The NFL trade deadline is about a month away, and everyone knows the Detroit Lions need to trade for a cornerback. The real question is who that cornerback is going to be.

If you were hoping for a superstar like Patrick Surtain II, Quinyon Mitchell, or Christian Gonzalez, get that out of your mind right now. That isn’t happening. These four guys, though, have Lions trade target written all over them. Keep an eye on them over the next three to four weeks, because I think one of them is going to wind up playing for Detroit before the end of the season.

Let’s break it down.

Kristian Fulton, Kansas City Chiefs

For starters, Chiefs cornerback Kristian Fulton is probably the most realistic option on this list. He’s a true man coverage corner, and he’s only 28 years old.

He’s also not expensive. Fulton is in the final year of a two-year, $20 million deal, and I think the Lions could get him for a fifth- or sixth-round pick. That’s probably the part Brad Holmes would like the most.

I get it. Fulton has an injury history, and Lions fans are going to scoff at that because of the idea that Holmes only trades for injured players. You have to understand that over 600 players missed at least a game last season. Injuries are just a thing that happens in the NFL. Fulton is not Marcus Davenport. He played only eight games last year, but before that he played 15, 12, 11, and 13. He misses a few games a year, but he plays.

He’s also playing well right now. Kansas City isn’t using him as a starter. He’s played three games, started one, and logged 115 snaps. He has a 76.0 overall grade, which ranks 10th among qualifying cornerbacks, and a 76.4 coverage grade, which ranks 11th.

The number the Lions would really like is his 69.9 run defense grade. Detroit doesn’t just want its corners to cover. It wants them to tackle, too. Fulton was a full-time starter with the Titans and the Chargers, and I think he could start for the Lions right now.

It’s not out of nowhere, either. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler floated the idea of the Lions trading for Fulton earlier this week.

Riq Woolen, Philadelphia Eagles

This one is a bit of a stretch, but it’s fun to stretch a little.

The Lions coached Riq Woolen at the Senior Bowl and seemed super interested in him before his draft. He went to the Seahawks instead and showed early on how good he could be. Then he got passed up by the rest of Seattle’s cornerbacks.

The Eagles are starting him every game right now. But if things keep falling apart in Philadelphia, a fire sale could happen. I know what you’re thinking. No, Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean aren’t going anywhere. Those guys are core pillars. Woolen, who is 27 and on a one-year deal, is a different story.

He’s not having his best season. Woolen has a 60.5 Pro Football Focus grade, a 59.3 coverage grade, and a 64.2 run defense grade. That run defense number is pretty solid, and he can get a little pressure as a pass rusher, too.

Here’s the thing. At 6-foot-4 with good speed and ball skills, he’s a better fit in man coverage than in what the Eagles do. I think he’s a better player in Detroit than in Philadelphia.

The price is the issue. The Eagles might want a third- or fourth-round pick. I wouldn’t pay a third. A fourth I could swallow, though I’d rather it be a fifth. You also have to decide whether you plan to extend him or treat him as a rental, because he did flame out in Seattle.

Zyon McCollum, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This is my favorite option for the Lions. Zyon McCollum is a big cornerback who looks built to play man coverage in this scheme.

Tampa Bay looks like a team going nowhere fast. If things keep going like this, I would imagine Todd Bowles could be fired either during the season or once it’s over, and the Buccaneers could start looking to shed some money.

McCollum’s 56.6 overall grade doesn’t tell the whole story. He’s struggling in run defense and coverage on paper, but one or two bad games are dragging that down. He had a 44.5 grade against the Packers. Outside of that, he’s mostly been in the mid-60s to high 70s. Grades aren’t everything. They’re a reference point.

The big draw here is that McCollum is 27 and has two more years left on his deal. He wouldn’t just be Detroit’s top corner this year. He could be its top corner for the next two and a half seasons. With D.J. Reed probably not coming back after this year, the Lions are going to rebuild that room anyway. Why not start now with a CB1 you can build around through free agency and the draft?

A third-round pick is a little high, but it makes sense for multiple years of control. If I’m Brad Holmes, I make this trade, and then I throw a fifth or sixth at the Chiefs for Fulton. Two trades. Rebuild the room right now.

Donte Jackson, Los Angeles Chargers

Finally, there’s Chargers cornerback Donte Jackson. He’s a veteran with many years as a starter, and he could help right the ship immediately.

This is a rental. Jackson is 30 and turns 31 in November. Los Angeles isn’t at Tampa Bay’s level, but it looks like a team that needs to reset. I think a fifth-round pick is more than fair, and a fourth would likely get it done.

The only problem is that Jackson left the Week 4 game with a hamstring injury and hasn’t practiced this week. It’s only been one practice, and he isn’t on injured reserve. That at least gives you some hope this isn’t a long-term thing and that he could be available for trade again relatively soon. It’s something to monitor.

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