The Detroit Lions may need to shop for cornerback help sooner rather than later, and the Los Angeles Rams could end up holding the piece that fits.
That possibility opened up after the release of Terrion Arnold. Heading into the 2026 season, Arnold was expected to battle for a starting job on the Lions defense after a rough start to his career.
With little competition at the position, he had been the favorite to win that job. Now, with Arnold gone after his arrest on kidnapping and armed robbery charges, Detroit is left leaning on Rock Ya-Sin and DJ Reed on the outside.
If the Lions come calling, Emmanuel Forbes is the Rams player who makes the most sense as a potential trade chip. Los Angeles is expected to be a buyer between now and the trade deadline, but it also has a few cornerbacks who could give the team some flexibility. Cam Lampkin has flashed in preseason snaps, and the Rams also added two undrafted free agents, Al’Zllion Hamilton and Nyzier Fourqurean, who bring some upside.
The Rams already made a telling move this offseason by declining Forbes’ fifth-year option. With Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson in place, that decision was hardly a surprise.
Still, the addition of two more cornerbacks says plenty about how much trust Los Angeles has in Forbes as an every-down player. Right now, he looks more like a depth option who would step outside if an injury hits or if McDuffie slides inside.
There’s still a path where the Rams keep Forbes around for the season and revisit things on a cheaper deal later. But the longer view doesn’t point strongly in that direction.
When Los Angeles signed him at the end of 2024, it was a calculated gamble. Forbes has not been steady enough to lock down a starting role.
That said, his first-round pedigree still gives him some trade value. The Rams would have to decide whether Forbes is more useful to them as a reserve, inconsistency and all, or whether it’s smarter to cash in while they still can. If Lampkin, Hamilton, or Fourqurean turns heads in camp, that could give Los Angeles the cover it needs to consider a move.
If a deal with Detroit ever materialized, the return would likely be modest. Forbes is in the final year of his contract, and the Lions would be bringing him in to compete for a starting spot.
A sixth- or seventh-round pick would probably be the range. That isn’t much, but the Rams only have four draft picks next year, and moving Forbes would also clear $2.8 million in cap space.
There’s also the NFC angle. Trading a cornerback to the Lions would mean helping a conference rival and one of the Rams’ top competitors. In a Super Bowl season, that’s not exactly a comfortable handoff.
So while Los Angeles may prefer to keep Forbes for now because of the depth and experience he offers, the idea shouldn’t be dismissed if Detroit reaches out. Forbes does not look like part of the Rams’ long-term answer at cornerback, and if the younger depth behind him proves ready, a trade could start to make real sense.
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