There remains one burning question for the Detroit Lions as we head into the final days before training camp kicks off, and that is, "will Rock Ya-Sin be their only solution to their vacant CB2 spot?"
With the release of Terrion Arnold following his arrest and multiple charges levied against him by the Hillsborough County State Attorney's office, the Lions are without a starting cornerback next to DJ Reed.
The CB2 role was always up in the air headed into camp, with Arnold not necessarily having a stranglehold on the starting job, but his release does leave Detroit with some thin depth at the position. That's what makes Indianapolis Colts cornerback Jaylon Jones an intriguing name to monitor on the trade market, as noted by Bleacher Report's Moe Moton.
"In 2024, Colts cornerback Jaylon Jones started in 17 games, recording 100 tackles (three for loss), 12 pass breakups and two interceptions while allowing a decent 86 passer rating and just one touchdown in coverage. He's fallen on the depth chart with the addition of Sauce Gardner and Charvarius Ward over the past year. Jones could blossom with another opportunity to start elsewhere."
Lions should be taking a serious look at Colts CB
Detroit's headed into the season with their cornerback depth chart looking like this:
LCB | RCB | NB |
|---|---|---|
DJ Reed | Rock Ya-Sin | Roger McCreary |
De'Shawn Rucker | Keith Abney II (R) | Christian Izien* |
Nick Whiteside | Ennis Rakestraw Jr. | |
Khalil Dorsey | Aamaris Brown (UDFA) |
*Izien has been taking snaps at starting safety, another area of depth concern for Detroit.
With this chart in mind, it's a good bet to make that at least one of Dorsey, Whiteside, Rucker, or Brown will not be seeing the 53-man roster. Despite some praise from OTAs and minicamp, Brown feels like the oddest man out, followed by Rucker.
Adding Jones would help to create better depth behind Reed, assuming Ya-Sin wins the starting job. It could also take some pressure off of Abney as a rookie, and could create some competition for Rakestraw, who is fighting for a spot following multuple injury-riddled seasons.
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Jones is also young, which helps in the Lions' effort this offseason to inject some youth onto their roster. And, assuming the Colts are motivated to move Jones to make way for Ward and Gardner's playing time, they could accept a Day 2/3 pick as pick compensation on this deal.
This sort of trade would really hinge on the kind of development we see from Rakestraw in camp and potentially in the preseason, as he could be the Lions' last remaining hope for some pop behind either Reed or Ya-Sin without needing to peruse the trade market much. If he doesn't show improvement, Jones makes a lot of sense to take a flier on.
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