The Detroit Lions have seen a dramatic shakeup with their roster in recent days, as they released cornerback Terrion Arnold.
Entering 2026, the Lions have more questions than answers in the secondary. At safety, both Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph are facing uncertain futures thanks to injury. The Lions did add cornerbacks this offseason, but none of them have the high-end potential that Arnold did.
With this in mind, many are beginning to come to the realization that the Lions need more help in the secondary. Fortunately, there are still a few options on the market that could help the franchise out for relatively cheap.
Interestingly enough, one free agent could stand out amongst the pack for the Lions at this point in time. Pro Football Focus analyst Bradley Locker made the case for well-traveled veteran free agent Rasul Douglas to join Detroit.
After cutting Terrion Arnold, the Lions definitely have solid depth at outside/slot corner...
— Bradley Locker (@Bradley_Locker) June 29, 2026
But I would love to see them sign Rasul Douglas to play next to D.J. Reed
Douglas graded as one of the better cover CBs in the NFL last year with Miami. Turned into a massive steal
Douglas is 30, but has had a nine-year career in the league with eight different teams, in which he has been very productive. He has piled up 503 tackles and 21 career interceptions and has been a stable force. In 2025 with the Miami Dolphins, he was a solid player, delivering two interceptions in 15 games (13 starts).
In terms of a veteran presence to provide depth, the Lions could do worse. There isn't much that Douglas hasn't seen in the league, which could make him an interesting piece for a franchise that has a goal of winning big in 2026. He could add significant depth and upside for the Lions.
Kelvin Sheppard doesn't anticipate overhaul to replace missing Lions
While Arnold's situation is fresh, the Lions have dealt with a season full of ups and downs in the defensive secondary. Detroit is currently trying to rally from the uncertainty of the safety position, and defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard's recent outlook seems to be that of a person who is ready to see what the roster can provide him rather than changing a scheme relative to the injury concerns with Branch and Joseph at safety.
"We have a system and we have something that we know who we are here. Does that alter week to week? Yeah, per game plan. Does that alter things you put in? I make no mistake. I'm not going to shy away from this," Sheppard said last month. "Those are two All-Pro players. I don't care what position they play. When you go from All-Pro to anybody, there's some type of change that has to take place. It's my job, whether I have those two guys or whether I have X, Y, and Z, to make sure I'm putting those players in the best position and putting my pride aside."
"I know who we are, but also understanding what do these players do well and trying to mesh that. That's kind of the process that we've been afforded with those two guys not being out there. We've gone through weeks of that process so far, we're seeing it and we're liking where we at right now."
At safety, Detroit did add veterans like Avonte Maddox and Chuck Clark. While they may not be interested in changing their game plan, they could certainly look to add extra bodies to the mix to ensure that depth and playmaking at cornerback is not a long-term issue.
If the franchise decides this is a solid avenue, Douglas could well be their best choice in order to fill the void left by Arnold's departure. He's in a very similar mold of players they have already added in the past.
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