Report: Jags Trade Northcutt to Detroit for Gerald Alexander

Multiple sources are reporting that Jacksonville has agreed to send wide receiver Dennis Northcutt to Detroit in exchange for safety Gerald Alexander.

The Jaguars were rumored to be shopping Northcutt recently -- a notion confirmed by Northcutt's agent (who, incidentally, is also Alexander's agent). The 31-year-old receiver is scheduled to make $2.75 million in 2009. But it was the presence of rookies Jarret Dillard, Mike Thomas and Tiquan Underwood, along with the free-agent signing of Torry Holt, that made Northcutt expendable for Jacksonville.

In fact, despite his 44 catches for 545 yards last season, the Jags were prepared to release Northcutt if a trade partner could not be found.

Jacksonville avoided that scenario with Friday night's move -- both the Detroit Free Press and ESPN.com's John Clayton reported that Jacksonville and the Lions had reached the one-for-one deal.

Detroit suddenly found itself a bit overloaded with safeties after drafting promising rookie Louis Delmas in April. The Lions also return 2008 starters Daniel Bullocks and Kalvin Pearson, who replaced Alexander in the lineup last season after Alexander suffered a fractured vertebra.

Alexander may get the chance to challenge Sean Considine in Jacksonville's defensive backfield.

For the Lions, meanwhile, this is likely an indication that third-round draft pick Derrick Williams is not yet ready to assume the No. 3 receiver role behind Calvin Johnson and Bryant Johnson. Detroit's depth chart also currently houses Ronald Curry and Keary Colbert, but it's safe to presume that Northcutt leapfrogs both of them.