Brad Holmes acquired some much-needed depth for the Lions’ secondary with a one-year deal for Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ DB Christian Izien. It’s another cost effective acquistion by Holmes that won’t break the Lions cash- strapped salary cap bank.
Detroit Lions Gain Depth At Secondary With Free-Agent Signing
The former 25-year-old Rutgers undrafted free agent had a productive couple of seasons with the Bucs, recording 165 tackles, three interceptions, five pass defenses, and three forced fumbles.
Izien, Pre-Draft Reports
A native of Far Rockaway, New York, Izien was a three-star recruit who recorded 303 total tackles as a four-year starter with Rutgers. Entering the draft in 2023, Izien had the misfortune to be in the same DB draft class as Brian Branch. With Branch the clear number-one prospect and making Bruce Feldman’s Freaks list, other competitors automatically looked weaker by comparison.
NFLdraftbuzz.com reported that Izien reads receivers’ routes well and “covers a lot of ground in a hurry when in space.” Noting that he can play with aggression and isn’t afraid to deliver a big hit, Izien has the physical skills to match any cornerback in his class. Despite some “rough edges on the field,” it was noted that he has “the fluidity, speed, and quick feet to come down and defend slot receivers in man coverage.”
NFL analyst Lance Zierlein reported that Izien possessed experience at both nickel back and safety with “eye-catching speed and explosiveness.”
However, Zierlein also downgraded his slow reaction-time to the quarterback’s release and felt he didn’t display enough control when flying downhill as a tackler.
Izien, A UDFA Who Made An Impact in Tampa Bay
Izien went undrafted in the 2023 NFL Draft. On May 12, 2023, he signed with Tampa Bay.
During the preseason, the 5’10” 200 lb. safety impressed the coaching staff so much that he made the roster out of training camp. Primarily used as a nickel or slot defender in his rookie season, Izien appeared in all 17 regular season games. He started four of those games playing nickel back.
As a rookie, Izien had a productive year with Tampa Bay. Earning a very respectable rookie coverage grade of 65.5 from PFF, he recorded 65 total tackles (47 solo), two interceptions, two PDF’s, and a forced fumble.
In 2024, Izien made 14 appearances with 10 starts. He recorded 75 total tackles, one interception, three pass deflections, and one forced fumble. However, on December 26, 2024, the “do-it all” Izien was placed on injured reserve with a pectoral injury that ended his season.
Coming back in 2025, Izien appeared in 14 games with one start. He recorded 25 tackles with 16 solo and one forced fumble. In his three seasons with Tampa Bay, Izien appeared in a total of 31 games with 14 starts.
How Izien Will Fit The Lions Secondary
In 2024, the Lions’ secondary was a cornerstone of the team’s success, with Pro Bowlers Branch and Kerby Joseph, comprising the best safety duo in the NFL.
However, in the wake of injuries to both players along with Terrion Arnold’s pending legal problems, that strength evaporated. The severity of Joseph’s injury and his pending return is yet to be determined. Branch is not expected to return, at least until late October. Arnold’s availability is questionable. Adding depth at secondary became an absolute necessity.
While Izien won’t replace a Pro Bowl caliber talent, he does provide starting strength where it is most needed. Possessing above-average speed and acceleration, Izien also gets high marks for his tackling ability. If Holmes can prioritize the secondary at the 2026 Draft, and take a high quality first round pick like Dillon Thieneman or Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, the Lion should be able to cover their depleted secondary until Branch’s return.