The Detroit Lions significantly bulked up their defensive line by adding beefy defensive tackle Grady Jackson with a three-year, $8 million contract on the same day the team finalized its two-year, $8.5 million contract with cornerback Phillip Buchanon, according to Nicholas J. Cotsonika of the Detroit Free Press.
A 36-year-old defensive lineman who started 14 games last season for the Atlanta Falcons, Jackson weighs well over 350 pounds.
The Lions definitely need to become stouter against the run, ranking last in the NFL at stopping the run a year ago while failing to win a single game.
Former Miami Dolphins defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday is scheduled to visit next week, per the article.
On the other side of the football, the Lions hosted free agent offensive lineman Daniel Loper. Loper wasn’t immediately signed to a contract, though, and is likely to take more visits, according to his agent.
LIONS HAUL IN BIG GRADY JACKSON
Posted by NBC Sports on March 5, 2009, 1:59 PM EDT
14 Responses to “LIONS HAUL IN BIG GRADY JACKSON”
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good for the lions… they have to do something.
Correct me if I am wrong, but shouldn’t a team who runs a 4-3 defence be acquiring thinner more agile d-lineman?
not excited about any of these guys. last stop after oblivion for them, most likely.
Hauled him in? Must have had a semi-tow truck
The Lions have been trying “thinner, agile” defensive line players since trading away Shaun Rogers. They haven’t worked out well at all.
@Goober
Yea, because every 4-3 team strives to be the Colts. Vikings, Titans, Giants, and Panthers were all huge up front last year and it worked out pretty good for them.
I know that with the Lions being so bad last year that people may assume that they do not have a fan base, but they still do. The information on Grady was out yesterday, so why the delay in sending that out? Just curious…
I thought the trend was for Detroit to move away from big and bulky.
Hey Hey Hey, love to play football
Gotta get him into a F-350…nothing else will haul him.
Shwartz loves to have plenty of bulk on the DLine. Looks like he got some, lol
I thought he had officially changed his name to GRAVY Jackson.
mmm gravy
I don’t know why the Falcons gave him up. He’s such a great part of a defense, if not anything else, just to take up linemen to push him back. Let’s face it, you need more than 1 or 2 men to hold back that belly!