By any measure you can find, the Detroit Lions' pass defense was bad in 2023. A lack of pass rush outside of Aidan Hutchinson and Alim McNeil was not helpful, but injuries at cornerback made it that Kindle Vildor had to start and play nearly every defensive snap by the end of the season.
No offense to Vildor, but that's not ideal for a team that made it to the NFC Championship Game. Cameron Sutton was also a massive disappointment in his first season as a Lion, posting the second-worst passer rating allowed among cornerbacks who played at least half of their team's defensive snaps (h/t to MLive for the passer rating note).
No wonder the Lions taking a cornerback with their first-round pick is virtually inescapable in mock drafts. It's also a deep draft class at the position, so an immediate starter may fall to them at No. 29 overall.
But the Lions also have a short list of big needs, and four picks in the top-100 of April's draft. Trading up in the first round to get a coveted player could, or even should, be on the radar.
'Dream' trade scenario for Detroit Lions has strong chance to be reality
Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report has offered up a "dream offseason trade scenario" for each NFL team.
Knox has moving up in the first round of the draft for a cornerback as the "dream trade scenario" for the Lions.
While the Lions can afford to target a top cover corner in free agency, getting one on a rookie contract would be preferable. Star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is already extension-eligible, and Detroit will likely want to extend quarterback Jared Goff sooner than later.
"Landing one of this year's top corner prospects at 29th overall will be difficult, though. Alabama's Terrion Arnold, Toledo's Quinyon Mitchell and Alabama's Kool-Aid McKinstry are the only corners who have received a first-round grade from the Bleacher Report Scouting Department, and there's a real chance none of them are available at the bottom of Round 1."
Knox had an appropriate punch line to finish his case for the Lions to trade up.
"The Lions appear to be only a couple of pieces away from being a legitimate Super Bowl team. Parting with additional draft capital to jump up and secure one of them would be worth it."
General manager Brad Holmes has moved around the first round in each of the last two drafts. Making it three in a row this year feels likely, and this time there's a clear position to target with a trade up.
It'll take two to tango, but this "dream" of trading up to get one of the top cornerbacks in the 2024 draft has a very good chance to actually happen for the Lions.
This could be one of the most exciting offseasons in Detroit history, and you can make it even better with a guaranteed boost available at BetMGM! Just sign up, deposit $10 or more and then bet $5 or more on ANY wager. You'll instantly win $150 in bonus bets! Sign up with BetMGM with this SideLion Report link today.