With the Lions already staring at depth questions, the latest round of NFL roster cuts has handed Brad Holmes a fresh batch of names to consider. Five players in particular stand out as possible quick fixes for Detroit before the 2026 season gets rolling.
One of the most obvious fits is cornerback Marco Wilson Murphy-Bunting, a local product who played his high school football at Clinton Twp. (Mich.)
Chippewa Valley. For a Lions team that needs help at corner, he looks like a sensible target.
The former second-round pick was a dependable defensive back during his time with the Buccaneers from 2019-2022 and with the Titans in 2023. He also hasn’t logged a regular season snap since 2024 with the Cardinals, and he was among Arizona’s roster cutdown casualties on Sunday.
Even so, he could still give Detroit useful snaps in the secondary this season, especially in the nickel role.
At quarterback, the Lions could also take a look at Will Levis if they aren’t fully convinced by Josh Dobbs and Luke Altmyer behind Jared Goff. Levis, a 2023 second-round pick, completed 61 percent of his passes and threw 21 touchdowns with 16 interceptions across his two seasons as a starter with the Titans. That’s not a sparkling résumé, but he remains the kind of former top prospect who can be worth a swing for a team that doesn’t have a clear-cut backup passer.
Safety is another area where Detroit could use help, and Quandre Diggs Bell became available after a surprising Seahawks cut. He spent 2025 with Seattle, appearing in 14 games, and was viewed as a strong locker room presence.
So much so, in fact, that he was allowed to receive a Super Bowl ring even though he finished the season with Carolina. Bell also adds real value on special teams, where he played 66 percent of Seattle’s snaps.
For a Lions safety room dealing with injuries, that combination could matter right away.
On the defensive line, Detroit could make room for another local name in Aeneas Benny. The Michigan native, who played collegiately at the University of Michigan and attended Oak Park (Mich.)
High School, went undrafted to the Ravens in April. Still, plenty of evaluators believed he had Day 3 value.
At 6-foot-3 and 298 pounds, he projects as a run-stopping interior defender who may not be an every-down tackle, but could still become a useful depth piece inside. If not on the active roster, he could at least be a sensible practice squad option.
Another veteran safety worth watching is Jordan Stone, who was cut by the Bills on Sunday. Detroit enters the 2026 season with Brian Branch (Achilles) and Kerby Joseph (knee) on the PUP list, so the need at safety is obvious.
Stone, who spent the last two seasons in Cincinnati, would help stabilize that spot. He has 14 career interceptions, and in 2025 he played all 17 games, posted a career-high 104 total tackles, added two interceptions, two sacks, four passes defensed and a defensive touchdown.
For Holmes and the Lions, that’s the kind of late addition that could make immediate sense.
In Other News...
Lions Add To Crowded O Line Picture With Another Intriguing Move
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Detroit has plenty of offensive linemen around the building between the active roster and the practice squad, so this is less about a clear immediate role and more about creating competition and depth. For Klein, the next step will be figuring out where he fits in a group that is already crowded, which makes his path with the Lions worth watching as the season unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Already Have A New Reason To Feel Great About Blake Miller
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Miller has looked comfortable in both phases of the game, showing the kind of power in the run game and reliability in pass protection that can settle an offense quickly. For a team that values stability up front, it is an encouraging early sign that the rookie is not just holding his own, but pushing the Lions to feel better about a spot they needed to get right. [Read more 🡒]
Brian Branch Could Give Lions Defense A Huge Early Lift
Brian Branchs arrival on the sideline this fall is still expected to come with a delay, but the Lions have reason to believe the wait wont be a long one. The versatile defensive back is slated to open the 2026 season on the Physically Unable to Perform list after the Achilles injury he suffered in December 2025, a setback that would normally cloud a players early-season availability much more heavily than this one appears to.
Branchs recovery has reportedly been moving in the right direction, and there is already a sense he could be back at practice after only two weeks on PUP. If that timetable holds, Detroit could be talking about getting one of its most valuable defensive pieces back by Week 6 or Week 7, a boost that would matter even more given how much the unit leans on his range and flexibility compared with the situation around Kerby Joseph. [Read more 🡒]