The Detroit Lions traded defensive tackle Akeem Spence to the Miami Dolphins on Thursday afternoon in exchange for a conditional seventh-round draft pick in 2019, parting ways with a player who started 11 games for Detroit last season.
The 26-year-old Spence had one of his best seasons in 2017, making a career-high 39 tackles and tying a career best with three sacks. He also forced the first fumble in his five seasons in the NFL. The Lions had signed Spence from Tampa Bay, where he was a fourth-round pick in 2013.
Spence will be reunited with former Lions defensive line coach Kris Kocurek, who was hired by the Dolphins after former Detroit head coach Jim Caldwell was fired last season.
"Happy to be back with coach Kris doing what I know how to do best," Spence told ESPN in a text message Thursday afternoon. "Couldn't ask for a better situation."
Spence had thrived in the Lions' 4-3 system that allowed him to push into backfields, but it's not clear what his role would have been under new coach Matt Patricia. Add to that the free-agent signing of Sylvester Williams and the drafting of Da'Shawn Hand on the defensive line, and it made Spence, who was slated to be a possible starter this year, more expendable.
Lions trade DT Akeem Spence to Dolphins
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Lions trade DT Akeem Spence to Dolphins
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The Lions are going to be an interesting story next year
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