Lions Cornerback Battle Headlines Training Camp
It may be hard to believe, but the Lions' cornerbacks room may actually be a strength for the team this upcoming season.
Detroit did allow the third-most passing yards in the league a season ago (4,179). But, Lions general manager Brad Holmes made a concerted effort to beef up the team's secondary this offseason.
Reason for hope
Holmes added multiple impact defensive backs via free agency: Cam Sutton, Emmanuel Moseley and C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Additionally, he nabbed Alabama defensive back Brian Branch in the second round (No. 45 overall) of this past April's NFL Draft.
Sutton and Gardner-Johnson are both coming off career-best campaigns. Sutton, in his final season with the Pittsburgh Steelers, amassed a career-high three interceptions and 15 passes defensed. Meanwhile, Gardner-Johnson, in his lone season with the Philadelphia Eagles, produced a league-leading six interceptions.
To no surprise, Sutton is in line to start at one of the two outside cornerback spots. As for the versatile Gardner-Johnson, who has experience playing both corner and safety, he's slated to receive the majority of his reps at nickel. The former Eagles and New Orleans Saints defensive back is also expected to earn some playing time at safety.
Training camp battle
It leaves a looming training camp battle for the starting job on the outside opposite Sutton.
Moseley, who is presently recovering from a torn ACL he suffered last October, will have a chance to earn the job. But, he will face serious competition from incumbent Lions cornerback Jerry Jacobs, who logged the majority of the reps opposite Sutton during OTAs and mandatory minicamp.
Moseley, in his last campaign with the San Francisco 49ers in 2022, recorded an interception and five passes defensed in just five games. Meanwhile, Jacobs, who is entering his third season in Detroit, suited up for 12 games a year ago, and amassed one pick and sack each. He also produced a career-best eight passes defensed.
Additionally, from Weeks 9-18 last season, opposing quarterbacks completed just 55 percent of their passes thrown Jacobs' way. Jacobs also permitted just one touchdown in coverage and a 74.9 passer rating against in that same span.
This all came after the former Arkansas cornerback returned midseason from his own ACL injury, an ailment he suffered during the 2021 campaign.
Because Moseley didn't participate in any competitive drills during OTAs and minicamp, I'll give a slight edge to Jacobs for the starting job opposite Sutton. However, once Moseley is healthy, it should be a very interesting battle between the two more-than-capable defensive backs.
At this present juncture, I expect Sutton, Jacobs and Moseley – once he's fully cleared to return to action – to receive the majority of reps at cornerback during the 2023 campaign. Meanwhile, as I stated above, Gardner-Johnson will likely log snaps at both corner and safety, as will the rookie Branch.
Player to watch
Along with the aforementioned group of defensive backs, I'm projecting Will Harris – who entered the professional ranks as a safety – to receive a decent amount of playing time at cornerback this upcoming season.
According to Pro Football Focus, in 2022, Harris logged the majority of his snaps at cornerback – 68 percent of his defensive snaps at nickel corner – for the first time in his career, and recorded the best PFF grade of any Lions corner. He finished with a mark of 63.7, ranking No. 66 out of 235 qualified corners.
This revamped cornerbacks room in Detroit has a chance to be a middle-of-the-road group among the league's 32 franchises. And, for the first time in a long time, the secondary as a whole, with returning safeties Kerby Joseph and Tracy Walker, has a shot at being a legitimate strength.
