Tavon Wilson will be a Detroit Lion

Call it the Bob Quinn influence if you must. Safety Tavon Wilson told the New England Patriots he would move on from them after four seasons on Tuesday. It was unclear where he would land, but it appears we have that answer now: just minutes after the free agency period began Wilson tweeted that he would be heading up to Detroit to become a Lion.

HEADED TO DETROIT! Look forward to meeting the Ford family, Coach Caldwell and my teammates! What's up #DETROIT #LIONS

— Tavon Wilson (@TavonWilson27) March 9, 2016

No details were immediately available on the length of a deal or money involved in a contract, but it seems clear that there will be a deal done between Wilson and Detroit.

The Bob Quinn-Patriots connection is certainly an obvious one in this move. Wilson was drafted in 2012 out of Illinois by the Patriots. At that time Quinn was director of pro scouting for the organization. With the retirement of Rashean Mathis, James Ihedigbo unlikely to return to Detroit and news just out that Isa Abdul-Quddus will be joining the Miami Dolphins, the Lions certainly have a need for depth in the secondary. Wilson is young and might be able to challenge for considerable playing time at safety.

Wilson had four interceptions in his rookie year with the Patriots, but found playing time at a premium due to depth at the position in New England. In a recent poll on Pats Pulpit, 67 percent of Patriots fans wanted Tavon Wilson back with the organization.