The Detroit Lions got the win over the New Orleans Saints, but the final stretch of that game exposed a problem that’s hard to ignore: the secondary needs help.
Detroit’s defense, usually a strength, bent late. In the fourth period and overtime, New Orleans piled up 256 yards on offense.
That kind of finish doesn’t point to a quarterback issue. It points straight at cornerback, with safety and cornerback sitting as the most obvious needs right now.
That’s why ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler is connecting the Lions to a possible move for Joey Porter Jr., a $128 million star who fits what Detroit likes to do on the back end. Fowler wrote, “The Lions were looking for corner help even before they released Terrion Arnold in June.
Detroit can spend the early weeks of the season evaluating how D.J. Reed, Keith Abney II, Roger McCreary and others play together,”
He also noted the financial side of the equation: “Detroit has ample salary cap space - around $38 million as of Sunday, according to OverTheCap.com - but has committed more than $1 billion in extensions for star players, which could lead to a cap crunch very soon.”
And Fowler didn’t stop there. “Detroit likes man-coverage corners, and Porter definitely qualifies,” he continued.
The Lions’ corner situation is thin after they suddenly released Terrion Arnold in the offseason because of off-field troubles. D.J.
Reed and Rock Ya-Sin are the starting outside corners, while Roger McCreary is working the nickel spot. Keith Abney II, one of the backups, also saw a few defensive snaps against the Saints.
If Detroit does make a run at Porter, it would be chasing a player who already looks like a difference-maker. In 2025, the Steelers defender finished with 52 combined tackles, including 35 solo stops, along with 14 pass deflections in 14 games.
He also had one interception. At 26, there’s still plenty of room for his game to grow.
In Other News...
Saints Historic Rally Ended With A Brutal OT Decision
The Saints turned what looked like a runaway Week 1 loss into one of the more memorable openers of the early NFL season, clawing back from a 21-point deficit to force overtime against the Lions. It was the kind of rally that briefly changed the mood around the building, especially after New Orleans had spent so much of the afternoon chasing the game.
Kellen Moores choice in overtime fit the moment, even if it came with a brutal ending. Rather than settle for a more conservative path, the Saints went for the two-point conversion with the idea of ending it then and there, but the attempt failed and Detroit escaped with a 31-30 win. For New Orleans, the result left plenty of frustration, but also proof that this team could fight back when the game seemed to be slipping away. [Read more 🡒]
Chris Olave Just Showed Saints Fans What Matters Most Now
Chris Olaves season keeps revealing how much the Saints are leaning on him, and the latest example came in the loss to Detroit. For the first time in a game, he wore a Guardian Cap over his helmet, a visible reminder that his health now sits at the center of everything around him. Olave said the choice was about better protecting himself from head injuries, and it came with the sort of personal context that makes football feel a lot bigger than the box score.
Even with the extra padding and some physical discomfort, Olave still turned in a big day, catching 10 passes for 182 yards. For New Orleans, that production matters, but so does the fact that one of its most important players is taking a more cautious approach after dealing with concussions. It leaves the Saints in an uneasy but very real place, where every snap from Olave carries both the value of his playmaking and the question of how much more the team can ask of him. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Face A Costly Joey Porter Jr. Decision At Corner
After an overtime loss, the Saints are staring at another roster question that could shape how they handle the cornerback spot moving forward. Pittsburghs Joey Porter Jr. has emerged as a possible trade target, and the appeal is obvious: he has played well in coverage, brings first-round pedigree and fits the kind of long-term move New Orleans could consider if it wants to strengthen a defense that still has to sort out its cornerback depth.
The fit is not without complications. Porter has also dealt with penalty issues, and any pursuit would force the Saints to weigh the price against their own draft capital and salary cap room, all while trying to decide how much faith to place in the current cornerback group. For a team trying to stay competitive now without emptying its future, it is the kind of decision that can look prudent one day and costly the next. [Read more 🡒]