These are the last 5 cornerbacks the Detroit Lions should sign
Detroit Lions have no shortage of cornerback names being floated after the Terrion Arnold situation. The problem is some of the most popular suggestions, like these five guys, are also some of the worst fits for what Detroit actually needs.
The Detroit Lions need a starting cornerback. That much is clear after the Terrion Arnold era ended following a tumultuous two seasons and an even rougher offseason. Detroit needs someone who can step in and play on the outside, not just a name that Lions fans recognize from years past. There are plenty of options worth pursuing, but there are also several the Lions should avoid entirely. A lot of fans have thrown names around on social media, and some of those names just don’t make sense for this roster. Let’s break down five cornerbacks the Lions should stay away from and why.
Marshon Lattimore
The connection here is obvious. Lattimore is a former first-round pick out of New Orleans, and you can understand why fans would tie him to Dan Campbell’s time with the Saints. He’s played in a defense similar to what Aaron Glenn ran and what Kelvin Shepherd is running now.
But here’s the thing. On Jan. 8, Lattimore was arrested in Ohio on charges of failing to disclose a concealed weapon, and that’s not his first arrest. He was also arrested in 2021 for possession of a handgun. You’d be trading one legal issue for another, and that’s something the Lions just do not want to deal with right now.
On top of that, Lattimore hasn’t played well since leaving New Orleans. In his time with Washington, he posted a 56.8 Pro Football Focus grade and a 53.2 Pro Football Focus grade. He only played Weeks 1 through 9 last season and has dealt with injuries in 2024 and 2022 as well. It’s a name you know, and I get that. But the Lions don’t want Lattimore.
Trevon Diggs
I get it. In 2021, Diggs had 11 interceptions and everyone thought he was going to take over the world. He fell off hard after that. The 2022 season was fine. He dealt with injuries in 2023. The 2024 season didn’t look good. Dallas let him go in 2025, Green Bay picked him up, played him in one game, gave him exactly one snap in the wild card game against the Bears, and then let him walk. He has remained unsigned.
Yes, he’s just 28 years old. But outside of those 11 interceptions, Diggs was never really that good of a player. He just kind of looked like it. It’s similar to how the Bears defense last season wasn’t actually good, but because they forced so many turnovers, it masked all the issues. Diggs’ ball production masked a lot of coverage problems. He doesn’t fit what the Lions need.
Kenny Moore
This is the guy I hear about all the time. Why won’t the Lions go get Kenny Moore? Because they don’t need him. Moore is a slot corner. The Lions already have a good situation with Roger McCreary. They also have Christian Izien, Avonte Maddox, and rookie Keith Abney, whom they just drafted and expect to play in the slot.
I know he’s the name everyone keeps bringing up, but Moore plays a position Detroit doesn’t need to fill. The Lions need an outside corner. That’s not what Moore is. He’s been a slot corner his whole career for the most part, and he was very good at it. If the Lions needed a slot corner, I’d say go get him, 100%. They don’t. Lay off the Kenny Moore idea.
Tre’Davious White
I think White had maybe two good seasons, and those were a while ago. Since then, it has been a steep decline. He dealt with injuries in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, got traded, went back to Buffalo in 2025, started most of the season, and was just okay. He’s going to be 32 years old soon.
The Lions need somebody who can come in and play. Pretty much anybody they go after at this point, assuming they don’t trade, is going to be a one-year rental. You’d at least like that rental to be a little younger and to have recently played some good football. I just don’t know if White is that guy for Detroit.
Artie Burns
I don’t get why some fans are bringing up Artie Burns. Yes, former first-round pick, 25th overall. He was a starter in 2017 and has not been a starter since. The snap counts tell the story: 308 snaps in 2018, 67 in 2019, 254 in 2021, 16 in 2022, 232 in 2023, 51 in 2024. He did not play in 2025.
That guy has barely played. He’s not the answer to the Lions’ cornerback problem. Not at all.
The Lions have a real need at outside cornerback, and settling for a familiar name with red flags or a poor fit would be the wrong move. Detroit should keep looking for the right guy, not just any guy.
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