Lions' move to sign a pair of quality veteran safeties a smart idea before draft

The Detroit Lions used the free agency period in the month of March to cover some of their bigger needs ahead of the NFL draft, and they've done so effectively for the most part.

While the Lions still have a few glaring needs along both the offensive and defensive line, they have patched other holes in a big way to the point where they may not need to make dramatic moves early in the draft. That's very notable from a depth standpoint.

A spot where the Lions have quietly made improvements is at safety. Pushed by some injury concerns to Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch that could linger into 2026, the Lions signed veteran Chuck Clark away from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

While Clark is not a top name, he has enjoyed a productive NFL career thus far. As Al Karsten showed on social media, he has plenty of starts under his belt, and has put up some solid statistics as well as metrics at the position.

In addition to Clark, the Lions made another sensible move. They re-signed Avonte Maddox, a player who had come on strong for them down the stretch when both of their stud safeties got hurt. From the start of the offseason, it felt as if the Lions should pursue a reunion with Maddox, and they were finally able to get it done.

These moves at safety show the Lions understood where they were at entering next season. They couldn't completely rely on Joseph and Branch, and even if one or both are healthy, they knew they needed to be covered with quality players to provide them snaps. Mission accomplished on that front.

Lions now shouldn't need a major addition at safety during 2026 draft

While there are questions regarding the long-term viability of Joseph given his knee history and concerns about how Branch will recover off his Achilles injury, the Lions now feel like they are at least covered at the position heading into the season.

Joseph should be able to play to start the year, and if he needs maintenance, the Lions will have a capable fill-in with Clark. Additionally, Maddox already knows Detroit's system, so he will be able to provide some competent depth. Detroit's similar approach paid off at cornerback last year given the injury issues they faced, and Rock Ya-Sin also returned this offseason.

READ MORE: Lions' last 4 O-line picks reveal very little about Brad Holmes' draft strategy

There have been questions about whether the Lions need to add a safety early in the draft. At least this season, they should be able to pivot to positions of more immediate need with their early selections. If Detroit wants to consider a depth safety as the draft goes on they could, but these moves open them up to addressing other bigger roster needs earlier on.

Neither Clark or Maddox are the kind of earth-shattering, headline grabbing move that fans crave from an offseason. In spite of that, the decision to bring both into the mix was intelligent. It will allow the Lions to beef up their roster in other ways while insuring they are covered while their veterans ready their bodies.