We ran the Lions’ cornerback problem through our new NFL trade simulator — these are the 3 deals we think Brad Holmes should make
The simulator produced everything from absurd blockbusters to surprisingly realistic deals. Kristian Fulton, Riq Woolen and Jahdae Barron were the three that made me stop and think.
The Detroit Lions are coming off a strong win over the Arizona Cardinals, and the cornerback room is the first place my mind goes when I think about trade ideas. A to Z Sports just launched a brand new NFL trade simulator late last week, and I’ve spent way too much time putting together Lions cornerback trades with it.
The setup is simple. You pick two teams from the drop-down menus, hit “Find More Trades,” and the simulator spits out ideas. Every player and pick has a point value next to it, and the goal is to match those points as closely as you can. Those points aren’t pulled out of thin air. They’re built on statistical value, analytical value, starting status, and contract value.
You can also search by position. I asked for cornerbacks for the Lions from any team, and it came back with everything from realistic deals to wild ones like Aidan Hutchinson, a second-round pick, and a fourth-round pick for Denver’s Patrick Surtain II. Pass on that one.
Here are the three trades I actually like.
Kristian Fulton from the Chiefs for a sixth-round pick
The Kansas City Chiefs have a cornerback they don’t really need. Rookie Mansoor Delane looks like a future All-Pro and should be a Pro Bowler as a rookie. That pushes Kristian Fulton down the depth chart.
Fulton isn’t a starter for Kansas City, but he’s the 11th-highest-graded cornerback in the league with a 76.0 grade via Pro Football Focus. He started one game against the Colts. Against the Raiders in Week 4, he played just 16 snaps and was excellent in all of them. It feels like the Chiefs see him as a good player but simply prefer the guys ahead of him.
Fulton has starting experience with both Tennessee and the Chargers. My first instinct was a fifth-round pick, but the simulator said that leaned toward K.C. A sixth-round pick came back as a fair trade.
If I’m the Lions, I’m doing that all day. That’s a starting-caliber cornerback for a sixth-rounder. If I’m Lions GM Brad Holmes, that’s the first call I’m making this week.
The simulator also shows the financials. Detroit would take on $7 million in cap space this season. The Chiefs would clear $7 million, though they really only wind up with about $3.1 million because of where their cap sits right now.
Riq Woolen from the Eagles for two 2027 picks
The Philadelphia Eagles are having a rough season. They’ve already traded Cam Jurgens, Lane Johnson retired out of nowhere, and Saquon Barkley is hurt. At this point, it doesn’t look like the Eagles are Super Bowl-bound, and they might even miss the playoffs.
Forget about Quinyon Mitchell or Cooper DeJean. Philly isn’t selling either of them, and even a first, second, and third might not get it done.
Riq Woolen is a different story. He’s a big-bodied cornerback who thrives in man coverage, which is exactly the type of player the Lions want. He has a 66.9 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, an 85.9 tackling grade, and a 68.7 run defense grade. He also had a strong game against Jacksonville.
The Eagles have more void years than any team in the league and plenty of guaranteed money on the books. I don’t think they plan to bring Woolen back next year. I wouldn’t give up a second-rounder for him. A third with a fifth or sixth attached leans Detroit a little in the simulator, and honestly, I think a third by itself would get it done in the real world.
Detroit would take on about $4.3 million in 2026. Woolen is 27, so if he comes in and plays well, you re-sign him. Pair him with D.J. Reed, who showed up big against Arizona when he got to play the man coverage he’s built for, and that’s a fun duo.
Jahdae Barron from the Broncos for a third
I keep coming back to the Denver Broncos because they’re stocked with cornerbacks. Surtain is a former Defensive Player of the Year. They also have Riley Moss, Ja’Quan McMillian, and Kris Abrams-Draine.
Then there’s Jahdae Barron, who Denver took in the first round of last year’s draft. Moss is having a decent season and needs to get paid. McMillian, the slot corner, needs to get paid too. Maybe Barron was supposed to replace one of them. I’m not sure that’s the plan anymore.
The simulator says a third and a seventh is fair because Barron isn’t a starter, and that drags down his point value. Truthfully, if I were the Broncos, I’d ask for a second, and I’d probably get it. The Cardinals just got a second-round pick for Marvin Harrison Jr., and he hasn’t played well at all.
Still, Barron is 24 and under contract for two more seasons, or three with the fifth-year option. Reed played better against Arizona, but I don’t see him with the Lions in 2027. Barron could be the CB1 this team builds its secondary around for years.
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