INDIANAPOLIS – One of the areas where the Lions could stand to add some talent and depth is at the cornerback position.
Detroit returns veteran Cam Sutton on the outside and Brian Branch returns to man the nickel spot after a stellar rookie season, but all the cornerbacks who played significant snaps opposite Sutton on the outside this season are free agents. We'll see what they decide to do with players like Emmanuel Moseley and Kindle Vildor in free agency, but it's an area where Detroit needs more talent and depth.
Free agency comes first, but the NFL Draft in April will provide another avenue for the Lions to get better at cornerback with this being a pretty deep class of cornerbacks with a variety of skillsets. Seven cornerbacks landed in NFL media analyst Daniel Jeremiah's second edition of his Top 50 players.
The Lions have options selecting 29th in the first round and with four picks total in the Top 100. Late in the first round and into Day 2 could be a spot where value and talent are going to align on GM Brad Holmes' board at the cornerback position.
Players like Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (Missouri), Quinyon Mitchell (Toledo), Nate Wiggins (Clemson) and Kool-Aid McKinstry (Alabama) could be cornerbacks still on the board later in the first round with the draft expected to be dominated early by offensive players.
Rakestraw seems to be a good fit for what new Lions pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach Deshea Townsend talked about this week in terms of the physicality and tackling he wants from that position. Rakestraw is a rangy corner who plays with physicality and toughness. He knows it, too.
"My physicality and my tackling," Rakestraw said Thursday at the Combine when asked what sets him apart from the other corners in the league. "It's you vs. me and who is better? It's who wants it more."
Wiggins has terrific length at 6-foot-2 with smooth skills and speed. He said he ran a 4.27-second 40 in training. But does he fit Detroit from a toughness standpoint?
"I set myself apart (from the other corners here) because I'm a lockdown corner," Wiggins said Thursday. "I'm very fast and I'm a technician. I think I'm the best corner in the draft because I can lock down one side of the field completely and take the receiver out of the game."
Mitchell is Toledo's all-time leader in pass breakups (46) and is a two-time All-American who dominated at the Senior Bowl. Detroit might have to move up slightly to get him if he has a terrific Combine.
View photos of Detroit Lions players at the NFL Scouting Combine.
California's Tyson Alualu runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, March 1, 2010. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Florida linebacker Alex Anzalone runs the 40 yard dash during the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Florida linebacker Alex Anzalone runs a drill during the 2017 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday, March 5, 2017 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Miami kicker Mike Badgley runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 2, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Alabama defensive back Brian Branch runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
University of Louisville quarterback Teddy Bridgewater looks on at the 2014 NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, on February 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Johnny Vy)
Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Charleston defensive lineman John Cominsky runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 3, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Ohio State offensive lineman Taylor Decker runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Friday, Feb. 26, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Rice punter Jack Fox runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Baylor offensive lineman Connor Galvin runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Florida defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, March 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Florida defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Monday, March 4, 2019, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Alabama running back Jahmyr Gibbs runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)
Michigan offensive lineman Graham Glasgow runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 26, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
California quarterback Jared Goff runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
California quarterback Jared Goff performs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
North Carolina wide receiver Antoine Green runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Boston College defensive back Will Harris runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, March 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Missouri defensive end Charles Harris runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Michigan defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 5, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Michigan defensive lineman Aidan Hutchinson runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 5, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Ohio State guard Jonah Jackson runs a drill during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, Friday, Feb. 28, 2020 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Mississippi defensive lineman Benito Jones runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Notre Dame defensive back Brandon Joseph runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Illinois defensive back Kerby Joseph runs a drill during the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
North Carolina State running back Bam Knight (21) participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Friday, March 4, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Iowa tight end Sam LaPorta runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 4, 2023. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Arizona State defensive back Chase Lucas participates in a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Sunday, March 6, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Iowa State running back David Montgomery runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Friday, March 1, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Notre Dame defensive lineman Romeo Okwara performs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Sunday, Feb. 28, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Kentucky defensive lineman Joshua Paschal runs during a drill at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 5, 2022, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Michigan wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Tennessee linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 5, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Texas A&M wide receiver Josh Reynolds runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine Saturday, March 4, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Oklahoma State linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez (28) runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL football scouting combine, Saturday, March 5, 2022 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Arkansas offensive tackle Dan Skipper competes in a drill at the 2017 NFL football scouting combine Friday, March 3, 2017, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
Central Florida wide receiver Tre'Quan Smith runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Saturday, March 3, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Indiana quarterback Nate Sudfeld runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine on Saturday, Feb. 27, 2016, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Tennessee defensive back Cameron Sutton runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Monday, March 6, 2017. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Texas Christian offensive lineman Halapoulivaati Vaitai runs the 40-yard dash during the 2016 NFL Scouting Combine on Friday, Feb. 26, 2016 in Indianapolis. (Ben Liebenberg via AP)
Georgia Southern defensive back Kindle Vildor runs a drill at the NFL football scouting combine in Indianapolis, Sunday, March 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
"Just my grit and the chip I have on my shoulder and my compete (level)," Mitchell said of his best attributes. "I'm strong, I'm fast, but those three things separate me from everybody else in this class."
The final six games of the season, including the playoffs, the Lions allowed on average 411 passing yards per game and some big individual receiving performances. They finished the season ranked 27th against the pass (247.4) and allowed 28 passing touchdowns, sixth most in the league.
I expect Holmes to add veteran corner help in free agency, but he could also opt to build up the position in the first two days of the NFL Draft for the first time since taking Ifeatu Melifonwu late in the third round in 2021. If Holmes wants to improve the talent and depth at cornerback in the first two days of the draft, this is a good class to do it.
