Detroit Lions 2025 camp preview: With starters set, can Rakestraw earn top CB backup job?

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Over the next couple of weeks, leading into the start of training camp, we're going to take a position-by-position look at the Detroit Lions' roster.

We'll analyze the projected starting situation, highlight a key camp battle, explore a burning question, and set a statistical over/under for the upcoming season.

Today, we’ll be looking at the cornerbacks.

Who is on the roster?

Terrion Arnold, DJ Reed, Amik Robertson, Ennis Rakestraw, Khalil Dorsey, Avonte Maddox, Rock Ya-Sin, Stantley Thomas-Oliver

Starting lineup outlook

It's been head-spinning to watch the Lions remake their cornerback room multiple times since 2021.

General manager Brad Holmes inherited Jeff Okudah and Amani Oruwariye before the team rode undrafted free agent Jerry Jacobs for three years. Then, the GM had one of the biggest whiffs of his tenure when he signed Cam Sutton in free agency.

Holmes righted the ship at the position with an aggressive overhaul last offseason, trading for Carlton Davis, signing Amik Robertson and drafting Terrion Arnold. The trio wasn't perfect, but it was a massive upgrade from the team's recent combinations in the back end.

Unfortunately, the mix was short-lived. Davis cashed in as an unrestricted free agent this offseason, netting a huge offer from the Patriots. But Holmes was able to pivot, landing one of the NFL's premier man-coverage corners, Reed, for less than it would have cost to retain Davis.

Reed is coming off three years with the New York Jets, where he allowed a completion percentage of 60.1% when targeted. And even though he's on the smaller side at 5-foot-9, 188 pounds, he's a ferocious competitor in run support, making him a natural fit for the way the Lions play defense.

Reed will be paired with Arnold, who battled through some early-season penalty woes as a rookie to piece together a strong debut, headlined by allowing just 55.6% of passes his direction to be completed. He finished his first season with 10 pass breakups and zero interceptions, so generating takeaways will be a focus in Year 2.

Robertson, meanwhile, will go back to the nickel spot where he thrived in 2024. Another feisty competitor, the undersized defender plays like he's the biggest man on the field.

Camp competition to watch

Warning: This is going to be a cop-out.

There is admittedly always wiggle room for things to shift, but the positional pecking order feels clear. As noted, the starters are expected to be Arnold, Reed, and Robertson. As for depth, Maddox should end up the top backup at both nickel and safety.

If there's an injury on the outside, the team can either shift Robertson wide and bring in Maddox or turn to Rakestraw. The room should be rounded out by Dorsey and Ya-Sin, who will primarily be counted on for their special-teams contributions.

More than a battle between two players, let’s see if Rakestraw can do enough during camp to earn the coaching staff's trust as the first option off the bench in case of an injury to Arnold or Reed.

The second-year cornerback out of Missouri, selected in the second round a year ago, spent most of his rookie year battling a nagging hamstring injury. Early in that debut campaign, he was slated to start in the slot before aggravating the hamstring in pregame warmups. Now, the intention is for Rakestraw to be used exclusively on the outside. He should get a heavy workload in the preseason to show he's up for the task.

A burning question

Arnold, Reed and Robertson combined for zero interceptions in 2024. The only Lions cornerback to pick a pass last season now plays for the Patriots. Can this current group reverse this trend?

There are admittedly some restraints. Detroit's heavy reliance on man-to-man coverage has the corners with their backs to the quarterback on most downs, making it more difficult to make plays on the ball. Still, you'd like the interception tally to be more than zero.

Interestingly, all three projected starters had a penchant for takeaways in college. Reed had five interceptions during his final season at Kansas State, Arnold had five for Alabama the year before the Lions drafted him, and Robertson snagged 14 across three seasons at Louisiana Tech. So, playmaking is coded into their DNA; they just need to find ways to tap back into the skill.

Setting an over/under

Arnold interceptions: 2.5

Seemingly every week during last season, Arnold would predict he would get his first interception in the upcoming game. It never happened, but that's the type of unyielding confidence he has in his abilities.

Arnold has the footwork, speed, size and leaping ability to be a ballhawk at this level. Last season, he had a tendency to play the man rather than the ball. That led to a slew of flags early in the year. Now that he's adapted to the size and speed of NFL receivers, as well as the aggressive way defensive backs are officiated, Arnold should be able to snap his skid.

From there, we're just banking on the oft-repeated idea that when turnovers come, they come in bunches.