Report: Lions trade linebacker Van Noy to Patriots
Kirby Lee / USA TODAY Sports
The Detroit Lions have traded linebacker Kyle Van Noy to the New England Patriots, ESPN's Field Yates and James Walker report.
The Lions will also send the Patriots a seventh-round pick and will receive a sixth-round pick in return.
A 2014 second-round pick, Van Noy started all seven games for the Lions this season - his only seven career starts. He has 23 tackles over that span, more than he made over his first two seasons in the NFL combined.
When the Lions drafted Van Noy out of BYU, many analysts noted his connection to former BYU defensive teammate Ezekiel Ansah, whom Detroit selected in the first round the year prior. Injuries have slowed the development of both players, and now the team has opted to give up on the former.