The Detroit Lions have plenty of work to do this offseason, and with free agency just around the corner and the combine in the rear-view mirror, the time has almost come to take the first steps on improvement.
Defensively, the Lions would seemingly benefit from a boost at safety given the uncertainty there. They could also use another pass rusher to help upgrade a group that has found consistent pocket pressure a challenge.
It's possible, however, that fans and analysts have been quietly ignoring another major need on the defensive side of the ball at cornerback. The position was rankled by inconsistency and injury in 2025, and has new questions following the seemingly perpetual struggles of Terrion Arnold.
While many see the offensive line as the spot most primed for an upgrade in the NFL draft, it's possible that the defensive backfield and specifically cornerback could be very high on the list come April. Already, Pro Football Focus is beginning to take note of that scenario.
Following the NFL combine, the site and writer John Kosko put together a dream draft scenario for every team's first pick in 2026. Perhaps surprisingly, that position is cornerback and the player is LSU's Mansoor Delane.
Kosko believes that Detroit has struggled to lock down the cornerback spot, which could lead them to take another swing at the position in the draft with Delane, a strong prospect.
"It’s not for a lack of trying, but the Lions’ cornerbacks continue to underperform. Terrion Arnold hasn’t lived up to his draft status with PFF grades of 50.8 and 52.6 in his first two seasons, and free-agent signee D.J. Reed suffered injuries in 2025 en route to his lowest-graded season in the NFL."
"As we’ve learned from Super Bowl-winning teams, you can never have enough cornerbacks. With the Lions playing a heavy man coverage scheme, Delane is the perfect addition with his 89.1 man coverage grade in 2025."
Certainly, the premise that a team should load up at cornerback is smart. In the past, Detroit fans have seen backfield injuries cost them. Would the Lions really pursue a cornerback in the first-round, though? If the right one was on their board, it could arguably be a very smart approach given all their recent issues.
Lions could quietly have a strong need at cornerback this offseason
Whether it's in free agency or the draft, it might not be that far off to proclaim the Lions have a big need at cornerback this offseason. Detroit didn't get great play out of their major signing D.J. Reed, and Arnold has been in and out of health and consistency during his brief stint in Detroit.
Beyond the top two, depth is a problem for the Lions. It would be wise for the franchise to bring back veteran Rock Ya Sin this offseason considering how strong he was as a reserve in 2025. The health of Ennis Rakestraw Jr. is always in question, and Brian Branch is likely to be back midseason at the earliest.
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If the Lions don't make a big play at cornerback in free agency, it could represent a decent tell that the franchise is planning on making the position a bigger priority in the draft. It would make sense for the Lions to address cornerback on both fronts, but it's anyone's guess how early the team would decide to make a move.
Already, some believe the cornerback spot is ripe for the upgrading in Detroit. It could also be a place that gets some significant love in the first-round if the right prospect is on the board.