As nice as it sounds to just expect the Detroit Lions' current crop of cornerbacks to rally and bounce back at some point this season, realistically, the team has to go get another starter on the trade market.
Only three games separate Detroit from the November 10 trade deadline, which gives them ample time to lock in on a move and a target. I'm not anticipating an aggressive deadline from general manager Brad Holmes (although, that should be the case), but it's also possible for the Lions to get what they need without breaking the bank.
A recent mock trade from ESPN's Bill Barnwell was a bit eye-catching, as it had the Lions netting two defenders for the price of some Day 3 picks:
Should the Lions swing on an offer like this? Absolutely. But, should they pass on Mack? No.
Lions should aim for Mack in any deal with Chargers
Jackson would be a great get for a few reasons: he's a starting caliber cornerback, is only dealing with a minor hamstring issue, and wouldn't be a huge cap hit if acquired. Jackson only has $4 million due to him on the year, and he's a free agent in 2027. He'd be an ideal rental for the Lions to bring in for such small draft compensation.
As for Mack, he's 35 years old and would be adding to a fairly crowded - and young - edge rusher room. As Barnwell notes, he's still a good run stopping defensive end, which is a big need for the Lions right now. But, between Aidan Hutchinson, Alim McNeill, DJ Wonnum, and Skyler Gill-Howard, they have more than enough firepower along their defensive line right now.
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But, as we've seen from the Lions' success along their offensive line, more depth just means more optionality, and a stronger line overall. Having Mack as a backup would be a huge luxury for Detroit, and for an overworked edge room down the line.
Other Lions targets to monitor ahead of deadline
Two other names worth keeping an eye on ahead of the trade deadline are two that'll be familiar to Lions fans for different reasons: Riq Woolen, and Amik Robertson. Robertson was with the Lions from 2024 until 2026, when he walked for a small deal with the Washington Commanders. He has flourished with them, posting eight pass breakups and 40 total tackles, and would ironically be a great cornerback to inject back into the Lions' defense for this year.
Woolen is in a similar boat as Robertson - he's with a struggling NFC East team, and could be part of the Philadelphia Eagles' fire sale at the deadline with Jalen Hurts officially out for the year. Woolen is also a one-year rental target for Detroit, making him a great name for the front office to monitor...again.
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