Shortly after Everson Griffen trade rumors emerged, the veteran defensive end is on the move. He will return to the NFC North.
The Cowboys are trading Griffen to the Lions for a draft choice, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Griffen spent 10 seasons with the Vikings and will now be headed to Detroit to help the 3-3 team’s pass rush. The Lions will send the Cowboys a conditional sixth-rounder for Griffen, Rapoport adds (on Twitter). The pick would top out as a 2021 fifth, per ESPN.com’s Todd Archer.
Griffen signed a one-year, $6MM deal with the Cowboys during training camp. But Dallas’ defense, despite featuring several veterans, has experienced consistent struggles this season. One of the 2010s’ best pass rushers, Griffen will head to a Lions team that just placed the younger of its two pass-rushing Okwaras, Julian, on IR. The Lions will be responsible for nearly $2MM of Griffen’s base salary.
With the Vikings from 2010-19, Griffen accumulated 77 sacks. He did so after spending the 2010-13 seasons as a backup. The ex-Viking cog registered 2.5 sacks in seven games as a Cowboy this season.
Griffen, 32, will need to pass six days’ worth of coronavirus tests before practicing with his new team. This will stand in the way of a 17-game season for the acclaimed edge defender. The Lions have already had their bye week, meaning Griffen’s first game with the team would be against the Vikings next week.
Although the Lions gave Trey Flowers a lucrative deal last year, they rank 28th with only eight sacks this season. Flowers and veteran Romeo Okwara have combined for six of those. Griffen finished with eight sacks and 24 QB hits for the Vikings last season and took his time choosing his next team in free agency. The Cowboys, however, will deal away one of their veteran defenders after a 2-5 start. The team recently redeployed Randy Gregory after his latest suspension ended, and Aldon Smith has produced for the Cowboys despite being out of the NFL for nearly five years.
Hopefully this can jump start the Lions pass rush because it’s sorely lacking. People forget that this is a team that’s one D’Andre Swift dropped TD pass away from being 4-2 and right in the thick of the NFC playoff race. Little trades can end up being big deals sometimes. Hoping for the best!
I wouldn’t count on it. He’s old. He had flashes but not what Cowboys were expecting.
Agree. At best, he’ll be a situational pass rusher.
Beating bottom feeders like the Jags and Falcons doesn’t make you a legitimate playoff contender. Patricia is even worse than Gase as a HC.
From a Lions perspective, that is a good deal. The last guy they drafted with a 5th rounder has already been released (but picked up by Philadelphia).
Gruß,
BSHH
who cares.
Going from one loser to another.
I wanted him to come to Detroit in the off-season. He May be older but he still gets to the QB. The Lions need that desperately.
If your not a fan of the team in the post why even comment? Prolly a fan of a team in the NFC East. I’d be pissy if I was you too! Lmao
Welcome to the message boards.
He’s better in the bushes than on the dline.
Cowboys need to see what they can get for Lawrence and possibly Gallup.
Honestly… deal anyone that’s not in the LT plan.
Not looking forward to him facing the Vikings. Not that it really matters.
Griffen will go to town on the Vikings as he knows all their offensive linemen’s weaknesses. Serves the Vikings right for renewing Kirk Cousins at those crazy prices and having nothing left to pay vets (trade time!).
It’s a 6th round pick unless Griffen can make it up until the 2021 draft without criticizing the Lions Coaching Staff or Front Office, then it will bump to a 5th round pick.