As the Detroit Lions move past free agency and the NFL Draft, and begin shaping the roster that will carry them through the camp season and into the preseason, the biggest questions remain on defense, where health, depth, and proven production still feel like an unresolved issue. And honestly, that should make Lions fans at least a little uneasy heading into the summer.
The secondary, in particular, is where things start to get uncomfortable. Detroit is dealing with real injury concerns at safety, and not the kind that can simply be brushed aside in June.
Brian Branch is expected to begin the season unavailable as he continues rehabbing a torn Achilles, while Kerby Joseph is managing a knee issue that has been described as bone-on-bone, and it's never expected to become completely healthy.
Some experts have already suggested Joseph would be very fortunate to make it through a full season. That is not exactly the kind of sentence anyone wants attached to one of the most important players in the back end of the defense.
The Lions did have a contingency plan at the position; they signed veteran Chuck Clark and brought back Avonte Maddox, which at least signals they understand the room needed more options. Thomas Harper, Christian Izien, and Dan Jackson will also get opportunities to carve out roles.
Still, there is a difference between having names on the depth chart and having answers. Right now, Detroit has more of the former than the latter.
Lions have a lot of questions left unanswered at the cornerback position
Since we're talking about the secondary, the cornerback group brings its own set of questions. Roger McCreary was added as a veteran nickel option, while D.J. Reed and Terrion Arnold are projected to start on the outside.
On paper, that sounds fine, but i'm not entirely convinced this will be substantial. Reed began last season well, but things went sideways after he returned from an injury absence. He finished the 2025 season with a 65.2 overall PFF defensive grade, which ranked 47th among 114 qualified cornerbacks. His 61.3 PFF coverage grade ranked 62nd among that same group.
That is not disastrous, but it is also not exactly reassuring if the Lions are counting on him to be the team's top corner.
Then there is Terrion Arnold, who still carries plenty of developmental upside, but also comes with a fair amount of uncertainty. He earned a 52.6 overall PFF defensive grade in 2025, ranking 97th among 114 qualified cornerbacks. His 53.8 PFF coverage grade ranked 92nd among 114 qualified cornerbacks.
So yes, there is still hope he grows into a dependable NFL starter. But if the question is whether Detroit should feel completely comfortable penciling him into a major role right now, the answer is probably no. Not yet, anyway, but the current roster suggests otherwise.
The alternatives are quite questionable in their own right. There's Ennis Rakestraw Jr. who has spent the past two seasons on the shelf, and we don't really know how good he is or can be. Then you've got rookie Keith Abney to go with Nick Whiteside and Khalil Dorsey. I hate to say it, but this group is very uninspiring to me, and I'd love to be wrong in this assessment.
Pass rush still remains a concern headed into 2026
The Lions did address the edge position in the draft by selecting Derrick Moore with a premium pick out of Michigan in the second round, and there is plenty to like about that addition. Adding a proven veteran would still make sense, not only as a mentor for Moore, but also as a productive rotational piece who can help keep the front fresh throughout the season.
The Detroit Lions added Payton Turner and DJ Wonnum in free agency rather than taking a bigger swing on someone like Joey Bosa or Cameron Jordan. By now, everyone understands that Brad Holmes loves a reclamation project, and Turner, a former first-round pick, certainly fits that profile.
There is logic to that kind of move. There is also risk. At some point, upside has to be balanced with reliability, especially for a team that is trying to win now. How many Marcus Davenport-like projects can you stomach?
I know I've been banging this drum all winter and spring, but that is why the Cameron Jordan situation remains frustrating. Jordan is not just a situational pass-rusher or a one-dimensional edge option. He is the kind of three-down defensive end who can set the edge, hold up against the run, and still pressure the quarterback.
According to Spotrac, his market value is a one-year deal worth $6.8 million. For a player coming off a 10.5-sack season with the New Orleans Saints, that feels like a bargain.
The Lions have done a lot right in building this roster, particularly on the offensive side of things. But the defense still feels like it is carrying too many "ifs" heading into the summer. I feel as though, until those "ifs" become actual answers, skepticism is more than fair.
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