By Sunday 
The Detroit Lions have tried just about everything to patch up their secondary under Dan Campbell. Draft picks. Free agents. Short-term fixes. Long-term bets. And yet, here we are again — still talking about the same lingering issue.
This time, the solution being floated isn’t flashy. It’s practical. And according to Pro Football Focus’ Bradley Locker, it might be exactly what Detroit needs.
A Familiar Problem That Won’t Go Away
The Lions’ pass defense has been a quiet thorn throughout Campbell’s tenure. Even during Detroit’s dominant stretch from 2023–24, the secondary never fully inspired confidence.
Yes, things improved in 2025. But “improved” still meant 20th in the league in passing yards allowed — hardly elite territory. In fact, across five seasons, the best a Campbell-led defense has finished in that category is 20th.
That’s not a one-year blip. That’s a trend.
Why Roger McCreary Keeps Coming Up
When Locker was asked to name one free agent Detroit should target this offseason, he landed on cornerback Roger McCreary — and the reasoning was straightforward.
“As the Lions head into an offseason of critical reflection, they’ll likely lament what’s happened to the state of their cornerback room,” Locker wrote, adding that McCreary “represents a younger upgrade at slot corner.”
McCreary is just 25, turns 26 in February, and already has four NFL seasons under his belt. His overall 70.0 PFF grade across his career is solid, but what really jumps out is his late-2025 surge after joining the Rams. He posted a 79.4 coverage grade and ranked among the league’s best slot corners in snaps per target.
That’s upside Detroit hasn’t consistently had inside.
Experience Without the Age Curve
McCreary isn’t a star — and that’s part of the appeal. He’s started 38 games, appeared in 61, and brings inside-outside flexibility without commanding top-of-market money.
In 2025 alone, he logged 37 tackles, two pass defenses, an interception, and a sack. Across his career, he’s piled up 257 tackles, 22 tackles for loss, and 17 pass defenses.
For a team that keeps getting burned by injuries and inconsistency at corner, that kind of reliability matters.
The Lions’ Cornerback Depth Is Thinner Than It Looks
Detroit’s depth chart at cornerback is quietly alarming.
Amik Robertson is a free agent. So are Avonte Maddox, Arthur Maulet, Jalen Mills, Rock Ya-Sin, and Dicaprio Bottle. Because of injuries, Robertson and Ya-Sin ended up leading all outside corners in snaps last season — not exactly the plan.
The Lions do have talent waiting in the wings. Brian Branch is already a cornerstone, and the upside for Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw remains high. But injuries have stalled both, with Rakestraw missing all of 2025 due to a shoulder issue.
That’s a lot of “ifs” for a Super Bowl-hopeful roster.
A Smart, Unsexy Move That Makes Sense
McCreary wouldn’t be a headline-grabbing signing. He wouldn’t instantly “fix” the secondary on his own. But he fits what Detroit actually needs right now: youth, versatility, and dependable depth with starting upside.
If the Lions are serious about finally closing the book on one of Dan Campbell’s longest-running weaknesses, poaching a “younger upgrade” like McCreary might be the most Lions move of all.