The Lions have a cornerback problem in front of them, and it got a lot more complicated after the legal situation involving Terrion Arnold forced Detroit to waive its 2024 first-round pick.
That move leaves a hole in the secondary at a time when the group is already dealing with injuries. Detroit does have some veteran bodies it can turn to, but the need is real enough that it makes sense to check the market. One name that fits the discussion is Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Zyon McCollum.
McCollum, a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, has steadily built himself into a reliable player. He has started every one of his 30 appearances over the last two seasons, and he has 42 starts in 60 games across four years. That kind of experience matters, especially for a defense trying to patch together answers on the fly.
From a football standpoint, McCollum checks a lot of boxes for Detroit. He’s 6-foot-2, long, athletic and built to play on the outside - exactly the kind of corner the Lions could use.
He also brings some production with the ball in the air, posting three interceptions over the last two seasons and 17 passes defensed in 2024. And he isn’t just a coverage player; he was active against the run as well, finishing last season with a 69.9 run defense grade from Pro Football Focus.
The question isn’t whether he’d fit. It’s whether Tampa Bay would actually move him.
McCollum is under contract through the 2028 season after signing a three-year extension before last season, and his cap number is only set to climb. In 2026, he’ll count $5,255,300 against the cap, but that number jumps to just under $20 million in 2027 and stays there the following year. That kind of money makes any trade conversation harder to pull off.
Detroit also isn’t exactly desperate without first checking what it already has. D.J.
Reed is expected to be the top cornerback again, while Rock Ya-Sin, Roger McCreary and Ennis Rakestraw are all in the mix to handle the spot opposite him. McCreary is expected to work as the nickel corner, which would leave Ya-Sin and Rakestraw as the leading candidates on the outside.
If neither one looks like the answer, then a move for someone like McCollum starts to make a lot more sense.
Still, the cap side of this is where things get tricky. Brad Holmes has made it clear he wants to keep members of the 2023 Draft class together, and he already got one deal done with linebacker Jack Campbell.
The bigger names still waiting are Jahmyr Gibbs, Brian Branch and Sam LaPorta, and all three are expected to command major money. Taking on another deal that would approach $20 million per year on the cap in the coming seasons would be a tough sell.
Holmes has shown he isn’t afraid to make trades, but most of those deals have brought in players on the final years of their contracts. That’s why a McCollum move would be a surprise. But if Detroit wants to strengthen the defense and believes the outside corner spot needs a real upgrade, he would be a logical target.
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One familiar name has surfaced because of a previous Carolina connection with Mays, which could make him an easy fit if the Lions decide they want another experienced body in the mix. His value is in his ability to move around the line and plug holes where needed, a trait that can matter plenty over the grind of a season, especially if Detroits left guard battle does not settle cleanly. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Suddenly Face A Terrion Arnold Problem Bigger Than Football
Terrion Arnolds legal situation has put the Lions in a place no team wants to be, with the cornerback now charged and arrested in an alleged robbery and kidnapping case and placed on waivers. It is the kind of off-field development that quickly becomes a football issue in Detroit, not just because Arnold was part of the roster picture, but because the fallout could reach beyond availability and into the business side of his contract.
Former Lions running back Zach Zenner said the consequences could extend to money already tied to Arnolds deal, a reminder that the leagues personal conduct policy can carry steep financial repercussions. Arnold is due back in court July 10 in Florida, and until then there is plenty for the Lions to sort through as the team waits to see how this situation develops. [Read more 🡒]
These Lions Camp Battles Could Shift How Detroit Opens The Season
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Christian Mahogany has been the go-to option when healthy, but the door is still open at guard, and the cornerback picture has Rock Ya-Sin and Keith Abney II fighting for a role opposite D.J. Reed. Malcolm Rodriguez, Derrick Barnes and rookie Jimmy Rolder are also in the mix at SAM, while Teddy Bridgewater and Luke Altmyer are working through the backup quarterback race. Even special teams is in flux after departures in free agency, which means the Lions are not just sorting the lineup, they are reshaping several parts of it at once. [Read more 🡒]