Detroit needs cornerback help, but not every big name is worth the risk. Three former Pro Bowlers should be nowhere near the Lions’ wish list.
The Detroit Lions find themselves in an interesting situation following the release of Terrion Arnold. By moving on from the former first-round pick, Detroit no longer has a proven option to step into the starting cornerback role opposite DJ Reed. While Arnold struggled during his time with the Lions, his departure still creates another question mark in an already thin secondary.
It would not be surprising if general manager Brad Holmes looks to the veteran free-agent market before training camp. I have already mentioned veterans such as Kenny Moore II and Rasul Douglas as players who could immediately improve Detroit’s secondary. However, there are also a few big-name cornerbacks I want the Lions to avoid.
Trevon Diggs
Trevon Diggs was once considered one of the NFL’s premier ballhawks. He earned first-team All-Pro honors, made two Pro Bowls and recorded 11 interceptions during his breakout 2021 season. Unfortunately, injuries have dramatically changed the trajectory of his career.
Over the past five seasons, Diggs has appeared in just 31 of a possible 85 games after suffering a torn ACL and a fractured foot. He failed to record an interception during the 2025 season and was eventually released by the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers.
According to Pro Football Focus, Diggs posted a 59.8 overall defensive grade in 2025, ranking 68th among 114 qualified cornerbacks. His 65.9 coverage grade ranked 45th, while his 44.5 run-defense grade ranked 99th. Opposing quarterbacks also posted a 157.2 passer rating when targeting him. Injuries appear to have taken away the explosiveness that once made Diggs an elite playmaker, making him far too risky for Detroit.
Marshon Lattimore
Former four-time Pro Bowler and 2017 Defensive Rookie of the Year Marshon Lattimore is another player whose career has been derailed by injuries. Over the past five seasons, he has played more than 10 games only once.
The Washington Commanders traded a third-, fifth- and sixth-round pick to acquire Lattimore from the New Orleans Saints, but the move never paid off. Across his time in Washington, he appeared in just 11 games, recording one interception and 10 pass breakups. A lingering hamstring injury in 2024, followed by an ACL tear, ultimately led to his release.
Lattimore finished the 2025 season with a 53.2 overall PFF grade, ranking 94th among qualified cornerbacks. His 52.6 coverage grade ranked 95th, while his 59.4 run-defense grade ranked 58th. Although he allowed a respectable 87.7 passer rating, his overall play has declined significantly. Holmes has shown a willingness to give injury-plagued veterans another opportunity, but Lattimore is a player I would avoid.
Tre’Davious White
Like Diggs and Lattimore, Tre’Davious White has battled major injuries, including both a torn ACL and a torn Achilles over the past four seasons. White was once one of the league’s best cornerbacks, earning two Pro Bowl selections and first-team All-Pro honors, but those accomplishments are now several years behind him.
Although White played all 16 games for Buffalo in 2025, he recorded just one interception over the past two seasons. He finished with a 63.9 overall PFF grade, ranking 52nd among qualified cornerbacks. His 66.2 coverage grade ranked 44th, while his 50.5 run-defense grade ranked 88th. White also allowed a respectable 72.5 passer rating when targeted.
Of the three veterans, White is probably the safest option. However, I still believe the Lions can find younger, more reliable players with higher upside.
If Detroit signs a veteran cornerback, it should be someone who can still contribute at a high level and stay on the field. Diggs, Lattimore and White were all outstanding players at one point in their careers, but injuries and age appear to have caught up with them. Detroit should look elsewhere as it searches for help in the secondary.
