The Detroit Lions were tied for last in the NFL a season ago with just seven interceptions. Detroit's been on the lookout this offseason for more players who can affect the quarterback in the front end of their defense and guys who can get their hands on footballs in the back end.
That's where Duron Harmon comes in. The Lions acquired Harmon in a trade with the New England Patriots.
Harmon has been a rangy free safety for the Patriots the last seven years. He has recorded 10 interceptions in the last three years alone, playing as New England's third safety behind Devin McCourty and Patrick Chung.
"We did a lot of things at the Patriots that allowed me to just be in the middle of the field and read the quarterback and I think that's one of my best attributes," Harmon said in a conference call Friday.
"I feel like I'm a rangy safety that gets to a lot of places, especially if I have good break on the quarterback, and that's just what I like to do."
Harmon knows head coach Matt Patricia's defense well from their time together with the Patriots. He will join Tracy Walker and Will Harris competing for playing time at safety in 2020. Harmon acknowledged Walker and Harris on the call as being two good young safeties on the roster in Detroit. Harmon said any role he has within the defense this season will have to be earned.
Harmon's played in 111 games in seven seasons with New England with 29 starts. He had 22 tackles and two interceptions in 16 games (eight starts) last season. He had back-to-back four-interception seasons in 2017 and 2018. He's earned a 92.6 coverage grade at free safety dating back to 2015, tied for the sixth best among all safeties, per Pro Football Focus statistics. He's No. 1 over that span in forcing incompletions among safeties.
View photos of safety Duron Harmon. Photos courtesy Associated Press.
New England Patriots strong safety Duron Harmon (21) in coverage during an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019 in Foxborough, Mass. New England won 35-14. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New England Patriots defensive back Duron Harmon (21) drops into coverage in an NFL wild-card playoff football game against the Tennessee Titans, Saturday, January 4, 2020 in Foxborough, Mass. The Titans defeated the Patriots 20-13.
New England Patriots defensive tackle Danny Shelton (71) celebrates after a sack with strong safety Duron Harmon (21) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Philadelphia. (Perry Knotts via AP)
New England Patriots safety Duron Harmon, left, intercepts a pass in front of Tennessee Titans wide receiver Corey Davis in the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Saturday, Jan. 4, 2020, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Devante Parker (11) is tackled by New England Patriots cornerback Stephon Gilmore (24) and defensive back Duron Harmon (21) during an NFL football game, Sunday December 29, 2019 in Foxborough, Mass. The Dolphins defeated the Patriots 27-24. (Damian Strohmeyer via AP)
New England Patriots strong safety Duron Harmon (21) in coverage during an an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Houston. Houston won 28-22. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New England Patriots strong safety Duron Harmon (21) in coverage during an NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. New England won 24-17. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New England Patriots strong safety Duron Harmon (21) in coverage during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019 in Foxborough, Mass. New England won 13-9. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New England Patriots strong safety Duron Harmon (21) defends during an NFL football game against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2019, in Houston. The Texans beat the Patriots 28-22. (Cooper Neill via AP)
New England Patriots strong safety Duron Harmon (21) in coverage during an NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019 in Foxborough, Mass. New England won 13-9. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New England Patriots defensive back Duron Harmon (21) drops into coverage during an NFL game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Nov. 17, 2019, in Philadelphia. The Patriots defeated the Eagles 17-10. (Al Tielemans via AP)
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) tries to score on a run as New England Patriots safety Duron Harmon (21) stops him during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
New England Patriots strong safety Duron Harmon during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019 in Foxborough, Mass. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
New England Patriots strong safety Duron Harmon during an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2019 in Foxborough, Mass. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
New England Patriots strong safety Duron Harmon (21) defends during an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Monday, Oct. 21, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. The Patriots defeated the Jets, 33-0. (Ryan Kang via AP)
New England Patriots strong safety Duron Harmon (21) in coverage during an NFL football game against the New York Jets, Monday, Oct. 21, 2019, in East Rutherford, N.J. New England won 33-0. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New England Patriots strong safety Duron Harmon runs back an intern option against the New York Giants during an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019 in Foxborough, Mass. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
New England Patriots strong safety Duron Harmon runs back an intern option against the New York Giants during an NFL football game, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019 in Foxborough, Mass. (Winslow Townson/AP Images for Panini)
New England Patriots strong safety Duron Harmon (21) takes a defensive position during an NFL game against the New York Giants, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots defeated the Giants 35-14. (Margaret Bowles via AP)
New England Patriots strong safety Duron Harmon (21) runs after intercepting the ball during an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019 in Foxborough, Mass. New England won 35-14. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New England Patriots strong safety Duron Harmon (21) in coverage during an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019 in Foxborough, Mass. New England won 35-14. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
New England Patriots strong safety Duron Harmon (21) defends during an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Thursday, Oct. 10, 2019, in Foxborough, Mass. The Patriots defeated the Giants, 35-14. (Ryan Kang via AP)
In Detroit, Harmon hopes to step into more of a full-time role than the one he had in New England as the third guy in that group of safeties. Harmon played 65.7 percent of the defensive snaps last year for New England's No. 1 ranked defense, which was the highest of his seven-year career.
"I've been in a very unique situation at the Patriots," Harmon said. "Carved out a great role being the third safety behind two of the best safeties in the league. Those guys were great mentors for me. Great example of how to play the game, but eventually I wanted to go to a spot where I can play 90-95 percent of the plays.
"That's where I'm looking to expand my role at. Whether that happens is obviously determined on what I can show Matty P and the staff. I'm just looking forward to coming in, working hard and doing everything I can to show them that I'm a guy that can go out there and play those plays for you and do everything I can to lead by example and just help the team win football games."
