This is the eighth of our prospect positional preview series for the Detroit Lions heading into the NFL combine, which kicks off next week in Indianapolis. Today: Secondary. Previously:Quarterbacks,running backs,tight ends,wide receivers,offensive line,defensive line/EDGE,linebackers.
Need?
In the final seven games of the 2025 season, the Lions’ secondary gave up 1,906 passing yards and 13 passing touchdowns. Adding more talent to this unit is a necessity, but within reason.
The Lions are set at cornerback heading into next season. D.J. Reed and Terrion Arnold were hampered by injuries in their first year as a tandem. But when both were healthy, they proved to be a formidable duo. Reed’s hamstring injury limited his mobility over the back end of his 2025 campaign, while Arnold was hit left and right with a bit of everything (concussion, shoulder injury). A full offseason program should see both players heal and return to form.
Concerns regarding the Lions’ cornerback rotation center around their depth. Injuries have prevented Ennis Rakestraw from being a true contributor since arriving in 2024. Amik Robertson’s second season in Detroit saw him take a step back performance-wise, and it’s unclear whether the Lions plan to re-sign him. He played well as a nickel but struggled as a consistent starter on the outside when needed.
Rock Ya-Sin and Avonte Maddox, both of whom joined the Lions last year, are also free agents. They played extremely well in their reserve roles at both cornerback and safety, warranting a new deal from Detroit.
With the possibility of losing significant depth when free agency starts, adding young talent will be key if it happens. However, if they’re able to retain at least two of those mentioned players, they can punt on drafting a cornerback this year.
However, the same can’t be said regarding safety. Both Brian Branch (Achilles) and Kerby Joseph (knee) may not be able to play in Week 1 due to the severity of their injuries. Banking on their availability and not adding young talent could be considered malpractice. While the Lions should address adding depth in the trenches early in the draft, Day 2 should be where they consider drafting the best safety available.
Top Prospects:
Caleb Downs, Safety, Ohio State
There’s about a snowball’s chance in a very hot place that Caleb Downs is available when the Lions make their first-round selection. And if he is, adding a player of his talent would warrant altering their draft strategy. Downs stamped himself as the best defensive back in this year’s class based on his final season with the Buckeyes.
He showcased an ability to be efficient in run coverage, but more importantly, a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks. Earning the Lott and Jim Thorpe Awards in 2025, Downs projects to be a top-ten pick.
Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Simply looking at stat lines fails to paint an overall picture of how good Mansoor Delane is. Production-wise, his interceptions went down in 2025 (two) compared to his previous season (four). However, his pass deflections were up by four (11), and, most importantly, he was near-elite in coverage. Opposing quarterbacks completed just 40% of their passes thrown in his direction. Delane is a versatile defender who can hold his weight wherever he’s placed.
Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson
Starting 31 of 39 games at Clemson, Avieon Terrell is one of the more aggressive and physical cornerbacks in this year’s class. During his playing for the Tigers, he logged 125 combined tackles, nine tackles-for-loss, 28 passes defensed and eight forced fumbles – which led the nation over a three-year span. He’s versatile enough to be used in both man and zone coverages, and he’s one heck of a tackler.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo
After Downs, Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, in my opinion, is the best safety in this class. A bulk of his snaps come from playing in the box, and a big reason could be that he’s solid against the run. He finished his final season with the Rockets, tallying 36 tackles, six passes defensed, three forced fumbles, two fumbles recovered, and two interceptions.
Receivers caught less than half of their passes with McNeil-Warren on their tracks. Early projections have him coming off the board at some point during Day 1. Should he slip to Day 2, the Lions should attempt to snag him.
Potential Lions Fits:
Dillon Thieneman, Safety, Oregon
Man coverage, which the Lions typically run, is not a strong suit for Dillion Thieneman. He’s also not the quickest fellow, either. But that’s about it when it comes to weaknesses in his game. He’s a versatile defender who can play as box, deep or in the slot. He’s quite the workhorse, playing no less than 790 snaps in each of the past three seasons at Oregon.
Dillon would provide the Lions a high-IQ option at safety to pair with mostly like Joseph in Week 1. He picked up First-team All-American honors in his final season with the Ducks after finishing with 44 tackles, five passes defensed, two interceptions, and one sack. Projections have him coming off the board somewhere in the middle of the second round, which could put the Lions in a position to make a move to snag him.
Michael Taafe, Safety, Texas
Michael Taafe has the height (6 feet), but at 189 pounds, he’ll need to add some mass to be effective at the next level. One common theme among defenders in this class is versatility, which Taafe demonstrates by playing all three safety positions. He’ll need some grooming, but there’s some grit about his game, as he rarely misses tackles. A smart player who could fit well with the Lions.
Bishop Fitzgerald, Safety, USC
Should the Lions dedicate early draft capital to improving the trenches, landing a safety prospect like Bishop Fitzgerald in the later rounds could prove to be a steal. He’s regarded as one of the best ballhawks in this year’s class, as evidenced by the five interceptions he snagged last season with the Trojans.
Due to his height (5 feet 11), he could struggle against larger receivers in jump ball and contested situations. That said, his instincts are top tier, and Dan Campbell – like any coach – loves a smart player.
Sleepers to Watch:
Just because I think the Lions should not consider a cornerback in this draft class doesn’t mean that will happen. Here are a pair of defenders whose makeup stuck out to me.
Jadon Canady, CB, Oregon
Jadon Canady sneakily put together an efficient season in coverage during his final season at Oregon. Opposing quarterbacks posted a 45.9% completion rate when throwing in his direction and a 39.4 passer rating. Canady, who primarily plays slot defender, could provide the Lions with some versatility at nickelback, with experience rotating deep and playing in the box.
With the possibility of Robertson leaving the team via free agency, it would be a smart addition. His ball production and man/zone flexibility make him an intriguing Day 3 option for Detroit, as he can compete for sub-package reps and carve out early value on special teams.
Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
The best ability is availability, something Davison Igbinosun has demonstrated with 53 career starts. He isn’t a high-volume disruptor, and he will not be regarded for his tackling. But Igbinosun has a combination of size, press ability, and downfield coverage profile that makes him a low-risk, high-reward type of pick.
He’s willing to get his hands dirty in the run game, but what stands out about him is the fact that opposing quarterbacks were largely unsuccessful when targeting him, surrendering zero touchdowns and snagging two interceptions last season.