Detroit Lions Weblog

As Free Agency Nears Dormancy, Unseasonable Flurry of Trades Begins, Bringing Lions QB Hill

In the arch and staid world of the NFL, making player-for-player trades is a rare occurence, that is becoming increasingly more common, especially with the league entering the uncharted waters of an uncapped year, limiting the number of unrestricted free agents and altering the overall landscape of player movement significantly.

In the past week, many teams have become much more inventive in executing trades, something that Martin Mayhew has shown a particular acumen for, since he has become the team’s chief personnel executive.

New Lions Backup Shaun Hill Making a Pose That The Lions Hope He Can Re-enact, While Wearing a Headset

Martin Mayhew has done a particularly good job of using the back end of the Lions upcoming draft(s) as trade chips to fill personnel positions of need. In turn, the Lions have gained far more value in their acquisitions than they likely would have found with the players that would be available to them in rounds five, six, and seven (2011).

The Lions, thus far, have utilized their late round draft picks to acquire DT Corey Williams, CB Chris Houston and now, backup QB Shaun Hill. In adding Hill, the Lions have added another player who is intimately familiar with the plays and terminology of their offensive coordinator, Scott Linehan.

Hill is an 8-year vet who, while never starting when playing under Linehan in Minnesota, had a 10-6 career record as a starter while in San Francisco.

ESPN 2009 Fantasy Forecast for Hill:

After the 49ers got off to a 3-9 start in 2007, Hill took over and won two of his three games. And after a 2-6 beginning to 2008, Hill became the starter and went 5-3. Once again in ‘09, he enters training camp in competition for the starting gig, with former first-overall pick Alex Smith. Now, Hill doesn’t have elite arm strength, size or pedigree; plus, the Niners may wind up relying heavily on rookie receiver Michael Crabtree. He’s scrappy, accurate and relatively consistent, and even when he starts a game poorly, he’s got a proclivity for comebacks.

Drew Stanton Has the Look of a Career Third-Stringer

Hill gives the Lions a reasonably young, but experienced backup for Matthew Stafford, and likely seals Drew Stanton’s fate in Detroit. Stanton will never be given another reasonable chance to compete for playing time, while a member of the Lions organization. He will remain the team’s third string QB moving forward.

Another sound, relatively safe personnel move for Martin Mathew, which could eventually pay dividends, if the terrifyingly unfortunate becomes harsh reality and Matthew Stafford suffers another injury this season.