By Blessing 
The Detroit Lions have built a reputation on defense that centers around toughness and relentless physicality—especially when it comes to challenging opposing wideouts. So, it’s fitting that two former Lions defensive backs were ranked among the top 10 most physical coverage defenders in the NFL for 2024, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).
Last season, PFF introduced a new stat that measured physical coverage by tracking how frequently defensive backs made contact with receivers. Topping the list was none other than former Lions cornerback Kindle Vildor, who made contact on an eye-popping 50.5% of his snaps.
Though Vildor wasn’t a full-time starter, he appeared in all 17 games, starting two of them and logging 244 defensive snaps overall. He primarily contributed as a rotational piece, often stepping in during dime packages or when injuries struck the secondary. Following the season, Vildor signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“Vildor was extremely physical in 2024 with the Lions in a part-time role. Mostly seeing action in dime packages and when the defense started suffering injuries later in the year, Vildor got his hands on opposing receivers more than 50% of the time — but mostly to his detriment,” wrote John Kosko of PFF. “He was called for four penalties on 100 coverage snaps where he made contact with the opposing receiver and also allowed six first downs and 1.54 yards per coverage snap on those plays, resulting in a 29.1 PFF coverage grade.”
Another familiar name for Lions fans also landed in the top 10—Carlton Davis, who came in sixth with a contact rate of 42.3%. After a single season with Detroit, Davis signed a lucrative three-year deal with the New England Patriots, reportedly worth up to $60 million including incentives.
“Our second Lion to make the list, Davis heads to New England after one season in Detroit,” Kosko noted. “He doubled his physical-snap total in 2024 from the previous two seasons when he played with the Buccaneers. He allowed a 40.6% completion rate and has surrendered just one touchdown the past three seasons when making contact with opposing receivers.”
These rankings only underscore the Lions’ commitment to gritty, high-contact defense—something both Vildor and Davis embodied, even if their time in Detroit was brief.