Lions Offseason Positional Analysis: DB

This is the eighth in our series of roster analysis by position group for the 2026 offseason leading up to Free Agency and the NFL draft. Today’s focus will be on the DB room, which has significant health questions despite Brad Holmes throwing multiple Draft Picks and FA signings at it the last few years.

Detroit Lions starting Safeties Kerby Joseph and Brian Branch

DB

• Under Contract:

  • CB: Terrion Arnold, D.J. Reed, Ennis Rakestraw, Khalil Dorsey, Nick Whiteside (ERFA-Re-Signed)

  • DB: Brian Branch

  • S: Kerby Joseph, Thomas Harper, Dan Jackson, Loren Strickland (Futures)

• Free Agents:

  • CB: Amik Robertson (UFA), Jalen Mills (UFA), Arthur Maulet (UFA), Rock Ya-Sin (UFA), Keenan Garber (SFA-PS)

  • DB: Avonte Maddox (UFA)

  • S: Daniel Thomas (UFA), Damontae Kazee (UFA-PS)

Analysis:

The Lions Defensive Backfield ended 2025 as a bruised and battered bunch, with the only player to make it through all 17 games being Amik Robertson, who is a UFA. Taking a look at the starters at CB, the Lions had what looked on paper like a formidable trio in DJ Reed, Terrion Arnold and Amik Robertson (Nickle). However, injuries struck Reed (6 games missed) and Arnold (9 games missed) leaving Robertson to play out of position as one of the starting outside corners for most of the year. He initially held his own with Brian Branch (5 missed games) and Kerby Joseph (11 missed games) covering the deep half, but once both of those guys went down to Suspension, Knee and Achilles injuries, Amik started getting picked on and ultimately lost more battles than he won. Not all his fault, as he played hard albeit out of position, but being a Free Agent, it will be interesting to see if the Lions value him enough to bring him back or let him walk. Reed was able to come back and play the last seven games of the season, so he should be good to go for next year. Arnold missed the last four games with a bum shoulder and ended the season on IR, but he was really starting to look like a good player before the injury took him out. Assuming surgery or rehab gets him ready to go (recent workouts posts look like he is on track), the outside corners should be set. A gap does exist at Nickle with Robertson a FA, so that may need to be filled via FA if Robertson isn’t re-signed, as none of the players under contract currently fit that position profile. The starting Safeties are an absolute mess, with Kerby Joseph possibly having a degenerative knee injury that could limit or end his career and Brian Branch likely missing the first half of 2026 due to a blown Achilles in Week 14.

For the backups, the CB room has Ennis Rakestraw (coming off IR), Khalil Dorsey and Nick Whiteside, which isn’t a bad group of players, assuming Rakestraw can finally get past the Hamstring injuries that have plagued his college and pro career. Both Dorsey and Whiteside played meaningful minutes and didn’t embarrass themselves last year when the injuries hit, so I think this is a good base group to work from. As for the Safety depth, Thomas Harper played very well in place of both Branch and Joseph, and I have confidence he can cover that spot again while Branch is out to start the year. However, Loren Strickland (limited snaps) and Dan Jackson (coming off knee injury) likely aren’t ready for prime time yet.

Options:

I would say that CB will need a nickel via either the draft or Free Agency, with re-signing Amik Robertson a definite possibility, however his price will dictate if he becomes an ex-Lion IMO. Safety will definitely need some help, with a starting-caliber player needed to fill the void under the assumption that Joseph will be hampered by the knee moving forward.

Looking at Safety options, in Free Agency there are a handful of experienced players entering their prime that could be brought in and excel in the Lions system. The trio of Donovan Wilson, Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker are the prizes here, so if the injury diagnosis on Kerby Joseph is super negative, we will know (especially with Branch out at least half the season recovering form Achilles) if the Lions target any of the top guys. The draftable Safeties have strength in the middle rounds, which is where the Lions would likely invest a draft pick outside of one of the top three inexplicably sliding into their pick or trade range. I would think though, if Caleb Downs somehow miraculously slipped into the teens, Brad Holmes would literally run from Detroit to Pittsburgh to put the card in, as he is that good of a player. We saw how much losing the safeties impacted the Defense last year, so keeping quality play there will be as important as the OL IMO. That’s how we landed Arnold a few years back, so we know Brad isn’t afraid to go get a guy he wants.

FA Safeties Byard and Brisker of the Chicago Bears

The FA CB Market also is loaded with talent, including some of the Bears backfield that led the NFL in INTs last year. There is also the possibility that the Lions will bring back a few of their own guys to bolster the depth (Ya-Sin, Maddox and possibly Robertson come to mind), but they could make a splash with a Riq Woolen, Greg Newsom or Nashon Wright to ensure it’s a strength in 2026. As for Draftable CBs, the Lions, at least in the first 3-4 rounds, will likely focus on Outside Press Man/Press CBs that fit their scheme and shy away from kids that have played primarily Outside Zone. Deeper in the draft, I could see them looking for a slot/nickel or a zone kid with speed to fill out depth. The draft is really deep, but there is a discernable drop from 3rd round and above CB prospects, and 5th round to UDFAs. Not many kids are currently projected late Day 2 or early Day 3, so that may be the place to grab sleepers or someone that has dropped. Also appears to be a sizeable group of kids that have the size and skillset to convert to Safety in the NFL, with height, Weight and Speed combos that would be ideal for in the box and modern TE coverage skillsets.

FA CBs Seattle's Riq Woolen, Miami's Jack Johnson and Saints Alontae Taylor

• Free Agent

  • CB: Amik Robertson (UFA), Rock Ya-Sin (UFA), Nashon Wright (UFA-Injury History), Alonte Taylor (UFA), Jack Jones (UFA), Jaylen Watson (UFA-Injury History), Cobie Durant (UFA), Josh Jobe (UFA-Injury History), Tariq Woolen (UFA), Greg Newsome (UFA), Avonte Maddox (UFA)

  • S: Kevin Byard (UFA), Donovan Wilson (UFA), Alohi Gilman (UFA), Jalen Thompson (UFA), Bryan Cook (UFA), Jaquan Brisker (UFA), Kamren Curl (UFA), Geno Stone (UFA), Nick Cross (UFA), Daniel Thomas (UFA), Ronnie Hickman (RFA)

• Draft Pick

  • LB: Mansoor Delane (1st-Top 10), Avieon Terrell (1st-Mid), Brandon Cisse (2nd-Early), D’Angelo Ponds (2nd-Late/Nickle), Keionte Scott (2nd-Late/Nickle), Daylen Everette (3rd), Domani Jackson (5th), Davison Igbinosun (5th), Ephsians Prysock (6th), Josh Moten (6th), Toriano Pride Jt (6th), Jadan Cannady (6th), Andre Fuller (7th), Brent Austin (7th), Denver harris (UDFA), Jaylon Guilbeau (UDFA), Fred Davis II (UDFA), Ceyair Wright (UDFA), Rodrick pleasant (UDFA-Nickle)

  • S: Caleb Downs (1st-Top 10), Dillon Thieneman (2nd-Early), Emmanuel McNeil-Warren (2nd-Early), Michael Taaffe (2nd-Mid), AJ Haulcy (2nd-Late), Zakee Wheatley (3rd), Bishop Fitzgerald (4th), Jalon Kilgore (4th), Xavier Nwankpa (5th), Louis Moore (5th), Isaiah Nwokobia (6th), Deshon Singleton (UDFA), Sage Ryan (UDFA)

Bottom Line:

The Lions really don’t want to see another “Legion of Whom” defensive backfield in 2026 if at all possible. It is imperative that everyone gets and stays healthy for the team to have success. Depth was key to both the Lions getting to a winning season, but also not getting over the top into the playoffs. The CB depth held up pretty well and delivered a few potential long-term options, but it was the Safety spot that was absolutely decimated by injuries and suspensions. As of right now, the Lions should expect to find a starting quality Safety to pair with Thomas Harper with both Joseph and Branch availability in doubt for parts of 2026. I would think one starter in Free Agency and at least one draft pick in the 4th-6th rounds at a minimum would be needed to right-size the room. As for CB, the Lions have outside starters Reed and Arnold set, but Nickle is a concern. Dorsey, Whiteside and Rakestraw have all flashed, but all have questions still. So, depending on FA signings at CB and other positions of desperate need (OL, Edge and LB), the Lions could use ANY of their draft picks on one or two CBs to fill out the starts and depth. So, re-signing two of Maddox, Ya-Sin and Robertson (long-shot) along with a nickel and outside CB in FA that have starting capabilities seems to be a necessity heading into the Draft.

In the end, I think that Holmes makes a splash and grabs a starting caliber Safety, Nickle CB and a depth guy at each position in Free Agency along with re-signing several of the Lions FA DBs including Ya-Sin and Maddox. In the draft, CB or Safety could come in Round 1 or 2, depending on the OL and Edge situation in Free Agency, but expect at least 2-3 DBs drafted from rounds 4-7 and multiple guys signed in as UDFAs.