The Detroit Lions have done as much as possible to redefine their secondary in the 2023 offseason. This was a necessary construct. Last season, Detroit finished with a 9-8 record, just missing the playoffs right at the end of the regular season, and compiling the franchise’s first winning record since 2017.
The Lions and head coach Dan Campbell did so despite a defense that ranked 28th in Defensive DVOA, and a secondary that allowed opposing offenses to put up some pretty garish numbers. The Lions’ cornerbacks and safeties allowed 171 completions on 295 attempts for 2,657 yards, 17 touchdowns, eight interceptions, and an opponent passer rating of 95.8, which was the fourth-worst in the NFL behind only the Titans, Chiefs, and Panthers. Detroit’s EPA allowed of 28.18 among their secondary was also the NFL’s fourth-worst, behind the Raiders, Bears, and Falcons, and their Positive Play Rate allowed of 47.1% was the NFL’s sixth-worst.
In free agency, general manager Brad Holmes and his staff engineered three team-friendly deals with potential impact players on team-friendly deals.
- Cornerback Cameron Sutton signed a three-year, $33 million contract with $22.5 million guaranteed;
- Cornerback Emmanuel Moseley signed a one-year, $6 million deal with $2 million guaranteed; and
- Safety/slot defender C.J. Gardner-Johnson signed a one-year, $8 million contract.
How the Detroit Lions restored the roar with their new secondary in free agency
Then, the trade of 2020 third-overall pick Jeff Okudah to the Atlanta Falcons for a 2023 fifth-round pick. Okudah had some good moments in his 2022 season to partially offset a career that had been marred too often by injuries and inconsistency, and there are times when a fresh start is the best thing.
How the Falcons can reclaim the NFL career of former Lions top pick Jeff Okudah
Now, the Lions have the sixth overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft as part of the Matthew Stafford trade, and it becomes a virtual certainty that they’ll go for a top cornerback with that pick. Sutton and Moseley are both good players, but the Lions are telling you with the Okudah move that there’s still a need for a true franchise player at the position.
Based on what the Lions seem to prefer, and the traits of the top cornerbacks in the upcoming draft, here’s how I’d rank the possibilities.