The Lions’ defense is in a spot where a front-office swing feels less like a luxury and more like a lifeline.
Detroit’s 26-32 loss on Sunday Night Football only added to the pressure around defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard, whose unit keeps showing up near the bottom of the league in all the wrong places. As The Athletic’s Colton Pouncey noted on X, the Lions are sitting last in explosive play rate allowed at 15.3 percent, last in touchdown rate allowed at 40.5 percent, and 30th in defensive EPA per dropback at -0.32.
That kind of turnaround doesn’t happen overnight. If the problem is scheme and play-calling, no trade deadline move is going to magically fix everything.
But general manager Brad Holmes can still help by making a meaningful addition while trade deadline sellers start to sort themselves out. The Lions already tried and came up short on cornerback Joey Porter Jr., but the search is far from over.
One obvious place to start is the Chargers, who have stumbled to a 0-4 start. Derwin James Jr. stands out as the kind of defensive chess piece Detroit could use.
He’s a former First-Team All-Pro and multiple-time Second-Team All-Pro, and he brings experience at strong safety, free safety, and slot corner. That kind of flexibility matters for a defense still trying to settle on a starting unit.
James is dealing with a hamstring injury and missed Sunday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks, though he had been questionable going into it. His contract also runs through 2029, with a maximum cap hit of $27.5 million and a potential out after the 2027 season, per Spotrac. If Kerby Joseph can’t return this season, or if the Lions are still leaking production in the slot, James would make a lot of sense.
Another safety worth monitoring is Antoine Winfield Jr. in Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers are also 0-4, and Winfield has kept playing at a high level, with Pro Football Focus grading him as the 12th-best safety in the league at 76.9. He also left Sunday’s loss to the Green Bay Packers with an abdomen/rib injury and was described by ESPN’s Jenna Laine as being "in considerable pain" after the game.
Winfield is under contract through the 2027 season, so he wouldn’t be a long-term trap for Detroit. He could also serve as insurance if the team doesn’t extend Brian Branch. And with Tampa Bay looking more likely to think about the future than the Chargers, he may be the more realistic safety target if the Lions decide to go that route.
If Detroit wants to look at cornerback instead, Kristian Fulton is a cleaner fit on paper. The Chiefs defender has battled health issues and will be a free agent after the season, but when he’s been on the field, he’s been effective.
Per PFF, he has allowed only a 16.7 passer rating when targeted, and his 73.8 grade ranks ninth among qualified corners. In three games, including one start, he has seven tackles and an interception.
Kansas City’s 4-0 start and defensive depth make Fulton easier to imagine as a trade chip, especially since he’s likely headed for free agency anyway. The Chiefs are on bye in Week 5, which would give Fulton up to three weeks to settle in before a possible Lions debut. He may not be the splashiest option, but he looks like one of the more attainable upgrades.
Then there’s the dream swing: Derek Stingley Jr. of the Texans. He’s only 25, and he’s been a First-Team All-Pro at corner in each of the past two seasons. If Detroit wanted a true shutdown answer, that’s the type of player who changes the conversation.
Houston is 0-4, and Stingley’s cap hit is set to jump after this season. A trade still feels unlikely, but if the Texans shift into a retool, he would draw a massive return. That’s not usually how Holmes operates, but if he feels boxed in and wants a move that changes the mood around the team, Stingley would be the kind of bold swing that does it.
Whether it’s a marquee name like Stingley, a more realistic target like Fulton, or even a deeper-bench option, Detroit needs some kind of answer. And if the right move helps stabilize this defense, it might also reveal that the issue has been personnel all along.
In Other News...
Darius Slay Just Said What Lions Fans Fear About This Secondary
Darius Slay has never been shy about giving his old team an honest evaluation, and his latest comments land at a time when the Lions are still trying to steady a defense that has drawn plenty of scrutiny. The former Detroit cornerback pointed to Carlton Davis as the player he thought fit best in the scheme and said letting him leave in free agency was the clubs biggest recent misstep, a remark that will sound familiar to anyone who has watched the secondary struggle to find consistency.
Slay also took aim at the broader direction of the defense under Kelvin Sheppard, suggesting the issues in the back end go beyond one departure and reflect a need for a different philosophy. He did leave open a sliver of intrigue about his own future, saying he might entertain a return for the right offer, though he made clear he is comfortable with life after football for now. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Pass Defense Problem Could Force A Trade Fans Didn't Expect
Through the first month of the season, the Lions pass defense has been one of the clearest pressure points on the roster, and it has already pushed the front office into the trade market. Detroit has talked with other teams about cornerback Joey Porter Jr., but the search for help could widen if the right deal materializes. One name floating into the conversation is Philadelphia cornerback Riq Woolen, a player with the kind of tools that can change the feel of a secondary in a hurry.
Woolens contract situation and past performance make him an intriguing fit for a team trying to shore up the back end without overcommitting long term. Philadelphias recent roster changes, including the retirement of Lane Johnson and the trade of Cam Jurgens, have also fueled the idea that the Eagles could be willing to keep moving pieces to stockpile future draft capital. For the Lions, the question is whether a move like that is realistic, and whether solving the pass-defense issue will require a swing more aggressive than the one fans expected. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Secondary Problem Is Fueling A Trade Fans Will Want
The Lions search for help in the back end keeps circling back to the trade market, and Kristian Fulton has become one of the more interesting names attached to it. Detroit has already come up short on other cornerback targets, including Joey Porter Jr., which has only sharpened the focus on a defense that could use more stability on the outside. Fultons situation in Kansas City makes him a logical candidate to watch, especially with the kind of midseason deal that can sometimes benefit both teams.
Jeremy Fowler reported that Fulton is not currently a full-time starter for the Chiefs, and that matters for a Detroit team looking for a player who can step in without forcing a massive overhaul. A trade could come together if the teams are willing to split his salary, which gives the Lions a possible path forward if they decide to keep pressing for help. For a secondary still trying to find the right fit, this is the sort of move that can gain momentum quickly if the price is right. [Read more 🡒]