3 worst free agent signings made by Lions general manager Brad Holmes

2. CB Cameron Sutton

Looking at the aforementioned 2023 free agent signings, some may say Emmanuel Moseley or C.J. Gardner-Johnson deserves as spot on this list- maybe both. But they both hardly played last season due to major injuries, two snaps in Moseley case after he tore his other ACL. While that's obviously not ideal, especially in light of how bad the Lions' pass defense was, they were on cheap one-year deals.

On the other hand, the Lions signed Sutton to a three-year deal with an idea he would project to being a No. 1 cornerback after evolving into a reliable starter for the Pittsburgh Steelers. But it did not work out that way, obviously.

Sutton failed to register an interception until the regular season finale, and he had just six pass breakups after posting 15 for the Steelers in 2022. He was simply not in position to make plays on the ball very often. Even before being overmatched by a run of very good receivers late in the regular season and into the playoffs, he has not impactful or very good.

Sutton will get a chance to redeem himself in Year 2 as a Lion, if only because the structure of his contract says he's not going anywhere this offseason (much to the chagrin of some Lions' fans). Not having to match up against the opponent's No. 1 wide receiver will help, and a move to make that the case should come in free agency or the draft.

Sutton should not be absolutely written off after one season as a Lion. But with such a short list of mistakes Holmes has made in free agency, signing him to a three-year deal and projecting him into a role he proved not to be equipped for has made cornerback a massive need again this offseason. It's never a good thing to have the same No. 1 need in back-to-back offseasons, at least after you thought you had addressed it the first time. So Sutton gets a spot here.