Ndamukong Suh Trade Rumors, Contract: Detroit Lions Taking Offers for Three Time Pro Bowl Defensive Tackle
Ndamukong Suh has not showed up at voluntary workouts yet, which isn't a big deal for a lot of players in April. However, many sources have said that the Detroit Lions are interesting in trading the former No. 2 overall draft pick.
Since entering the NFL in 2010, Suh has inserted himself as one of the league's best defensive tackles in just four seasons. In those four seasons, Suh has stopped the run, recorded 27.5 sacks, and only missed three games. At 27 years old, Suh has a lot of value and a long road ahead of him. Which brings up the question -- why would the Detroit Lions want to trade their All Pro defensive tackle?
Although Suh is capable of playing elite on the defensive line, he's had his bad moments.
In a 2011 Thanksgiving game against the Green Bay Packers, Suh pounded Evan Dietrich-Smith's head into the ground and stomped on his arm. This resulted in a two-game suspension. The first year, on Thanksgiving day again, Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub released the football and Suh (while on the ground) kicked Schaub between the legs. This resulted in a $30,000 fine. Suh's controversy continued in 2013 in week one against the Minnesota Vikings. He was fined $100,000, the most ever for an on-the-field incident. Suh intentionally hit Vikings center, John Sulllivan, after an interception was already thrown and the play was nearly complete. Suh has also been fined many other times for smaller hits and taunts.
So with great tackles, hard hits and quarterback sacks also comes a lot of fines, penalties and suspensions with Suh.
Another thing that may scare teams and general managers is Suh's contract. Suh is due more than $11 million next season and with so many fines and penalties, he may not be worth it. It's very unlikely Suh will be traded from the Lions at this time, but the Lions are taking offers. Next season would be far more likely for Suh to get traded, because Suh will make less than $4 million in base salary and a team would probably be willing to trade for that.
For a defensive tackle, Suh is very athletic and can fit just about any system. Even when not making huge plays, he still draws double teams and clogs the middle up for the run. He was one of the highest scouted players in 2010 and many people thought the St. Louis Rams would select Suh first overall. If Suh is going to get another big contract and last in this league, he is going to have to play within the rules a lot more.