The Detroit Lions have a pretty solid track record of finding free agent cornerbacks who provide an immediate boost to the defense. From Rashean Mathis to Johnson Bademosi, DeShawn Shead to Rashaan Melvin, the Lions have found several capable short-term answers at cornerback on the free agent market in recent years.
The 2020 CB market offers the chance to do even more. Several potential long-term fixtures at corner are hitting free agency. There are some veteran stopgaps available too. Here are some the Lions should look at signing if the price is right, presented in alphabetical order…
Ronald Darby, Eagles
Darby makes sense for Detroit on a couple of levels. Foremost is his direct experience playing under new Lions defensive coordinator Cory Undlin. Darby spent the last three seasons in Philadelphia with Undlin as his position coach.
The 26-year-old is coming off his worst season as a pro, a season where he battled through a hip flexor injury that eventually landed him on injured reserve. In other words, he’s affordable and has something to prove.
Prior to the bad 2019, and pretty much every CB in Philadelphia had a bad 2019 campaign, Darby was an above-average starter for both the Eagles and Bills. He’s at his best in press-man coverage on the outside and aggressively attacks the run — the two biggest requirements to play in Matt Patricia’s defense. Give him a one-year prove-it deal and hope Darby does indeed prove he’s back to his prime form from 2016-2018.
Chris Harris, Broncos
The Pro Bowl veteran is a perfect fit in Detroit. Harris has been one of the top slot cornerbacks in the NFL for the past several seasons with the Broncos.
Those Broncos roots tie Harris to Cory Undlin, and it was during Undlin’s tenure as Denver’s DB coach (2013-2014) when Harris really took off. His age — Harris turns 31 in June — renders him a short-term option, but the Lions could definitely benefit from a 1-or-2-year deal. He won’t be cheap and there is some risk with Harris, like Detroit’s incumbent Darius Slay, coming off a down season relative to his overall career.
One big feather in Harris’ cap for the Lions: he’s an outstanding run defender. Pair that with his playmaking ability in the slot and familiarity with the coaching and he’s a prime target…if the price is right. Overpaying for CBs on the wrong side of 30 must be avoided.
Byron Jones, Cowboys
Jones is the top draw on the market, and with good reason. He’s got length, strength and closing speed to the point of attack. And at 27 years old, Jones is hitting free agency at his athletic peak.
Physical on the outside and exceptional in the red zone at using his size to crowd the sideline, Jones consistently rates well in completion percentage allowed. He’s a good tackler in space, something the Lions demand of their corners.
One thing Jones does not do: create turnovers. He hasn’t had an interception since 2017 and has just two picks in his five-year career. Jones is still seeking his first fumble recovery (he’s forced three) as well.
Projections have Jones earning at least $16 million a year, a hefty sum. Adding Jones would almost certainly mean parting ways with Darius Slay, but Jones is now where Slay was when he signed his big contract extension with Detroit.
Brian Poole, Jets
A personal fave dating back to his underappreciated time at Florida, Poole doesn’t get enough credit for his versatility and reliability in the slot.
Poole led all CBs who played at least 50 percent of snaps in 2019 in yards per reception allowed at just 7.4. He also finished third in QB pressures and has long been one of the best slot blitzers in the league. Poole can tackle, too; he finished 7th in stops per PFF, their metric for tackles that constitute a failure for the offense.
Because he’s continued to fly under the radar even after improving with the Jets following his flight from the Falcons, the 27-year-old Poole probably won’t command a contract any bigger than the 4-year, $36 million deal Justin Coleman signed in Detroit last year. The biggest drawback is that, like Coleman, Poole should exclusively play in the slot.
Bradley Roby, Texans
Roby is another corner with ties to Cory Undlin and also a schematic familiarity with the Lions defense from playing in Houston, where Romeo Crennel (whose system Matt Patricia’s defense is based upon) was the defensive coordinator.
The 27-year-old Roby can play inside or outside, and he’s capable of playing off-man or pressing tight in coverage. Roby can make plays on the ball, with three pick-sixes in the last four years.
He will be playing for his third team in as many seasons, barring the Texans keeping him. At times it’s easy to see why the Broncos and Texans got frustrated with Roby too; he is vulnerable to double moves and is very weak — more missed tackles than stops in the last two years per PFF — in the tackling department. That also makes him more affordable for potential suitors like the Lions.
Logan Ryan, Titans
Ryan is an obvious target for the Lions. He came up with the New England Patriots under Matt Patricia, and he’s spent the last couple of seasons operating in the same base defense in Tennessee.
The 29-year-old has always been hit-and-miss with his coverage on the outside. No player faced more targeted throws in 2019 than Ryan, and he didn’t deter them with enough positive plays. He’s at his best as a No. 2 opposite a true No. 1, which makes him a good fit with Darius Slay on the roster. His ability to play press-man on the outside and work with the safeties is tailor-made for the Lions defense.
Ryan is incredibly active as a tackler, for better and for worse. According to Pro Football Focus, Ryan missed more tackles (17) in 2019 than any other CB. Of course he also made more (83) than any other CB, an indication of how heavily involved he is in run support and his awareness in coverage when he’s not the targeted cover man.
