Kowalski: Broncos Were Going To Cut Smith Anyway

According to MLive.com’s Tom Kowalski, Detroit Lions fans shouldn’t get overly excited about getting Alphonso Smith. He was available because the Denver Broncos were likely to cut him.

By all accounts, Smith has been a monumental bust in Denver. The Broncos traded a first-round pick last year so they could trade up and acquire Smith in the second round. He never came close to fulfilling his potential and rarely played.

Things weren’t looking much better for Smith during the preseason, especially with Denver bringing in others to bolster its secondary.

But the Lions gave up a player likely to be cut, as well. Dan Gronkowski was buried behind Brandon Pettigrew, Tony Scheffler, and Will Heller on the tight end depth chart.

Draft picks are also expected to be included in this trade. More details on that as they become available.

Lions Get CB Alphonso Smith From Broncos

On a day when the Detroit Lions need to cut several players loose to meet the required 53-man roster, the team also added some defensive help. According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Lions have acquired cornerback Alphonso Smith from the Denver Broncos in exchange for tight end Dan Gronkowski. 

Smith was Denver's second-round pick in 2009. He played in 15 games, recording 14 tackles and zero interceptions. Gronkowski was a seventh-round pick for the Lions last year. He saw action in two games, getting one catch for four yards. 

Earlier this year, the Broncos traded tight end Tony Scheffler to the Lions in a three-way deal that involved linebacker Ernie Sims. Evidently, Denver decided they needed another body at that position, after all.

As Mile High Report posted yesterday, Smith was likely to get squeezed out with other defensive backs outplaying him during the preseason. And Gronkowski was fourth on the Lions' depth chart at tight end.

The question now, with final cuts needing to be made before 6 p.m. ET, who does Smith replace on the roster?

(via Dave Birkett on Twitter)