ALLEN PARK -- Matt Patricia didn't want to compare his new defensive end to his old one directly, but that's the flip the Lions decided to make this week, exchanging Anthony Zettel for Romeo Okwara.
The two ends were in the same draft class in 2016, though only one of them was selected. That was Zettel, a sixth-round pick in general manager Bob Quinn's first go in Detroit.
But a scheme change from Teryl Austin's strict 4-3 defense to Matt Patricia's hybrid look has shipped many defensive linemen out the door. Of the 16 players who received snaps for the position group last season, 14 have been shown the door.