Fifth-round pick in 2010 (No. 146 overall) | Later traded to Eagles

The Lions found a solid starter in Corey Williams at the cost of only a fifth-round pick.

--

Lions received:

CB Chris Houston

Falcons received:

Sixth-round pick in 2010 (No. 171 overall) | Used to select S Shann Schillinger
Seventh-round pick in 2011 (No. 210 overall) | Used to select OG Andrew Jackson

Similarly, the Lions found a solid starter in Chris Houston at the cost of only two late-round picks.

--

Lions received:

QB Shaun Hill

49ers received:

Seventh-round pick in 2011 (No. 231 overall) | Later traded to Packers

As mentioned earlier, the Lions filled their need for a backup quarterback by using the seventh-rounder in the O'Connell trade to acquire Hill.

--

Lions received:

OG Rob Sims
Seventh-round pick in 2010 (No. 213 overall) | Used to select DE Willie Young

Seahawks received:

DE Robert Henderson
Fifth-round pick in 2010 (No. 133 overall) | Used to select S Kam Chancellor

Continuing the theme of using draft picks to fill needs, the Lions found their starting left guard by giving up a fifth-round pick and a camp body.

--

Lions received:

TE Tony Scheffler
Seventh-round pick in 2010 from Broncos (No. 220 overall) | Later traded to Eagles

Eagles received:

LB Ernie Sims

Broncos received:

Fifth-round pick in 2010 from Eagles (No. 137 overall) | Used to select CB Perrish Cox

In Mayhew's only three-team trade (so far, anyway), the Lions sent Ernie Sims to Philadelphia and brought in Tony Scheffler from Denver.

--

Lions received:

First-round pick in 2010 (No. 30 overall) | Used to select RB Jahvid Best
Fourth-round pick in 2010 (No. 128 overall) | Used to select OT Jason Fox

Vikings received:

Second-round pick in 2010 (No. 34 overall) | Used to select CB Chris Cook
Fourth-round pick in 2010 (No. 100 overall) | Used to select DE Everson Griffen
Seventh-round pick in 2010 (No. 214 overall) | Used to select TE Mickey Shuler

The Lions swapped picks in the fourth round and gave up a seventh-rounder to move up four spots for Jahvid Best. If Best hadn't had his career ended early by concussions, this would have been a really good trade. As it is, the Lions didn't give up much to move up for Best anyway.

--

Lions received:

Sixth-round pick in 2011 (No. 186 overall) | Later traded to Broncos

Eagles received:

Seventh-round pick in 2010 (No. 220 overall) | Used to select LB Jamar Chaney

The Lions turned a seventh-rounder into a future sixth-rounder that was later moved to Denver in the Alphonso Smith deal.

--

Lions received:

DE Lawrence Jackson

Seahawks received:

Sixth-round pick in 2011 (No. 173 overall) | Used to select CB Byron Maxwell

The Lions added defensive end depth by again making a trade with Seattle.

--

Lions received:

Seventh-round pick in 2012 (No. 219 overall) | Later traded to Vikings

Seahawks received:

OT Tyler Polumbus

Just a couple weeks later, the Lions moved Tyler Polumbus to Seattle in exchange for a seventh-round pick.

--

Lions received:

CB Alphonso Smith
Seventh-round pick in 2011 (No. 205 overall) | Later traded to Seahawks

Broncos received:

TE Dan Gronkowski
Sixth-round pick in 2011 (No. 186 overall) | Later traded to Packers

The Lions swapped players and late-round picks in this trade, which happened during the final round of roster cuts. Smith ended up appearing in 27 games for the Lions.

2011

Lions received:

Second-round pick in 2011 (No. 57 overall) | Used to select RB Mikel Leshoure
Fifth-round pick in 2011 (No. 157 overall) | Used to select LB Doug Hogue
Seventh-round pick in 2011 (No. 209 overall) | Used to select OT Johnny Culbreath

Seahawks received:

Third-round pick in 2011 (No. 75 overall) | Used to select OG John Moffitt
Fourth-round pick in 2011 (No. 107 overall) | Used to select WR Kris Durham
Fifth-round pick in 2011 (No. 154 overall) | Used to select CB Richard Sherman
Seventh-round pick in 2011 (No. 205 overall) | Used to select DE Lazarius Levingston

This was a rough trade for the Lions in hindsight. The Lions swapped picks in the fifth and seventh rounds with Seattle and gave up a fourth-rounder to move up from 75 to 57 to take Mikel Leshoure. The 2011 draft as a whole was a rough one for the Lions, and Leshoure has not done enough in the NFL so far to justify this trade.

--

Lions received (voided):

RB Ronnie Brown

Eagles received (voided):

RB Jerome Harrison
Seventh-round pick in 2013 (No. 211 overall)

This trade technically didn't officially happen because doctors in Philadelphia discovered a brain tumor during Jerome Harrison's physical. The deal was voided as a result, but it actually might have saved Harrison's life.

2012

Lions received:

Fourth-round pick in 2012 (No. 125 overall) | Used to select DE Ronnell Lewis
Sixth-round pick in 2012 (No. 196 overall) | Used to select CB Jonte Green

49ers received:

Fourth-round pick in 2012 (No. 117 overall) | Used to select OG Joe Looney

The Lions moved down eight spots and got a sixth-round pick that was used to take Jonte Green.

--

Lions received:

Fifth-round pick in 2012 (No. 138 overall) | Used to select LB Tahir Whitehead
Seventh-round pick in 2012 (No. 223 overall) | Used to select LB Travis Lewis

Vikings received:

Seventh-round pick in 2012 (No. 219 overall) | Used to select DE Trevor Guyton
Fourth-round pick in 2013 (No. 102 overall) | Later traded to Patriots

This was another rough move in hindsight. The Lions traded away a future fourth-rounder and swapped picks in the seventh round to get Tahir Whitehead, who has only been a contributor on special teams since entering the NFL.

--

Lions received:

Fifth-round pick in 2012 (No. 148 overall) | Used to select CB Chris Greenwood

Raiders received:

Fifth-round pick in 2012 (No. 158) | Used to select DE Jack Crawford
Seventh-round pick in 2012 (No. 230) | Used to select LB Nathan Stupar

The Lions moved up 10 spots at the cost of a seventh-round pick to take Chris Greenwood, who finally made his NFL debut at the end of last season.

--

Lions received:

CB Kevin Barnes

Redskins received:

Conditional pick (not awarded)

Officially, the Lions traded for Kevin Barnes without having to give anything up. That's because he only spent the first couple weeks of the 2012 season in Detroit, and the conditions of the pick the Lions were supposed to give up were not met. As a result, they got to keep the pick.

--

Lions received:

WR Mike Thomas

Jaguars received:

Fifth-round pick in 2014 (No. 150 overall)

In need of wide receiver help, the Lions gave up a fifth-round pick in this year's draft for Mike Thomas, who finished his career in Detroit with only 5 catches for 28 yards and 1 touchdown. Ouch.

2013

Lions received:

Fifth-round pick in 2013 (No. 165 overall) | Used to select P Sam Martin
Sixth-round pick in 2013 (No. 199 overall) | Used to select RB Theo Riddick

Seahawks received:

Fifth-round pick in 2013 (No. 137 overall) | Used to select DT Jesse Williams

The Lions' most recent move with the Seahawks happened during last year's draft. Detroit moved down in the fifth round and received an extra sixth-rounder in the process.

--

Lions received:

LB Chris White

Bills received:

QB Thad Lewis

The Lions' most recent trade overall happened last August when they moved Thad Lewis to Buffalo in exchange for Chris White. White didn't even make the team, and he actually ended up spending the entire 2013 season in New England. Lewis, meanwhile, made five starts for the Bills and put up respectable numbers. Had they kept him, Lewis likely would be in the mix for the Lions' backup quarterback job right now.

Recap

Mayhew has made 28 total trades since becoming general manager of the Lions. He's actually made six different trades with the Seahawks, and he's made three each with the Broncos and Eagles. Six teams have traded with Mayhew on two separate occasions, and five other teams have made only one deal with Mayhew since he became the Lions' general manager.