Sometimes a football team's issues are tough to diagnose from the outside, but for the Detroit Lions, it's obvious to everyone watching. The Lions have the worst passing defense in the league, and it's made for a bumpy start to the 2026 season. One of the most frustrating parts of it is the Lions have one of the best pass rushes in the NFL, but it doesn't make much of a difference when receivers are open on every play.
Aside from star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson, Detroit is getting strong production from defensive tackle Alim McNeill and EDGE DJ Wonnum. Hutchinson is tied for fifth in the NFL with 3.5 sacks, and McNeill and Wonnum are right behind him with 3.0 each. As a team, the Lions have the second most sacks (15), behind only the Minnesota Vikings (16).
Yet the Lions are giving up the second-most points per game at 31.8, and the most yards per game at 423.8. The next closest team for average yards allowed is the Indianapolis Colts at 392.3, which is a notable difference. The lack of a secondary could cost the Lions more than just a few games, and they could look to make a move if the Cardinals run wild on them in week five.
A better secondary would put the Lions back in Super Bowl conversations
Out of every defensive back in the NFL with at least 105 snaps, Lions cornerback DJ Reed is tied for the worst passer rating allowed (153.3), per NextGen Stats. In total, there are seven Lions DBs allowing a passer rating of more than 100, in addition to three linebackers. Detroit doesn't have much talent in pass coverage, but it hasn't been helped by schemes either.
Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard seems reluctant to run a zone-heavy defense, but they simply don't have the personnel to do anything else. The return of safety Brian Branch should help, but Detroit needs the most help at cornerback.
READ MORE: Jeremiyah Love's honesty about injury status could make Lions' lives easier in Week 5
One of the best young cornerbacks in the NFL, Joey Porter Jr., was recently traded to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for a second-round pick in 2028 and a sixth-round pick in 2027. The Lions should have done everything they could to grab Porter from the Steelers, and they said they tried, but it was likely a bare minimum offer. Detroit could've gotten a gamechanger at a cheap price, but it was yet another missed opportunity by general manager Brad Holmes.
Holmes could do no wrong in the eyes of Lions fans during his first few years at the helm, as he helped take them to new heights. However, if he keeps missing chances to help positions of need, and the drafts are as bad as the past two, Lions fans won't hesitate to call for a change in leadership.
Add us as a preferred source on Google