The Detroit Lions were reportedly interested in trading for cornerback Joey Porter Jr., but it never felt likely general manager Brad Holmes would embrace the costs involved. Not only would it require giving up a draft pick, or two, but Porter is looking to land a notable contract extension.
Alas, the Dallas Cowboys have swung a deal for Porter, sending a 2027 sixth-round pick and a 2028 second-rounder to Pittsburgh. The Lions weren't going to beat that offer, and there's a case they should not have, so, for once, this doesn't feel like a cause to criticize Holmes.
However, even if Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell might continue to protest the idea, the Lions' need at cornerback absolutely exists. Something should be done between now and the trade deadline a little over month from now to help a secondary that may otherwise derail the team's playoff ambitions.
Beyond the reported interest in Porter, Holmes ideally has taken the temperature of the current cornerback trade market. Maybe all it'll take is a final push to get a deal to the finish line in the coming weeks, since he knows what it'll take to get who he wants. New options may also surface, as teams come to grips with a lost 2026 season and look to be a deadline seller.
Here are four possible cornerback trade targets for the Lions after missing out on Porter.
4 cornerback trade targets for the Lions after not getting Joey Porter Jr.
4. Tyson Campbell, Cleveland Browns
Campbell missed Week 3 against the Carolina Panthers due to a knee injury, but he is set to return for Week 4 against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The 2-1 Browns don't look like the presumed trade deadline seller they once did, but that could change over the next 4-5 weeks.
Among Browns' cornerbacks to trade for, Lions' fans would surely prefer Denzel Ward. But Campbell is a far more realistically available trade target, even with the caveat of notable-looking cap numbers in 2027 and 2028 for the caliber of cornerback he is. That being said, only part of his 2027 base salary is fully guaranteed and none of his 2028 base salary is guaranteed.
3. Zyon McCollum, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The 0-3 Buccaneers will now be without quarterback Baker Mayfield (thumb) for a few weeks, so 0-3 could easily become far worse, and bring a tough evaluation of the situation. A rebuild of some kind under a new head coach in 2027 could be on the radar.
McCollum signed a three-year, $48 million contract extension in September of 2025, so he may be considered part of the future if that post-Todd Bowles reset/rebuild does move toward happening. But on the other hand, with fairly reasonable financial numbers for an acquiring team to take on and big cap space to be cleared for 2027 and 2028, trade interest may come Jason Licht's way
McCollum is not a shutdown corner, but he does have good size (6-foot-2) and is a viable starter on the outside. The Buccaneers might not be willing to listen to trade offers on anyone just yet, but this could be one to put a pin in and Holmes should be watching how their next few games go.
READ MORE: There's one ridiculous reason for Jared Goff's lame placement in latest QB rankings
2. Riley Moss, Denver Broncos
Moss is in the unenviable position of playing opposite Patrick Surtain II, who no opposing team wants to throw in the direction of if they can help it. Last season, Moss was the most-targeted cornerback in the league by a double-digit margin.
Moss has had ups and downs, and Pro Football Focus is no high on his work overall (for what it's worth), but so far this season he is allowing a 50 percent completion rate and a 91.0 passer rating in his coverage.
Over the two full seasons before this one Moss had 27 pass breakups, including a league-high 19 last season. In each of the last two campaigns, he has posted at least 80 tackles with a willingness to get involved defending the run.
The Broncos have obviously invested heavily in Surtain Ja'Quan McMillan is in the final year of his contract, like Moss is, and he has put himself in position for a contract extension. 2025 first-round pick Jahdae Barron hasn't fulfilled that investment yet, but he has also hardly played (14 defensive snaps so far this season). The question is how much do the Broncos want to, or need to, invest in the cornerback position and who they prioritize.
Denver is not at all positioned to be a trade deadline seller. But if they aren't feeling compelled to keep Moss around next March, it'd be better to move him rather than lose him for nothing. It can't hurt for Holmes to make a call here.
1. Kristian Fulton, Kansas City Chiefs
Fulton started the Chiefs' first two games this season, playing at least 80 percent of the defensive snaps in both contests. Then, inexplicably, he did not play at all in Week 3 against the Miami Dolphins.
Whatever led to Fulton not playing against the Dolphins, it's not a performance issue. He has the 17th-best coverage grade among 100 qualifying cornerbacks from Pro Football Focus, with the second-best man coverage grade.
Maybe there was a hidden injury in play that was just enough to sideline him against a team the Chiefs were expected to easily handle, or some kind of disciplinary issue (they were in Miami the night before the game, after all) led to what effectively looks like a benching.
Otherwise, the return to health of rookie Mansoor Delane may have simply pushed Fulton out of the perimeter cornerback rotation.
Fulton is also in the last year of his contract. So the Chiefs could've just been getting a head start on what life will look like without him in Week 3. Maybe that life without him will go all the way to the finish line between now and Nov. 10, and the Lions should be at the front of the line with interest.
Add us as a preferred source on Google