The Detroit Lions have dealt with more than their fair share of injuries over the past couple seasons, particularly on defense. Injuries in the secondary are still affecting the team, as star safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch will miss a large chunk of the 2026 season. With the addition of the Terrion Arnold situation, the Lions are in need of stability on the back end.
Luckily for the Lions, a young and elite cornerback might be on the move: the New England Patriots' Christian Gonzalez. The Patriots and Gonzalez still have yet to agree on a new contract, and the cornerback is growing frustrated.
With the regular season on the horizon, it might be the perfect time for a team to swoop in and snag him. According to CBS Sports, the Lions are one of the top landing spots for Gonzalez if he gets moved.
The Detroit Lions should be all-in on Christian Gonzalez
The 53-man roster is set, with D.J. Reed and Keith Abney II listed as starting cornerbacks for the Lions. Roger McCreary is listed as the starting nickleback, but Ennis Rakestraw Jr. could be in line to start as well. Abney is a rookie out of Arizona State, and as a fifth-round pick, neither he nor the Lions expected him to be a starter this season.
Although the Lions have one of the easiest schedules in the league this season, their secondary could still get exposed until Branch and Joseph return. They won't be back for a while (if ever, in Joseph's case), so a trade for a top cornerback could completely alter the team's outlook.
Gonzalez was named to his first pro bowl in 2025, putting up 69 tackles, ten pass deflections and one tackle for loss in 14 games. He didn't come up with any interceptions, but it can be attributed to the fact that quarterbacks don't like throwing his way. In Super Bowl LX, Gonzalez recorded as many passes defended as completions allowed (3), all while guarding offensive player of the year Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
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The Lions have some of the best young stars in the NFL on both sides of the ball, and adding Gonzalez would make their defense exponentially better. Only six teams in the NFC gave up more passing yards than the Lions last season, and they were still in the playoff hunt. To get back to the NFC championship, Detroit needs an upgraded (and healthy) secondary, and Gonzalez would be one of the biggest upgrades possible.
In terms of what the Lions would have to give up, it would likely include at least one first round pick, but this would be a case where "(expletive) them picks" applies. If Gonzalez becomes available, the Lions should do everything they can to bring him to Detroit.
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