Lions Must Undertake Significant Defensive Overhaul Heading into 2024
The Detroit Lions made significant additions to their secondary during the last offseason, acquiring cornerbacks Cameron Sutton and Emmanuel Moseley, along with safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Additionally, they drafted cornerback Brian Branch in the second round.
However, according to SB Nation’s Pride of Detroit’s John Whiticar, there is a pressing need for the Lions to overhaul their secondary once again this offseason.
Whiticar pointed out on February 19 that cornerback stands out as the position requiring “the greatest overhaul” on Detroit’s roster.
“The Lions struggled to find a dependable option outside of rookie nickel Brian Branch,” Whiticar noted. “Despite expectations for Cameron Sutton to lead the cornerback group, he often appeared outmatched, resulting in one of the poorest seasons of his career.”
Whiticar emphasized the necessity for an overhaul in the cornerback group not because of losing a starter, but due to the scarcity of reliable starters overall.
Supporting his argument, Sutton received a player grade of 52.3 from Pro Football Focus, marking his lowest grade since his rookie season in 2017. As of now, Sutton is the sole outside cornerback under contract for the Lions in 2024 who played more than two defensive snaps last season.
The Lions have a promising cornerstone at cornerback in Branch, who primarily plays in the slot. However, the team still needs to secure two other starting cornerbacks.
While Detroit is banking on Sutton to rebound in 2024, there remains uncertainty regarding the other starting cornerback position, underscoring the team’s urgent need for enhanced depth and quality at the position.
