By Blessing 
Detroit Lions 2025 Training Camp: Is a Cornerback Shake-Up Brewing?
As the Detroit Lions prepare for the 2025 season, all eyes are on the secondary, particularly the cornerback unit, which endured its share of adversity in 2024. Much like the team’s resilient front seven, the cornerbacks were hit with injuries late in the year, making their depth and adaptability a major storyline heading into training camp.
The season began with a significantly revamped CB room. Four fresh faces led the rotation: veterans Carlton Davis and Amik Robertson, alongside rookies Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw. Returning contributors included Kalil Dorsey, a special teams stalwart, and Kindle Vildor, a seasoned veteran. Together, this group provided a consistent presence throughout most of the season. However, as injuries began to pile up—Rakestraw landed on IR in Week 12, Davis and Dorsey were both sidelined in Week 16, and Emmanuel Moseley was placed on the NFI list shortly after—the Lions leaned on just four healthy corners to finish the season.
In the 2025 offseason, Detroit re-signed Dorsey and Thomas-Oliver to one-year deals, while retaining Arnold, Robertson, and Rakestraw. Davis and Vildor moved on in free agency, signing with the Patriots and Buccaneers respectively. To fill the void, the Lions added D.J. Reed on a three-year deal and brought in Rock Ya-Sin on a one-year contract for added depth.
A Look Back at the Numbers
Under GM Brad Holmes and head coach Dan Campbell, the Lions have consistently carried at least six cornerbacks into the regular season. Still, finishing the year with fewer than they started has been a recurring theme:
- 2021: Opened with six (including a hybrid CB/S), ended with five.
- 2022: Repeated the six-man start, finished with five.
- 2023: Began with seven (two hybrids, including Brian Branch), ended with seven.
- 2024: Carried six pure corners, finished with only four after a spate of injuries.
Competition Heats Up
On paper, the Lions’ cornerback setup seems fairly stable. Arnold and Robertson are expected to reclaim their starting roles, while free-agent addition Reed appears to be the favorite to replace Davis. But beneath the surface, there may be more competition brewing.
The biggest wildcard is Ennis Rakestraw. Though he spent much of his rookie season injured and focused on slot responsibilities, the Lions are now preparing him to compete on the outside. Coach Dan Campbell emphasized this during OTAs:
“It’s up to him. He’s got an opportunity. We’re going to play the best guy,” Campbell said. “That’s what competition’s about. The whole roster knows that. If you’re the best guy, we’re not going to just sit there. It’s the best guy. He’s going to have a chance to compete. We’d like to keep him outside right now and just let him go. He had a good spring. There again, we’re in pajamas, but he’s going to get a chance to compete and see how much he’s grown and what kind of production he can have for us.”
Campbell also admitted Rakestraw struggled a bit when playing inside, but his growth on the outside has given the staff confidence. His trajectory during training camp will be one of the more intriguing battles to watch.
Inside Help: Who Plays Nickel?
The Lions’ strategy at nickel corner has shifted. In years past, the team relied on hybrid DBs capable of playing safety and slot. But in 2024, they opted for a more traditional cornerback in that role, favoring Robertson’s speed and agility over size.
Outside of Rakestraw, most of the other corners have limited slot experience. Ya-Sin has only 133 career snaps at nickel, Dorsey has logged 10, and Thomas-Oliver just five. To add more flexibility, the Lions are turning to Avonte Maddox, who is listed as a safety but brings corner-like traits and a vast nickel resume (over 2,000 snaps).
“We obviously lost Iffy (Melifonwu), and we gained Avonte Maddox,” safeties coach Jim O’Neil said. “Avonte will be an inside player, similar to what he’s done his whole career, as far as a nickel/safety body. That’s what he’s done at Philly for the years (he was there).”
With Maddox backing up both safety spots and the slot, the Lions could keep Branch focused at safety while having ample depth inside.
Who Makes the Cut?
Based on history and the current roster, the Lions are expected to carry six corners. With only seven true CBs in camp (or eight, counting Maddox), most of the group will likely survive final cuts. Arnold, Reed, Robertson, and Rakestraw seem like locks. Dorsey’s special teams prowess makes him a near-certain inclusion, which leaves just one spot potentially up for grabs.
That final roster slot could come down to Ya-Sin and Thomas-Oliver. Ya-Sin brings valuable veteran experience and has shown he can be a reliable contributor, a trait the Lions appreciated in Vildor. On the other hand, Thomas-Oliver is familiar with the scheme and ended 2024 with the team, giving him a potential edge early in camp.
While this battle might not generate headlines, the outcome could prove critical if injuries strike again. The Lions’ approach to this unit—built on flexibility, competition, and steady depth—suggests no one should feel too comfortable.
Training camp is almost here, and the CB room might look stable, but don’t be surprised if someone rises—or falls—faster than anyone expects.