The Lions had a Week 6 bye to reset, but the next stretch should bring the urgency right back. Green Bay is up in Week 7, and in a division as tight as the NFC North, Detroit can’t afford to treat any game like a warm-up.
That’s why Tennessee cornerback Alontae Taylor deserves a long look from the Lions. Detroit has a real need at corner, and Taylor’s situation with the Titans has turned unusual fast. He was a healthy scratch last week, which stands out even more because Tennessee signed him to a three-year, $58 million deal in free agency that included $42 million guaranteed.
For a Lions defense that could use more pop in the secondary, that kind of development is impossible to ignore. If the Titans are already willing to sit him, trade conversations feel at least plausible.
Taylor’s fit in Tennessee has not gone smoothly. He came over from the New Orleans Saints, where he made his name as a slot corner.
The Titans moved him outside, and the results have been rough. Through five games, he has played 166 coverage snaps and allowed 21 catches on 22 targets for 226 yards and a touchdown as the nearest defender.
Next Gen Stats also has him at a catch rate allowed over expected of +30.5 percent and a target EPA of +21.3.
The context matters, though. He’s learning a new position in a new scheme, and Titans head coach Robert Saleh said the benching was designed to give Taylor a chance to reset.
Saleh also said they plan to keep working with him. Even so, five games into a new deal is a tough place to land for a player with that much money attached.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano also mentioned Taylor as a possible trade name, and Fowler laid out the financial complication clearly:
"His Week 6 benching has placed him on the radar of teams that might look to bolster the position in the next few weeks. He has struggled as an outside corner for Tennessee but is at his best as a disruptive slot closer to the action.
He's 27 with good football left, so a trade could bring out his best. Money is a hurdle: Taylor's salaries of $9.49 million in 2026 and $20.5 million in 2027 are guaranteed.
Perhaps a new team could rework that money on a new deal while asking Tennessee to front some of the bill in exchange for a quality pick,"
That’s the real obstacle here. Any deal would need the Lions and Titans to sort through Taylor’s salary, and Detroit might have to push Tennessee to absorb part of the money to make the trade worth it.
The reason Taylor makes sense for the Lions is simple: they need better play in the slot. Roger McCreary has handled most of those snaps, but he’s had his own issues. Next Gen Stats says he has allowed 21 catches on 35 targets for 297 yards and two touchdowns.
Brian Branch is also nearing a return, and he has played plenty in the slot during his time in Detroit. That gives the Lions options. Still, adding a corner who has already shown he can thrive near the line of scrimmage would be hard to brush aside.
Detroit’s cornerback room has been underwhelming, and Taylor’s best football has come in the role the Lions would need him to play. If they could get him back into the slot, he might be able to rediscover the form he showed in New Orleans and give the defense a much-needed boost.
In Other News...
Lions Suddenly Face A Packers Threat That Looks Much Worse
The next Packers matchup on the schedule comes with a lot more to sort through than just rivalry history, because Green Bays offense has been trending in a direction that could complicate life for Detroit. The running game has been sluggish enough to raise questions, but the bigger concern for the Lions is how the Packers can lean into a passing attack that has shown real bite downfield, especially when the safeties are holding up their end of the bargain.
For Detroit, the challenge is less about stopping one isolated threat than handling the way Green Bay can force defenses to cover every blade of grass. A few moving parts still matter here, including possible returns and some recent changes up front that could alter what the Packers want to do in this game, and that uncertainty leaves the Lions preparing for a version of Green Bay that may be tougher to pin down than it first appeared. [Read more 🡒]
Sam LaPortas Frustration Just Put Pressure On The Lions
Contract talks between Sam LaPorta and the Lions have hit a pause, and the timing gives Detroit another roster issue to sort through as it tries to keep its core intact. LaPorta confirmed on a recent podcast appearance that extension discussions have stalled, even though coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes have both spoken highly of him and made clear they want him around for the long haul.
The backdrop here is bigger than just one negotiation. LaPorta spoke candidly about the physical risks that come with football and the feeling of not being fully valued financially, which adds some real tension to a situation the Lions would prefer to settle quietly. For now, it is still unclear when talks will pick back up, leaving Detroit to manage a standoff with one of its most important young players without a clear timeline for resolution. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Offense Has One Lingering Issue Before Two Huge NFC North Tests
For all the points Detroit has piled up this season, there is still a clear place where the offense has not been as sharp as the overall production suggests. The Lions have been good enough to stress defenses for four quarters, but third down has been an issue, and the early part of games has not always reflected the same rhythm they find later on.
That wrinkle matters even more now with Green Bay and Minnesota coming up, two NFC North tests that can turn small execution problems into real scoreboard pressure. If the Lions can get cleaner on money downs and avoid slow starts, they will give themselves a better chance to control those games from the outset instead of spending the afternoon chasing their own standard. [Read more 🡒]