By Moses Joshua 
Depth Concerns and a Crowded Cornerback Room Put Veteran’s Roster Spot in Jeopardy
As the Detroit Lions prepare for a highly anticipated 2025 season, competition is already heating up — not just for starting roles, but for roster survival. While expectations are high following their rise to NFC prominence, not every offseason acquisition is riding the same wave of optimism.
Among the names teetering on the edge of the depth chart is veteran cornerback Rock Ya-Sin, whose time in Detroit may be running out before it ever really began.
From Early Hope to Harsh Reality
When Ya-Sin signed with the Lions in March, the move was seen as a low-risk depth play — insurance for a secondary that had been decimated by injuries during last year’s playoff run. Despite playing 13 games for the 49ers last season, most of his snaps came on special teams, and his 57.9 Pro Football Focus grade did little to suggest he was ready to compete for a meaningful role.
Ya-Sin entered the league with promise as a second-round pick by the Colts in 2019, but he’s struggled to find lasting footing. Since then, he’s logged short stints with the Raiders, Ravens, and most recently, San Francisco. Detroit, hoping for a bounce-back, may now be the latest team to pass on giving him a stable home.
A Numbers Game in the Secondary
With the arrival of free-agent standout D.J. Reed and first-round pick Terrion Arnold, Detroit’s cornerback room is suddenly crowded — and highly competitive. Amik Robertson, Ennis Rakestraw, and Khalil Dorsey are also in the mix, all of whom bring more recent production or upside.
Sports Illustrated’s Christian Booher recently broke down his projected 53-man roster, and the outlook wasn’t encouraging for Ya-Sin. He’s listed dead last among cornerbacks, trailing even Stantley Thomas-Oliver, who’s currently pegged as the first man out.
Simply put, the path to training camp is narrowing quickly. And without a standout performance — or an injury ahead of him — Ya-Sin might never get the reps necessary to shift the narrative.
Final Shot or Final Stop?
There’s still time, but the window is small. Organized team activities didn’t give the coaching staff much to reconsider when it comes to Ya-Sin. If he doesn’t make a strong impression early in camp — assuming he even gets there — the Lions may cut ties before pads come on.
For now, Rock Ya-Sin’s career arc feels like that of a player on borrowed time. His journey through the NFL has been defined by potential that’s never fully materialized. And unless something changes drastically in the coming weeks, Detroit could just be another chapter in a story marked more by what could have been than what was.