POSTED: 10:54 P.M. MARCH 4, 2010 | UPDATED: 4:09 A.M. TODAY
Report: Lions to acquire DT Corey Williams for draft pick
BY NICHOLAS J. COTSONIKA
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
The Lions are close to acquiring defensive tackle Corey Williams from the Browns in exchange for a low draft pick, ESPN reports. He is scheduled to take a physical Friday to finalize the trade.
Williams was already in Detroit Thursday night, an NFL source said. The compensation is expected to be a fifth- or sixth-round draft pick.
In Detroit, Williams, 29, would return to the penetrating role he played with the Packers, when he had seven sacks in both 2006 and 07.
The Packers designated Williams their franchise player in 08 but traded him to the Browns for a second-round pick. The 6-foot-4, 320-pounder didnt fit the Browns 3-4 scheme as well as he fit the 4-3, which the Packers ran then and the Lions run now.
ESPN reports the trade could affect the Lions draft strategy.
Williams could also be part of a revamped defensive front-four for the Lions and would free them up to select Nebraska's Ndamukong Suh over Oklahoma's Gerald McCoy if both defensive tackles are available at No. 2, Chris Mortensen writes. Suh is considered by many NFL evaluators to be more versatile along the defensive front.
The Lions also have not ruled out trading down a few slots to collect an extra draft pick and still land another impact player, either on defense or the offensive line.
Lions officials could not be reached immediately for comment.
Williams is signed through 2013, with base salaries of $4.2 million, $4.9 million, $4.9 million and $5.4 million.