Brad Holmes has never been shy about his appreciation for cornerbacks. At the 2024 NFL scouting combine, the Detroit Lions general manager made that much clear.
"I love corner play," Holmes said at the 2024 NFL scouting combine. "I just love it.
I could watch DB individuals all day every day. It’s poetry in motion.
I love DB play. But yeah, we just want to get the right fit."
He followed that up with another telling line.
"They’re not growing on trees. Although that’s arguably, them and wide receivers, probably the most volumous group, position group in the draft.
But that doesn’t mean that they’re all going to be good, especially as high as you might have to pick them, because of their physical qualities. If you get wooed by the physical qualities too much but they don’t have the intangible qualities you can get yourself in trouble."
The problem for Detroit is that the results have not matched the talk. After six seasons running the show, Holmes’ cornerback record looks rough in both the draft and free agency.
In 2024, the Lions used their first two picks on Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw, but the Philadelphia Eagles came away with two better defensive backs in Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean with their own early selections.
The misses have piled up elsewhere, too. Ifeatu Melifonwu, Detroit’s 2021 third-round pick, could not stay healthy and is no longer on the team.
Cam Sutton was cut after an arrest warrant became public, despite Holmes committing $33 million to him in March of 2023. Emmanuel Moseley never got going because injuries kept derailing his time in Motown.
And even when the Lions have had a cornerback worth keeping, Holmes has not always kept the door shut. Darius Slay said the biggest mistake the Lions made was letting Carlton Davis leave, and after bringing him in, the team allowed him to walk in free agency to the New England Patriots, where he has excelled.
The current mix does not inspire much confidence either. Commanders veteran Amik Roberston is better at nickel than what the Lions have now, while Khalil Dorsey has carved out a role on special teams but is not a starting corner. Kindle Vildor, meanwhile, is the guy Lions fans will remember for the football bouncing off his head against the 49ers in the 2023 NFC Championship Game.
D.J. Reed, who is making $16 million, has lost a step, gotten off to a slow start this season and is coming off a bad game against the Carolina Panthers.
With the defense struggling and the secondary unable to hold up in either zone or man coverage this season, it is fair to wonder whether Holmes can actually solve the problem. The front office reportedly tried to land Joey Porter Jr., but he is now with the Dallas Cowboys.
That leaves plenty of skepticism around the next cornerback target. This writer believes that if Holmes goes after a defensive back, there is probably something wrong with him, whether it is injury concerns or a lack of the coverage skills needed to stick in the NFL.
Pundits may keep floating names for Detroit to chase, but that optimism gets harder to buy if the defensive coordinator is also in over his head. A poor cornerback evaluator and a poor defensive coordinator is a tough combination.
The math ain't mathin to make anyone feel better about improving the secondary that much this season.
In Other News...
Dan Campbell Just Put More Pressure On Detroit's Offense
The Lions have spent the early part of the season trying to keep pace in games that have turned into shootouts, and Dan Campbells message leaves little room for comfort. With the defense giving up big point totals in several outings, the coach made it clear that Detroits offense has to carry a heavier load if the team wants to stay above the middle of the pack and keep its bigger hopes alive.
Campbells benchmark is as blunt as it gets: the Lions need to be putting up at least 35 points a game to help cover for the defensive problems and give themselves a realistic chance to contend. It is the kind of standard that puts immediate pressure on every drive, and it also raises the obvious question of whether this roster can sustain that level long enough to matter in a playoff race. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Suddenly Have A Sam LaPorta Situation To Watch
The Lions and Sam LaPorta have put extension talks on hold after the sides were unable to find common ground early in the season, leaving one of Detroits most important offensive pieces in a familiar waiting game. For now, LaPorta is leaving the business side to his agent while he keeps his attention on helping the team, and Dan Campbell has made clear the organization still values what the tight end brings to the offense.
LaPorta has described the situation as a stalemate, but he has also sounded upbeat about the possibility of revisiting negotiations down the road. That leaves the Lions in a spot worth monitoring, because when a player has already established himself as a central part of the passing game, every pause in talks carries a little more weight than it might elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Get A Needed Boost As Injury Questions Keep Mounting
The injury report kept growing around the Lions on Thursday as they worked through another practice session before facing the Cardinals. Guard Ben Bartch and cornerback Rock Ya-Sin both sat out with injuries, while Amon-Ra St. Brown was able to get in a limited session and remains in the mix to suit up. On the defensive side, Mays, Branch and Wonnum all continued their own recoveries, with their practice participation still varying as Detroit tries to sort out who will be available.
There was at least one encouraging sign amid the uncertainty. Tyleik Williams was back on the field Thursday after missing Wednesday, giving the Lions a potential boost as they navigate a week full of lineup questions. Even so, the biggest concerns remain up front and in the secondary, where Bartchs situation is pointing toward a missed game and Ya-Sins availability is still very much up in the air. [Read more 🡒]