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Still, Buono feels the Lions are a better team now than the one which closed out the 2016 season with a 42-15 defeat to Calgary in the West Division Final.

“These are the tough decisions you have to make as a GM,” he acknowledged Monday. “Obviously, Jovan is a great player. He did a great job for us here. But when you have to look at getting an asset, you have to move an asset.”

While not much is known about Brown, the 6-foot-8, 305-pound Foucault represents the anticipated asset gain in B.C., offering ratio flexibility, versatility and NFL experience.

Though he played five games with one start in his 2½ seasons in the NFL, Foucault hardly languished on the practice roster. He fought to maintain his spot and prepared himself to start every week.

“I’m mentally tougher, physically tougher, and I have so much more experience than when I left university (Montreal Carabins),” said Foucault, the fifth overall pick in the 2014 CFL draft, by the Alouettes.

“On the (Panthers) practice squad, you’re asked to give 100 per cent every day. I went up against some very talented guys, like (Pro Bowl defensive end) Greg Hardy. My position coach (John Matsko) was a tough coach, and I like that.”

The tough-as-nails Matsko has a long history with Lions’ offensive line coach Dan Dorazio, beginning with their undergraduate football days at Kent State, where the pair shared lockers next to each other. Foucault knows of Dorazio’s exacting standards from his conversations with Matsko, and feels as if they will be a good fit.