Lions corner makes recruiting pitch to Pro Bowl CB Jalen Ramsey
The Detroit Lions could use another star on the defensive side of the ball.
There was a lot to like about the Detroit Lions in 2022. The defense was not one of these things.
The Lions defense surrendered the third-most passing yards, the fourth-most rushing yards, and the fifth-most points per game last season. Even the best offense in the NFL will struggle to overcome such a bad defensive unit, and it makes sense that many have the Lions pegged to invest a lot of their available resources into the defense during the offseason.
The defense has plenty of young stars that could pan out over the next few years, but the secondary in the modern game isn't a place where you can roll with many young, unproven faces and expect success.
High-level quarterback play and changing rules already make playing defense hard enough. A lack of experience in these roles with young players as the leaders of other young players has an obvious way of backfiring.
The Lions have to find some proven defensive backs this offseason if they want to make a playoff push in 2023 and beyond, and the safest option right now looks like going after a veteran in a trade or on the free agent market.
Why not target one of the best of the best at the position?
Jalen Ramsey has recently become one of the hottest names on the trade market. The Rams will likely have to move on from the expensive corner at their current rate, and the Lions make plenty of sense as a trade partner based on their cap space, resources, and need.
Even the Lions players recognize this.
Jerry Jacobs didn't do all that much to save the secondary in 2022 with his inconsistent play, but finding a way to bring one of the best corners in the NFL to Detroit would be a great way to redeem himself.
Ramsey would fit with this unit like a glove if he was willing to come to Detroit. At just 28 years old, Ramsey can get a payday with the Lions, headline a young group of corners that could trend even further in the right direction with a veteran to shoulder the toughest matchups, and get a good shot at joining one of the fastest-rising teams in a weak NFC.
Jacobs is showing a team-first mentality by actively recruiting a player to his team that plays the same position at the highest level, but it is obvious to everyone that this Lions team has to grow on defense if it is going to take the next steps in 2023.
Guys with Jalen Ramsey's resume have sway, even in trade scenarios. If the Lions and their fans really want to be great in 2023 and beyond, they would be wise to follow Jerry Jacobs' example and recruit one of the best players in the NFL to Detroit.
Featured Image via Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports
