The Lions didn’t want to tender George Johnson at a level that would have gotten them compensation, but they still ended up getting compensated.
The Lions announced the terms of the deal to drop their dispute and trade Johnson to the Buccaneers.
According to Tim Twentyman of the team’s official website, the Lions will get a fifth-round pick from the Buccaneers in exchange for Johnson and a seventh-rounder acquired from the Ravens going to Tampa Bay.
That allows the Lions to restock a bit, after giving up a fourth and a fifth to Baltimore in exchange for nose tackle Haloti Ngata and that seventh earlier this offseason.
They worked the deal out before the hearing over the disputed terms of the offer sheet, allowing them to get something out of the deal.
Johnson had 6.0 sacks last year for the Lions, and the Bucs had cap space to burn, so it was an easy deal for them to make. And giving up a pick allows them to get the player they wanted without the risk of the independent arbitrator siding with the Lions.