Lions: 5 year deal with Halapoulivaati Vaitai ( UFA-Eagles )

[D6]

Halapoulivaati Vaitai strikes it rich with Lions

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This new thread relates to the following threads:

NFL Free Agency Preview: Offensive Lineman ( 2020 )

detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/601/free-agency-preview-offensive-lineman

Lions release T Rick Wagner

detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/615/lions-release-rick-wagner

Packers agree to contract with T Rick Wagner ( ex. Lions )

detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/601/free-agency-preview-offensive-lineman

Lions Free Agency Preview and Results: ( 2020 )

detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/599/lions-free-agency-preview-results

The first thing that comes to mind is the copy and paste functions on computers are appreciated by me more than ever. LOL

I thought Halapoulivaati Vaitai did a good job in the 2017 season when he replaced the injured Jason Peters at LT on what became an eventual Super Bowl Championship for the Eagles.

My guess is the Lions plan is to use Halapoulivaati Vaitai at RT. With the flexibility of moving him to LT in 2021 if the Lions move on from Taylor Decker.

Vaitai didn't come cheap. But I think he proved that he was capable of being a starter in the NFL. He bailed the Eagles out multiple times.

One reassuring factor is the Lions new Defensive Coordinator Cory Undlin was the Eagles DB Coach. His familiarity with Vaitai from practices, watching practice tape involving his own unit, and being around the team, are likely a significant factors in the decision. I expect one or more Eagles DBs to agree to contract terms with the Lions this off-season. The Lions are rumored to be interested in CB Jalen Mills.

[D6]

Detroit Lions and Eagles OL Halapoulivaati Vaitai agree to 5-year deal

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An added benefit with Halapoulivaati Vaitai is that he played on a Super Bowl winning team. Not to mention being on Eagles playoff teams in the 3 seasons. It will be interesting to see if there's a trend with Lions FA additions of players that won or played in at least one Super Bowl.

[D6]

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Being that Halapoulivaati Vaitai had far less snaps on Offense than Graham Glasgow in the 2019 season, it's hard to assess how Vaitai would have done if he started 15 games like Glasgow did.

[D6]

Lions’ Bob Quinn sure sounds open to Halapoulivaati Vaitai at guard despite paying for tackle


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Versatility continues to be an emphasis for the Lions, which is a sensible way to proceed.

The concern with depending on a rookie Offensive Lineman to start in 2020 is the conditions the NFL is operating under because of the Coronavirus situation. An Offensive Line needs to communicate. Not having off-season team reps or having many fewer than in a typical off-season is one concern. Another is the rookie not getting the benefits of being in the team's Strength and Conditioning program. This, at least for the foreseeable future.

[D6]

Detroit Lions' Halapoulivaati Vaitai 'pushing through some things' that have hampered play

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This thread relates to the following thread:

Panthers 20, Lions 0: Game # 10 ( 2020 )

detroit-lions-forum.proboards.com/thread/820/panthers-20-lions-game-2020

The foot injury that Halapoulivaati Vaitai suffered in training camp has adversely affected his availability and play. Yet, even factoring this in, the likelihood of the Big V signing having a good outcome for the Lions is not good. Despite the Panthers game, Tyrell Crosby has improved substantially from last season. The amount of money the Lions invested in Big V could have been much better spent.

[frenchylions]

"The amount of money the Lions invested in Big V could have been much better spent"

I suppose every team has a few "high pay / low contribution" players.
In Detroit, Jesse James and Justin Coleman also come to mind.
Sub-par draft picks are also part of the problem, I don't see enough draftees pulling the team upwards.

[D6]

Moving forward to 2021, though the Lions from a salary cap practical standpoint can move on from the contracts of Jesse James and Justin Coleman, that's not the case with BIg V until 2022.

I certainly agree that the Lions don't have enough draftees pulling the team upwards. This is one key reason why I think Bob Quinn should be shown the door barring an improbable turnaround that needs to begin tomorrow.

[frenchylions]

It may be off-topic here but recently, I watched "Caught in the Draft - 2005 How low will Aaron go ?", relating the draft of 2005 through Aaron Rodgers'eyes.

He was in competition with Alex Smith for the 1st pick but the 49'ers finally selected Alex Smith and Rodgers was only selected 24th.
3 running backs were selected in the first 5 picks  and none of them made a career, the best RB of this draft was Frank Gore, selected in the 3rd round !!

Steve Mariucci explained that DeMarcus Ware was the choice for the Lions, but when the Lions were on the clock, somebody in the room talked about WR Mike Williams and how well he would fit the offence ... so Matt Millen changed his mind on the fly and picked Mike Williams with the 10th pick.

The most funny was probably Jack Del Rio selecting Matt Jones for the Jags (21st), that guy had red flags all around him, dubious life ethics ... and was suspended later for substance abuse 

That to say that the draft is such a human process, you never know if the player you select will be a stud of a dud !

[D6]

Frank Gore torn the ACL in both knees in consecutive years while he was at the University of Miami. That likely led to a less than speculate 2004 season for him. That was Gore's Junior season. He declared for the 2005 Draft. His Combine performance was also ordinary.

Practically no one back then could envision Gore having one of the best NFL RB careers of all time and him still being in the NFL for a 16th season. Let alone being the Jets primary RB at this stage of his career.

Over the Lions, Frank Gore has had huge success against the Lions. Tremendous all around NFL playing career!

Matt Millen's impulsiveness was a primary reason why he failed as Lions GM. With the Mike Williams over DeMarcus Ware decision with pick # 10 in 2005 being a very costly mistake.

Matt Jones was a legendary QB in Arkansas. When the Jaguars selected him in Round 1 in 2005, flocks of Razorbacks fans also became Jags fans. ( The same happened in 2003 with Marshall fans, when the Jaguars drafted QB Byron Leftwich ( Bucs current Offensive Coordinator ) with pick # 7 in Round 1. ) On the other hand, most Jags fans were very critical of the Jones selection with pick # 21. In part because they drafted WR Reggie Williams with pick # 9 in the 2004 Draft. Also, because of taking a player at # 21 who would need to make a position change in the NFL. Reggie Williams had one good season. That's one more than Jones had.

I'm not sure if it was Jack Del Rio or whether it was QB James 'Shack' Harris ( or both ) that wanted Matt Jones with pick # 21. Along with the Salary Cap Specialist, all reported to then team owner Wayne Weaver. After Harris' days in Jax, he worked under Martin Mayhew in Detroit, in the Lions Front Office for several seasons. As a QB back in the 1970s with the Los Angeles Rams, Harris easily had one of the top 5 strongest throwing arms I have ever seen.