This year's class of cornerbacks is full of both top-end talent and terrific depth. Cornerback-needy teams will find really good starting-caliber cornerbacks well into Day 2 of this year's NFL Draft.
There are seven cornerbacks among NFL.com draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah's initial list of the Top 50 players in this class.
The Lions certainly have a need at cornerback as they look to improve the competition in that room. Jeff Okudah played pretty well for the most part last season and is under contract. The team really likes third-year cornerback Jerry Jacobs with his versatility and the trajectory he's on. Will Harris started 10 games but is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the new league year.
Top 5 cornerbacks to watch at the Combine:
1. Devon Witherspoon, Illinois, 6-0, 180
Witherspoon is lean but plays bigger than his frame would indicate. He certainly hits harder. He's a rangy cornerback with terrific ball skills. He recorded three interceptions to go along with 14 defended passes and 41 tackles this past season. Witherspoon has defended 23 passes the last two years combined at Illinois.
View photos of the defensive back prospects who were invited to the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine.
Oregon State defensive back Alex Austin (5) plays during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Boise State Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Corvallis, Ore. Oregon State won 34-17. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
Maryland defensive back Deonte Banks (3) reacts during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Rutgers, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Alabama defensive back Jordan Battle (9) during the first half of an NCAA college football game against LSU in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
Teammates congratulate Maryland defensive back Jakorian Bennett after he intercepted a pass against North Carolina State during the second half of the Duke's Mayo Bowl NCAA college football game in Charlotte, N.C., Friday, Dec. 30, 2022. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)
UCLA wide receiver Kam Brown, left, runs a pass as Southern California defensive back Mekhi Blackmon grabs his facemask during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Coastal Carolina cornerback Lance Boykin (7) during the second half of an NCAA football game against Buffalo on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021 in Amherst, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Alabama defensive back Brian Branch (14) runs a play against Arkansas during an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Michael Woods)
Kansas State cornerback Julius Brents (23) intercepts a pass intended for West Virginia wide receiver Reese Smith (15) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Morgantown, W.Va., Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Kathleen Batten)
Louisiana Tech defensive back Myles Brooks during an NCAA football game on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022 in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/Colin E. Braley)
Ohio State cornerback Cameron Brown (26) in action during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Maryland, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, in College Park, Md. Ohio State won 43-30. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Penn State safety Ji'Ayir Brown (16) runs up the field after an interception against Utah during the second half in the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game Monday, Jan. 2, 2023, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Illinois defensive back Sydney Brown celebrates breaking up a pass intended for Wyoming tight end Treyton Welch in the end zone during an NCAA college football game, Sunday, Aug. 28, 2022, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Cincinnati cornerback Arquon Bush (9) reaches for a pass intended for East Carolina wide receiver Jsi Hatfield that was incomplete during the first half of an NCAA college football game Friday, Nov. 11, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Louisville defensive back Kei'Trel Clark (13) follows a play during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Central Florida on Friday, Sept. 9, 2022, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Virginia Tech's Chamarri Conner #1 in action against West Virginia during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Morgantown,W. Va. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Florida safety Trey Dean III (0) runs to the ball during an NCAA football game against Utah on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022 in Gainesville, Fla. Florida defeated Utah 29-26. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Mississippi State cornerback Emmanuel Forbes (13) runs back a 76-yard touchdown interception against East Tennessee State during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Starkville, Miss., Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
LSU cornerback Mekhi Garner (2) runs during an NCAA football game against New Mexico on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Oregon defensive back Christian Gonzalez reacts during the first half of an NCAA college football game against California in Berkeley, Calif., Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
Alabama defensive back DeMarcco Hellams (2) reacts during the first half of an NCAA college football game against LSU in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman)
Ohio State safety Ronnie Hickman (14) in action during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Maryland, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Pittsburgh defensive back Brandon Hill (9) returns a fumble against Duke for a touchdown during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh won 28-26. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)
TCU cornerback Tre'Vius Hodges-Tomlinson (1) during the first half of the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football semifinal playoff game against Michigan, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2022, in Glendale, Arizona. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Minnesota defensive back Jordan Howden (23) in the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021, in Boulder, Colo. Minnesota won 30-0. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Iowa State defensive back Anthony Johnson Jr. gets set for a play during an NCAA college football game against Baylor, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Virginia cornerback Anthony Johnson (3) lines up during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Syracuse on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022, in Syracuse, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Texas A&M defensive back Antonio Johnson (27) lines up against Sam Houston State during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Miami wide receiver Brashard Smith (12) tries to turn the corner but is cut down by Texas A&M defensive back Jaylon Jones (17) during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Sam Craft)
Ball State's Nic Jones plays during an NCAA Football game on Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in Mount Pleasant, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)
Boise State cornerback Tyreque Jones (21) looks over the Tennessee-Martin in the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Boise, Idaho. Boise State won 30-7. (AP Photo/Steve Conner)
Notre Dame safety Brandon Joseph (16) celebrates after his team made a safety against BYUduring the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 8, 2022, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Stanford cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly (17) runs on the field in the third quarter of an NCAA college football game against Colgate in Stanford, Calif., Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022. (AP Photo/Josie Lepe)
American defensive back Darrell Luter Jr. of South Alabama (18) during the second half of the Senior Bowl NCAA college football game Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023, in Mobile, Ala.. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Illinois defensive back Jartavius Martin (21) intercepts a pass intended for Chattanooga wide receiver Tyron Arnett in the end zone during the first half of an NCAA college football game Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022, in Champaign, Ill. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Iowa defensive back Kaevon Merriweather reacts after a weather delay announcement during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Nevada, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Northwestern defensive back Cameron Mitchell (2) in action against Duke during the second half of an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in Evanston, Ill. (AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)
Iowa defensive back Riley Moss gets set for a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Nevada, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Iowa City, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Houston defensive back Gervarrius Owens (2) runs with an interception against Texas Tech during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Justin Rex)
Utah cornerback Clark Phillips III (1) during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Arizona State, Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Penn State cornerback Joey Porter Jr. (9) reacts against Ohio State during an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, in State College, Pa. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
Alabama defensive back Eli Ricks (7) reacts after defending against Mississippi State wide receiver Justin Robinson (18) on an incomplete pass during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. (AP Photo/Vasha Hunt)
Georgia defensive back Kelee Ringo (5) intercepts a pass intended for Kentucky wide receiver Barion Brown (2) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Lexington, Ky., Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Michael Clubb)
Florida State defensive back Jammie Robinson (10) during the second half of an NCAA football game against Notre Dame on Sunday, Sept. 5, 2021 in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
South Carolina defensive back Darius Rush pumps up the crowd during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Auburn Saturday, Nov. 20, 2021, in Columbia, S.C. South Carolina won 21-17. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford)
California safety Daniel Scott, right, intercepts a pass intended for Washington State wide receiver Lincoln Victor during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022, in Pullman, Wash. (AP Photo/Young Kwak)
Boise State safety JL Skinner (0) celebrates after a pass break up against Tennessee-Martin in the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in Boise, Idaho. Boise State won 30-7. (AP Photo/Steve Conner)
South Carolina defensive back Cam Smith (9) celebrates an interception during the second half of the team's NCAA college football game against Charlotte on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Artie Walker Jr.)
Georgia defensive back Christopher Smith (29) runs the ball after an interception in the first half of an NCAA college football game against Oregon, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Minnesota defensive back Terell Smith falls back in coverage against Maryland during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Friday, Oct. 30, 2020, in College Park, Md. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
Miami cornerback Tyrique Stevenson (2) plays against Clemson during an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022, in Clemson, S.C. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Oklahoma State safety Jason Taylor II (25) celebrates after stopping TCU during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, in Stillwater, Okla. (AP Photo/Brody Schmidt)
Florida safety Rashad Torrence II (22) follows a play during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Eastern Washington, Sunday, Oct. 2, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
Purdue cornerback Cory Trice (23) during an NCAA football game on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022, in West Lafayette, Ind. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Michigan defensive back DJ Turner plays during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Colorado State, Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
Kentucky defensive back Carrington Valentine (14) reacts after stopping Miami Ohio in the red zone during an NCAA football game on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/John Amis)
LSU safety Jay Ward (5) lines up during the second half of an NCAA football game against Florida State on Saturday, Sept. 4, 2022, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Matthew Hinton)
Syracuse defensive back Garrett Williams (8) lines up during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Virginia on Friday, Sept. 23, 2022 in Syracuse, N.Y. (AP Photo/Adrian Kraus)
Illinois defensive back Devon Witherspoon (31) during an NCAA football game against the Indiana on Friday, Sept. 2, 2022, in West Bloomington, Ind. (AP Photo/Doug McSchooler)
Oregon State defensive back Rejzohn Wright (2) plays during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Boise State Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022, in Corvallis, Ore. Oregon State won 34-17. (AP Photo/Amanda Loman)
2. Christian Gonzalez, Oregon, 6-2, 200
Gonzalez has a long frame and good size that allows him to play a physical brand of football at the line of scrimmage. He's got terrific ball skills (four interceptions this past season), and he's expected to run and test really well at the Combine. Will it be Witherspoon or Gonzalez who hears their name come off the board first?
3. Joey Porter Jr., Penn State, 6-2, 200
Porter will try and throw his hat into the mix as the first corner off the board with a good Combine. He has elite size, length and speed, and excels in press man coverage. Pro Football Focus listed him as giving up one pass play of 15-plus yards in his coverage this past season. His father Joey Porter played 13 NFL seasons. Teams are going to love his combo of size, speed and athleticism.
4. Kelee Ringo, Georgia, 6-2, 200
Arguably the most athletic cornerback in the class. He's got terrific length, speed and power, and can make plays all over the field in a variety of different ways. The knock on Ringo is he doesn't have great ball skills and because of that will lose the football and give up big plays now and again. Some teams might view him as a safety.
5. Deonte Banks, Maryland, 6-0, 207
One of the best tacklers in the group, Banks isn't afraid to play a physical brand of football. He never takes a play off. He's got good ball skills, but that didn't equate to a lot of ball production at Maryland. He's a player teams will have a close eye on at the Combine.
Combine sleeper to watch: Kyu Blu Kelly, Stanford, 6-0, 193
Kelly really took advantage of his invite to the Senior Bowl. He was a consistent playmaker all week in Mobile. Kelly has terrific instincts and a nose for the football. He made a play at the Senior Bowl where he snatched a ball out of the arms of a receiver in a team period and returned it for a touchdown. Teams generally stayed away from him this past season. In 2021, he had 58 tackles, two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown) and 11 passes defended.
Lions' need at the position: High
The Lions return Okudah and Jacobs, and the team likes the trajectory both players are on, but they will look to add competition to that room with potentially a veteran free agent and a first or second day draft pick.
Harris and veteran Mike Hughes are both headed toward unrestricted free agency. So is Amani Oruwariye, who will likely being looking for a fresh start somewhere else after losing his starting spot and being a healthy scratch at times.
Detroit finished the season 32nd in total defense, 30th against the pass and 32nd in yards per play allowed (6.2). Opponents had a 114.0 passer rating with eight touchdowns and only two interceptions on throws that traveled at least 21 yards in the air against them, which ranked 31st.
Key stat: The Lions allowed 60 pass plays of 20-plus yards in 2022, which were fewer than only Minnesota (61) and Tennessee (63).
