In one of the more official reports we've gotten so far regarding the Detroit Lions' potential pursuit of a cornerback, NFL Network's Mike Garafolo is reporting that they are one of a few teams to officially check in on former Indianapolis Colts cornerback Kenny Moore II.
Moore, who was released by the Colts this offseason, is definitely one of the better defensive backs still available to sign - but, he also comes with risk. He dealt with an achilles injury last season, and he hasn't had a fully healthy year since 2023. At 31 years old, he'd be a little bit of a gamble for Detroit, albeit a cheap one.
That last point is why he'd be a great fit for the Lions and general manager Brad Holmes. He is always bargain hunting, especially on the free agent market, and Moore fits that mold.
Lions' interest in Moore makes perfect sense
Bottom line: the Lions need another starting cornerback. Rock Ya-Sin has proven to be a liability for their secondary, and calling up Nick Whiteside might not make things much better at CB2. Additionally, the teams' back to back designation of Ennis Rakestraw Jr. as inactive has made it clear that they see no path for him to replace Ya-Sin.
Moore's last healthy season should give Lions fans some confidence in a potential signing: he had three interceptions in 2023 along with six passes defended and 5.5 stuffs. He's effective in the slot and on the outside, and is a solid run defender, as well. He had a PFF grade of 66.7 in 2025 despite an injury riddled season.
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Per Spotrac, Moore is expected to net a $5.6 million deal, which is barely a dent in the Lions' current cap space. They could easily bring him in and still get their extensions done with Sam LaPorta and Brian Branch. And, the Lions have to be appealing to Moore as they'd likely start him right away.
Holmes' job could depend on success of mid-season adjustments
Holmes has been under fire as of late for not doing enough to address the Lions' secondary this offseason. After releasing Terrion Arnold this offseason, they just relied on a competition between Ya-Sin, Whiteside, Rakestraw, Roger McCreary, and Keith Abney II to locate the cream of the crop within their roster.
What they found instead is that you can't just will players to have a higher ceiling than they do - their floor is their floor. While Arnold likely wouldn't have made or broken their secondary, him being off the roster left Detroit without the size, speed, and youth necessary to compete in earnest against speedier receivers in the league.
Bringing Moore in would be a great sign that Holmes and the Lions are recognizing what's in everyone else's face: their defense is not suited to compete against contenders. Him being even remotely successful as an addition to the team could change their season outlook, and the outlook on Holmes' job security.
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