The Detroit Lions have a pretty solid track record of finding free agent cornerbacks who provide an immediate boost to the defense. From Rashean Mathis to Johnson Bademosi, DeShawn Shead to Rashaan Melvin, the Lions have found several capable short-term answers at cornerback on the free agent market in recent years.

The 2020 CB market offers the chance to do even more. Several potential long-term fixtures at corner are hitting free agency. There are some veteran stopgaps available too. Here are some the Lions should look at signing if the price is right, presented in alphabetical order…

Ronald Darby, Eagles

Darby makes sense for Detroit on a couple of levels. Foremost is his direct experience playing under new Lions defensive coordinator Cory Undlin. Darby spent the last three seasons in Philadelphia with Undlin as his position coach.

The 26-year-old is coming off his worst season as a pro, a season where he battled through a hip flexor injury that eventually landed him on injured reserve. In other words, he’s affordable and has something to prove.

Prior to the bad 2019, and pretty much every CB in Philadelphia had a bad 2019 campaign, Darby was an above-average starter for both the Eagles and Bills. He’s at his best in press-man coverage on the outside and aggressively attacks the run — the two biggest requirements to play in Matt Patricia’s defense. Give him a one-year prove-it deal and hope Darby does indeed prove he’s back to his prime form from 2016-2018.