Lions Deal Kyle Van Noy To Patriots
By: Will Burchfield
@burchie_kid
The Detroit Lions have traded linebacker Kyle Van Noy to the New England Patriots, according to ESPN's Field Yates. The Lions also included a seventh-round draft pick in the deal, and will receive a sixth-round pick in exchange.
From @JamesWalkerNFL & I: the Lions have traded LB Kyle Van Noy to the Patriots. Expected to be draft pick compensation in return.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 25, 2016
More info: the Lions are sending Van Noy and a 7th round pick for a 6th round pick, per source. https://t.co/mo2F86tXNh
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) October 25, 2016
It's a surprising move for the Lions given their lack of depth at the linebacker position. DeAndre Levy has missed the last five games with a knee/quad injury while Jon Bostic hasn't played a single snap this season due to a leg injury.
With the trade of Van Noy, the Lions are down to three healthy linebackers on their active roster: Tahir Whitehead, Thurman Armbrister and Antwione Williams.
As Chris Burke of Sports Illustrated pointed out, the departure of Van Noy could mean that Levy is prepared to return. We reported earlier this month that Levy was expected to return by the midseason point.
Kyle Van Noy has been really bad, but that trade leaves the Lions starting a Chris Spielman Fathead at LB unless Levy's healthy.
— Chris Burke (@ChrisBurkeNFL) October 25, 2016
This is the second trade that Lions general manager Bob Quinn has made with the Patriots, his former employer. In May, he sent a conditional 2017 seventh-round draft pick to New England in exchange for Bostic. Quinn worked for the Patriots from 2000-2015.
Van Noy played in all seven games for the Lions this season, registering 23 tackles. He was drafted by Detroit in the second round of the 2014 draft.
Update: The Lions have re-signed linebacker Josh Bynes in the wake of the Van Noy trade. Bynes played in 16 games for Detroit last season before being released in September with an injury settlement.