While the Detroit Lions may have just doubled down on cornerback in the 2024 NFL Draft by taking Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw, there are still a lot of question marks within that defensive back group that need answering.
Starter Carlton Davis and top reserve options Kindle Vildor and Khalil Dorsey are all about to hit free agency, leaving Detroit with their two aforementioned 2024 draft selections, breakout player Amik Robertson, and two practice squad players in Morice Norris and Stantley Thomas-Oliver.
Arnold will be one of the two starting outside cornerbacks next season, but that’s where all certainty within the position group ends. Robertson is starting-caliber player, but his positional versatility to play on the outside or in the slot leaves the door open for Detroit to find the best cornerback available in free agency and play everyone in the positions where they will have the most success.
Rakestraw should compete for a starting job come training camp, but the reality is that the second-round pick may not be ready. His rookie campaign was essentially a redshirt year as he spent most of the season as a backup or on injured reserve. He has the ability to play all cornerback roles like Robertson, but we have not seen exactly how capable he is at it just yet.
What this team needs is experience at the cornerback position, and this year’s group of free agents has plenty of that.
Previous free agency previews:
Lions free agency preview: Cornerbacks
Under contract: Terrion Arnold, Ennis Rakestraw, Amik Robertson, Stantley Thomas-Oliver (futures), Morice Norris (DB)
Free agents: Carlton Davis, Khalil Dorsey, Emmanuel Moseley, Kindle Vildor
D.J. Reed, New York Jets
2024 stats: 14 games (14 starts), 64 tackles, 4 TFL, 1 QBH, 11 PD
Detroit needs a vested veteran under contract for 2025, and D.J. Reed fits the bill perfectly. Reed is versatile enough to play nickel defender if needed but thrives as an outside cornerback against an opposing team’s No. 1 receiver.
Reed is coming off a three-year deal with the Jets where he started alongside—and mentored—Sauce Gardner. That kind of leadership ability would be beneficial to the young corps of cornerbacks here in Detroit. At only 28 years old, he still has a lot of football ahead of him as well. The question will be how much per year his price tag will be and how many years he will want on his contract.
Spotrac puts his market value just shy of $15 million per year. While that is a steep price, the Lions can afford to shell out that kind of cash for a starting-caliber cornerback. Reed would likely want to sign a multi-year deal as well given his age. His last deal was $33 million over three years, expect almost that same price now for just two seasons given how well he played in New York.
Reed’s skills more than make up for his lack of size. At 5-foot-9, he isn’t able to outmuscle most opposing receivers. Instead, he relies on some impressive footwork and a solid understanding of the game to close that gap. He plays physical on every rep and that has allowed him to make plays on the ball, though he doesn’t have as many takeaways as he does pass breakups.
His physical play comes at the cost of a few extra penalty flags being thrown his way, but that is a problem that can be corrected. What can’t be coached is his heart and football IQ. Reed excels at diagnosing the play as it happens and rarely finds himself getting beat badly downfield.
If the Lions pursue Reed, he would likely be the other outside cornerback opposite of Arnold, and Robertson would play in the slot in the nickel role. Reed also brings experience as a prolific college kick and punt return specialist.
Mike Hilton, Cincinnati Bengals
2024 stats: 16 games (10 starts), 73 tackles, 12 TFL, 1 INT, 5 PD, 1 QBH
Versatility is a valuable asset in the NFL, and Mike Hilton brings just that to a defense. The 5-foot-9 cornerback is primarily a slot defender and has thrived in that role for eight seasons now. What makes Hilton a unique free agent prospect is that he can not only also play outside cornerback, but has taken NFL reps at free safety as well. The Lions do not always follow the traditional nickel defensive schemes and have used three cornerbacks or three safeties in different packages. Having a player who can fill any of those roles would be highly valuable to the team.
But how valuable will that player be in a literal sense? Hilton was averaging $6 million per year over four years with the Bengals and had a $3.256 million deal during his final season in Pittsburgh. Being one of the more veteran cornerbacks in this year’s free agent class (he turns 31 on Sunday), Hilton’s running rate is projected to be much higher than his previous contracts. His market value is projected to be upwards of $12 million and he is likely looking for a multi-year deal.
Hilton’s strengths are that he plays well in press and zone coverage, and his best football has come at the line of scrimmage. In 2024, he came away with 12 tackles-for-loss from the slot and got to an opposing quarterback once. He is strong against the run and can be used successfully on blitzes from the nickel position. Where he is lacking is in his man coverage skills.
If the Lions were to sign Hilton, Arnold and Robertson/Rakestraw would play on the outside and the eight-year veteran would take over as the starting slot defender.
Eric Stokes, Green Bay Packers
2024 stats: 17 games (7 starts), 41 tackles
Let’s say that Detroit rolls out a cornerback group of Arnold, Robertson, and Rakestraw for 2025. Who would be the next man up in that situation given that Vildor, Dorsey, and Moseley are all set to be free agents?
Former first-round pick Eric Stokes was once a promising starter for the Green Bay Packers but could not ever live up to his draft status due to injuries. The Packers declined his $12.4 million fifth-year option, leaving Stokes to become a free agent come the new league year.
Stokes is 6-foot-1 and 194 pounds, but does not move like it at all. He put up a 4.31 40-yard dash time at the Combine and posted an elite 9.37 RAS. That speed has helped him be able to physically keep up in coverage against receivers, but his play style is very raw and inconsistent which has caused him to struggle as a starter.
Having four years in the league now, Stokes is 26 years old and still has a lot of time to grow and develop as a player. If signed, the Lions would be able to keep him as a viable depth option who happens to have 32 starts under his belt.
Stokes’ anticipated value is currently unknown as it depends on if teams see him as a starter or a top-tier reserve player. If the Lions see him as a depth option that can grow into a starting role down the line, they should aim for $2 to $3 million per year on a short-term deal.