The Lions announced Tuesday that they traded starting safety Quandre Diggs and a 2021 seventh-round pick to Seattle in exchange for a 2020 fifth-round pick.
Selected by the Lions in the sixth round (200th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Texas, Diggs appeared in 65 games for Detroit and posted 229 total tackles (191 solo), 24 pass defenses, 12 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles, one sack and one interception. He started 40 of those contests.
Diggs, 26, had three years left on the new contract he signed with the Lions last offseason. He made five starts this year missing only the Green Bay game Week 6 due to a hamstring injury. He played 55 snaps in his return Sunday against the Vikings.
He was a Pro Bowl alternate last season after a 78-tackle, three-interception season, and was voted a team captain for the first time this year.
In making this trade, the Lions must feel good about a couple of youngsters they have at the safety position.
Detroit drafted Tracy Walker in the third round last season, and he's become a starter this year. He leads the team with 50 tackles, and also has five tackles for loss, an interception, a forced fumble and four defended passes.
The team drafted Will Harris out of Boston College in the third round this year, and the rookie has seen a steady increase in his usage over the first six games. He has a nice blend of size and speed. Harris played 51 snaps filling in for Diggs Week 4 vs. Kansas City, after Diggs injured a hamstring in the first half. He played 36 defensive snaps in Green Bay in Detroit's next game after the bye and 23 this past weekend against the Vikings.
Safety Tavon Wilson has also been heavily involved in Detroit's defensive schemes at times this year. He's a veteran presence in the defensive back room. The Lions also have undrafted free agent C.J. Moore at safety.
Detroit currently has two roster spots open after trading Diggs and sending running back Kerryon Johnson to IR Tuesday.
