The Detroit Lions’ cornerback picture still has a shaky edge to it, and one of the more surprising names in the mix is Roger McCreary.
McCreary, who spent time with the Tennessee Titans and Los Angeles Rams, is currently lined up to start in the slot for Detroit. Rock Ya-Sin is projected as one outside starter, with D.J. Reed on the other side, but the inside job is where things could get interesting fast.
Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton put McCreary on the list of players the Lions should cut this summer, pointing to the veteran’s uneven play and the possibility that rookie Keith Abney II could step in immediately.
"Detroit signed McCreary to a one-year, $1.4 million deal," Moton writes. "So the Lions can cut him without much dead cap penalty. Although he has a clear pathway to the Lions' lead slot cornerback position, his mediocre performances at practice could cost him a roster spot."
That report lines up with the sense that McCreary has been underwhelming at training camp. If that continues, Detroit could decide to give Abney a real shot in the slot this season instead of waiting on the veteran to settle in.
McCreary’s recent production doesn’t exactly slam the door on that idea, either. Last year with the Titans and Rams, he allowed a 110.2 passer rating in 14 games. His best season came in 2023, when that number was 85.3.
If the Lions believed they were getting that version of McCreary, he’d look a lot safer. Even a player somewhere between those two versions would make sense to keep around. But with Abney drawing interest as a rookie who could challenge for the job, McCreary’s camp performance and his modest contract make him easier to move on from than most veterans.
Moton’s push to release him may feel aggressive, but the logic is straightforward: if Detroit sees enough in Abney to believe he can handle the slot, and McCreary keeps struggling, there may not be much reason to hold onto the veteran.
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