If Terrion Arnold cannot piece it together this year for the Detroit Lions, they won't be totally left out to dry.
Arnold, who missed most of last season with a shoulder injury that eventually required surgery, is set to return to Detroit to begin their 2026 season. He has to have a big year for them, especially with D.J. Reed not getting any younger. If he can't be a consistent force for this Lions defense, though, the Lions do have some insurance options behind him.
As Pro Football Network recently penned, Arnold is the player on the hottest seat for Detroit headed into this year, writing:
Through his first two seasons, Terrion Arnold hasn’t quite lived up to expectations as the Detroit Lions’ first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. His CB Impact Score decreased in Year 2, and he missed nine games due to a shoulder injury. The Lions added Keith Abney II and Roger McCreary this offseason, making the cornerback room more crowded and the pressure for Arnold to perform much more prevalent.
Arnold needs a huge year to avoid being leapfrogged on the depth chart
Much was made of the Lions' selection of Abney in the 5th round of this year's draft, with the former Arizona State cornerback being described ad nauseam as the steal of the draft. McCreary is another dark horse to replace Arnold in case of a slump, with the veteran having shown flashes with the Tennessee Titans previously.
So, Arnold is not wanton for competition behind him. Reed feels like a lock at CB, despite his concerning comments on an aggressive stem cell treatment received for his hamstring injury that turned out to be a lot more serious than we'd initially thought. Reed is also a veteran with a proven track record as a borderline elite cornerback - Arnold isn't.
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The former 1st round pick is not living up to the same expectations set and met by the other top picks rostered by Detroit - Aidan Hutchinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, and Jack Campbell all come to mind, and all have been paid or had their fifth-year options picked up by the team as a result of their success.
Arnold's pivotal fifth-year option can't be picked up for another year, so this season is huge as it pertains to his future payday. He'll either play himself firmly into extension talks, or completely out of them. And, the Lions shouldn't be afraid to let it rip with Abney or McCreary if the latter happens.
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