Allen Park — For the moment, the Detroit Lions managed to calm some of the concerns surrounding the team’s defense and secondary heading into the bye.
While no one will confuse the Arizona Cardinals with the high-octane Buffalo Bills, that shouldn’t diminish Detroit’s defensive improvements on Sunday, which saw the team force five straight three-and-outs, hold the Cardinals to 3.1 yards per carry, and limit All-Pro tight end Trey McBride to 66 yards in the 45-21 victory.
Obviously, there is still plenty of room for growth and improvement. And with the NFL’s trade deadline fast approaching, that shouldn’t be limited to the current roster making on-field strides.
The Arizona matchup confirmed what we’ve known since the summer: Detroit’s cornerback depth remains its biggest deficiency. DJ Reed bounced backed, performing closer to expectations against the Cardinals, but questions remain on the opposite side.
In an effort to take away McBride and receiver Michael Wilson, the Lions put No. 2 cornerback Roger McCreary in a lot of one-on-one situations against Arizona’s other receiving weapons.
The Cardinals went after those matchups, and the defender won his fair share, matching the franchise record with six pass defenses. He also gave up nine receptions for 147 yards — 45% of the opposition’s offensive output — and a touchdown. McCreary lost multiple man-to-man reps and was responsible for a couple of busts in zone, including one that resulted in a score.
McCreary battled. No question about it. But he’s still a veteran, on a minimum contract, performing around that level. And the depth behind him is equally frightening.
Former second-round pick Ennis Rakestraw has been stellar in limited work. That can’t be denied. He probably deserves a bigger share of the workload. But the durability concerns won’t go away just because he’s strung a few good performances together.
Beyond that, Rock Ya-Sin is battling a hamstring injury and was struggling prior to suffering the strain, earning him a demotion. Special teams standout Khalil Dorsey likely isn’t an answer, and the team clearly doesn’t trust Nick Whiteside enough to elevate him off the practice squad.
The room’s setup is as concerning today as it was in June, when the team felt compelled to part with former first-round pick Terrion Arnold. Frankly, it’s more concerning now, given Ya-Sin’s struggles after being a steady hand in 2025.
So what are the Lions to do? They can’t reasonably stand pat and hope for the best with their current collective.
They already missed out on the big fish, Joey Porter Jr., who was shipped to Dallas in exchange for a pair of draft picks, including a 2028 second-rounder. The factors — whether trade comp, potential extension cost or something else — didn’t line up for Detroit.
So be it. That was always a long shot. But what else can general manager Brad Holmes do to reinforce the position?
Let’s dive deep into the market, exploring the realistic trade targets on teams that will or could end up sellers ahead of November’s deadline.
Depth chart analysis of potential sellers
Teams listed based on current draft order
Tennessee Titans (0-5)
Outside starters: Alontae Taylor, Cor’Dale Flott
Nickel: Marcus Harris
Notable depth: Micah Robinson
After shining in a versatile role for the Saints, Taylor got a lucrative three-year, $58 million deal in free agency from the Titans this offseason, which included $42 million in guarantees.
His contract is structured in a way that makes him moveable, but given how badly he’s struggled playing on the outside for the Titans, there probably won’t be a long line of interested teams wanting to take on a fully guaranteed $20.5 million base salary in 2027.