The Jacksonville Jaguars finalized a trade with the Detroit Lions Tuesday in
which the Jaguars acquired third-year S Gerald Alexander in exchange for
veteran WR Dennis Northcutt, the Jaguars announced.
Alexander, 6-2, 204, has played in 21 games with 17 starts in two seasons. He
was a second-round pick of the Lions in 2007, the 61st selection overall. He
started all 16 games as a rookie and compiled 82 tackles and two interceptions.
He played in the first five games in 2008 before suffering a season-ending neck
injury. Alexander, who turned 25 years old Sunday, is a former Boise State
standout who lettered in football and track at Rancho Cucamonga High School.
Alexander played mostly at free safety for the Lions. However, the Jaguars are
already set there with Reggie Nelson, so it's possible that he's moved to
strong safety in order to take advantage of his size in the box. Alexander's job
with the Lions became expendable after the team drafted Louis Delmas in
the second round.
Northcutt joined the Jaguars as an unrestricted free agent in 2007 and totaled
44 receptions in each of his two seasons with the club. He has recorded 364
career receptions for 4,584 yards and 17 touchdowns along with 233 punt returns
for a 10.3 average.
The Jaguars were thin at receiver as it is, so it's a bit surprising that the
team wanted to move him. He'll be replaced in the slot by fourth-round pick
Mike Thomas. With the Lions, Northcutt will compete for a job as the team's
slot receiver.
Northcutt has three years left on his contract and the Jaguars will absorb
$750,000 of dead money, but will get his $2.45 million base salary off of their
salary cap.
Alexander is in the third year of his rookie deal and is set to make $460,000
this season.
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