An improvement in quality at one position doesn't mean that a team is getting better across the board.

Yes, the Detroit Lions have been lacking at inside linebacker over the past few years and would benefit from a free agent to help put this team in a position to compete in the short term, but a trade for Buccaneers captain Devin White would be a mistake.

White surprised a lot of football fans yesterday when it was announced that he wanted a trade from the team he won a Super Bowl with, and it didn't take long for Lions fans to start wondering about what it would take to bring him in.

The Lions need to stay away.

At first glance, White may look like a great way to improve the Detroit defense, but it is important to understand what the young defender actually brings to the table.

First things first, paying linebackers is a very dangerous prospect. The position simply doesn't have the value of other roles, and paying White $100 million is not a great use of space for something that will leave the defense in a similar position to last season.

Also, it is worth noting that White is far from worth the price he is asking for. The stats may look great (483 tackles and 20.5 sacks in the last four years), but these don't take into account White's missed tackles, failures in coverage, and constant over-pursuit that leaves him out of position.

All the speed and athleticism on the planet don't help when you run yourself out of position on a consistent basis. 

In addition to these questions, White struggling in coverage against almost every option creates too many issues in an era of the NFL that relies heavily on the pass.

It may be fun to talk about the Lions going after a big name player that is often at the forefront of most discussions at the position, but Devin White would cost Detroit too much for what they would get in the end.

If the Lions really want an improvement at the free agent position, free agency and the draft would be much better options with lower risks and higher rewards.