Report: Detroit Lions backed out of trade, Bill O’Brien got mad

The Detroit Lions reportedly created some serious drama in the third round of the 2020 NFL Draft and it was on display for all of the world to see.

According to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle, the Lions had a trade agreement in place for the Texans’ 90th overall pick, but Detroit backed out at the last moment. ESPN cameras were on Texans coach Bill O’Brien when it happened, and he can be seen screaming some naughty words words into a phone:

There are a lot of questions to be answered about this failed transaction. The Lions’ next pick was 109 in the fourth round, so a move up 19 spots would have likely cost Detroit much of their remaining draft capital.

And then, of course, the question is who were the Lions seeking with the 90th pick and what made them change their mind? Here’s a look at the players taken around that time in the draft:

88. DT Jordan Elliott
89. CB Cameron Dantzler
90. EDGE Jonathan Greenard
91. TE Devin Asiasi
92. WR Devin Duvernay

I’m sure Lions general manager Bob Quinn will be asked about this incident in his end-of-day press conference. So perhaps we’ll learn more about it later Friday evening.

UPDATE: Quinn basically denies that this interaction happened with O’Brien.

UPDATE 2: O’Brien, too, is denying this report. Though his story is not quite as believable: